Siskel, Gene (April 9, 1974). The Sugarland Express (1974) Full Cast & Crew. It's an odyssey you may never forget, and you might as well memorize the names of the young filmmakers responsible for it, the 26-year old director, Steven Spielberg, and the 30-year old screenwriters (and no doubt prospective directors), Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, because they've made one of the most stunning debuts in Hollywood history. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Lou Jean is directly responsible for her husband's death--at … Lou-Jean, a blonde woman, tells her husband, who is imprisoned, to escape. It is about a husband and wife trying to outrun the law and was based on a real-life incident. “The Sugarland Express” hit movie theaters in 1974. A woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison and together kidnapping their son. Drama 1h 50m Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. [citation needed], The Sugarland Express marks the first collaboration between Spielberg and composer John Williams. Rushes: 100 Greatest Korean Films, Arclight Closures, Prismatic Ground, New Jarmusch Short, Anthony Hopkins, Camille Rowe, Madeline Brewer & More Starring In Indie Drama ‘Where Are You’, Mike Fenton Dies: Casting Director On ‘E.T.,’ ‘Godfather: Part 2,’ ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ And Casting Society Of America Co-Founder Was 85. The 100 Best Shows on TV; Renewed or Canceled? The spirit of a recently deceased expert pilot mentors a newer pilot while watching him fall in love with the girlfriend that he left behind. Murder on the Sugarland Express by Angie Fox is the sixth installment in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries. The Sugarland Express $3.99 $14.99 Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping. The Sugarland Express isn't all bad and does have a few good points about it; Goldie Hawn once again puts on a good show and is great fun to watch here, the supporting cast are all OK, but Hawn easily outshines everyone. "[12], Other reviews, however, were much more positive. The Sugarland Express, a gripping drama co-written and directed by a 26-year-old Steven Spielberg, makes its mark as the director’s first theatrical film debut. [3] It stars Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton, and Michael Sacks. Use the HTML below. Kael, Pauline (March 18, 1974). In terms of the pleasure that technical assurance gives an audience, this is one of the most phenomenal début films in the history of movies. During the lengthy pursuit, Slide and the pair bond and develop mutual respect for one another. An under-appreciated gem in Spielberg's oeuvre. "[9] Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune awarded the same two-and-a-half star grade and wrote that "whereas 'Bonnie and Clyde' prompted our sympathy for its heroes because of their winning style, 'The Sugarland Express' asks us to care for Clovis and Lou Jean because they are thick-skulled and because, presumably, every mother has an inherent right to raise her own baby. The Poplins and Slide travel through Beaumont, Dayton, Houston, Cleveland, Conroe and finally Wheelock, Texas. Was this review helpful to you? "Film: Goldie Hawn on 'The Sugarland Express'". This complex role was enough to lure superstar Goldie Hawn back to the screen after a one-year hiatus following her Oscar-winning performance in Cactus Flower. The added sharpness of HD helps with the many wide shots, and the enhanced contrast range strengthens images with dark figures silhouetted against police lights or sun glare. This FAQ is empty. What they don't know is that there is an unseen presence in the house, and that it wants to take possession of the wife. "Festival de Cannes: The Sugarland Express", Story from the Tuscaloosa News, May 4 1969, about Robert and Ila Dent, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Sugarland_Express&oldid=1021136049, Films with screenplays by Matthew Robbins, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from November 2009, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2009, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 May 2021, at 02:52. The event partially took place, the story is partially set, and the film was partially filmed in Sugar Land, Texas. It stars Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton, and Michael Sacks. The Sugarland Express is based on the true story of Lou Jean Poplin, who kidnapped a Texas State Trooper and led the police on a wild chase across the state in an effort to save her son from adoption. Written by Kornel Osvart "Film Reviews: The Sugarland Express". In 1839, the revolt of Mende captives aboard a Spanish owned ship causes a major controversy in the United States when the ship is captured off the coast of Long Island. Miller), the first feature film by 30-year-old Steven Spielberg laid an egg at the box office. Hall had what they call video-game numbers when he was a running back at Sugar Land High School in the early 1950s. Directed by (1) Writing credits (5) Cast (66) Produced by (2) Music by (1) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (2) Casting By (2) Art Direction by (1) Makeup Department (2) Production Management (1) Second Unit Director or Assistant Director (2) Charles Kenneth Hall (born December 13, 1935) nicknamed Sugar Land Express is a retired American football player. Kornel Osvart . Upon getting out, she obtained the right to live with her son, convincing authorities that she was able to do so. The film is now regarded as something of an anomaly for both comic actress Hawn and blockbuster director Spielberg as neither have typically been associated with the crime drama genre. Written by It's a fun dramedy with some great performances from Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, and the rest of the cast. title details and video sharing options. [5] The character of Texas Highway Patrolman Slide is based on then-27-year-old Trooper J. Kenneth Crone. They plan to kidnap their own child, who was placed with foster parents. Our editors have rounded up their most anticipated horror movies of the year. "[16], The film grossed $6.5 million in the United States and Canada and $5.5 million overseas for a worldwide gross of $12 million. • The Sugarland Express marked the beginning of Steven Spielberg’s friendship and working relationship with composer John Williams. Their Psychiatrist over-comes tribal prejudices to get an Indian Medicine Man to help them. The website's critical consensus reads, "Its plot may ape the countercultural road movies of its era, but Steven Spielberg's feature debut displays many of the crowd-pleasing elements he'd refine in subsequent films. Along the way the duo takes a state trooper hostage and are pursued by police while their story gains media attention. 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