MovieChat Forums > The Sugarland Express (1974) Discussion > Very well made for a 26 year old with mi...

Very well made for a 26 year old with minimal feature experience

posted 6 years ago by atd8vii (592)
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Yes, this movie has definitely dated (alot). It is very much of its time, but once you get past some of the "70's isms" you have to marvel at what SS has crafted here. I finally got around to watching The Sugarland Express tonight after many years and my expectations weren't exactly high, but I was actually quite surprised at how opulent the film looks. There's some beautiful scenic shots that all add to the larger than life situation and characters, my favourite was the dawn shots when those two 'bubble gum' cops where getting in on the chase. Visually impressive with an engaging story so I give it a 7.5.

"And what about the sh*t weasels, the ones that blast out the basement door" - Col. Curtis

[–] Roguemail (1562) 2 years ago

Spielbergs 'forgotten' movie.

Though its not obscure and is available on blu ray and dvd, I don't think many people are aware of it. I have seen retrospectives of his career that barely mention it.

Based on a true story of a couple that break out of jail to get their child back, wh has been taken away from them. They kidnap a cop and drive across the state in a patrol car, with a huge entourage of cops behind them. They even become local celebrities.

At the time it was sold as a wacky car crash/chase comedy. It does have some good action scenes involving cars, but it also has an underlying tension because you know the outcome is not going to be a happy one.

And Goldie Hawn is superb as the neurotic mother, one of her best performances. Shout out to William Atherton as her partner, before he became know foe those officious, annoying type roles (Diehard, Ghostbusters).

And it's a movie filled with great moments...the incredibly dangerous stunt involving newsmen on top of a moving TV van...a single shot sequence moving between 2 cars on the highway, done well before CGI...and a beautiful shot of two deputies driving side by side in their patrol cars, silhouetted against the setting sun. Photography was by Vilmos Zsigmond.

There are many more great scenes, and it's a movie I highly recommend.