Steven Spielberg persuaded co-producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown to let him make his big-screen directorial debut with this true story. Thomas, Kevin (April 5, 1974). But when he got on the field, it was easy to see he was special. "'Sugarland Express': Sad but true". SAN MARCOS An 11-year-old Goodnight Middle School student died after being hit by a vehicle in the drop-off lane on Friday morning. The Sugarland Express is a 1974 American crime drama film directed by Steven Spielberg in his feature film directorial debut. We want to go frame-by-frame to study the shot of a TV camera van overturning and tossing its passengers directly . The real story behind Sugarland Express Pursuit of Robert Dent in southeast Texas, May 1969, which inspired the film "The Sugarland Express." Bobby Dent was driving through Port Arthur with his wife Fae, when a patrol car appeared behind him, red lights twirling at 2 AM in the morning. The real incident took place in May of 1969. "The Sugarland Express" is a prime example of the newstyle factory movie: slick, cynical, mechanical, empty. 1963 Buick LeSabre. Twist one way to make a conservative, and twist the other to make a liberal. Too bad, for two-thirds of the film is artful, the rest strident. is shown in silence during a scene at a drive-in theater. By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Lisa Krantz/STAFF. She died in 1992 in Livingston, where she was working as a dietitian at a Holiday Inn. Required fields are marked *. Hall's old home still stands, too, although getting there today seems different with each visit. Not long after the second time-out, Bobby offered to release his hostage if Miller would let him visit his two stepchildren, Ila Faes from a previous marriage, at their grandparents place near Bryan. No matter that theyre being trailed by something like 200 police cars; she cleans a gas station out of trading stamps and then leafs through the catalog to see how many books itll take to get a bed for her boy. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Barton Publications. A woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison and together kidnapping their son. The Sugarland Express marked the first use of a compact Panaflex camera developed by Panavision Corporation. "[18], The film grossed $6.5 million in the United States and Canada and $5.5 million overseas for a worldwide gross of $12 million, making it the lowest-grossing film of Spielberg's career. and the Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Ben Johnson Directed by: Steven Spielberg. But what became of the survivors after the credits rolled? We want to hear what you have to say but need to verify your email. Major of the Army looks on Friday night during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl awards dinner at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. This film was THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS, and was a striking debut in the feature film realm for the young director. Coming Soon. Its always about the cheap emotion. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Albeit by threatening means, Lou Jean convinces Clovis to break out of remand. But hey, a big mall instead of watching and preserving wild life, bring it right?! Miller later recounted. With the police only seconds behind them, the two eluded capture by dashing into the woods that bordered the blacktop. Drama, Comedy. The "Sugarland Express" Gang By Brian D. Sweany September 2001 0 In 1974, one year before Steven Spielberg became a household name with the release of Jaws, the director made his feature film. Tom Reel/Staff January 5, 2007. Tanner is forced by the insanity around him to play the role of colonial master, enforcing the harsh discipline of a foreign, rational culture on populations of ignorantand restlessnatives. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. MPAA: Rated PG DISC DETAILS Presentation: Upon getting out, she obtained the right to live with her son, convincing authorities that she was able to do so. Hawn plays a young mother who becomes a fugitive and a cause celebre when she tries to prevent the adoption of her young son. He ended up crashing into a tree in the woods outside town. A year later, Spielberg's next project for Zanuck and Brown was 1975's blockbuster hit Jaws. Based on a true story, a desperate mother (Goldie Hawn) attempts to reunite her family by any means necessary including helping her husband escape prison, kidnapping a Texas state trooper and leading the police on a wild chase across the state in an effort to save her son from adoption. His wife Lou Jean is also newly released from prison and comes to visit him with the intention of breaking him out because she just lost their child to foster parents that intend to adopt Baby Langston. He actually had to be coerced into playing football. It was a company town built around sugar, not the burgeoning suburb it is today. Free shipping for many products! The husband does know, sort of, but hes half-scared of his wife and would do almost anything to keep her quiet. And TV news mobile units infiltrate the caravan at every opportunity. By what name was The Sugarland Express (1974) officially released in India in English? Case in point: Ila Fae did not bust Bobby out of prison. Bring on the Shiplap? Now 60, he still lives in Winnie and works as a night supervisor at Pneumatic Industrial Services in Orangefield; his son Brad has been a trooper with the DPS for three years. She died of natural causes in 1992 while working at a motel in Livingston. Movie Synopsis: A young woman, fearful of losing her baby to the authories, breaks her husband out of prison, and together they kidnap a police officer and are pursued by a pack of lawmen in a slow-speed highway chase in the south of Texas. They hitch a ride from the prison with a couple, but when Texas Department of Public Safety Patrolman Maxwell Slide stops the car, they take the car and run. High school players today already have the measurables and build of some collegiate stars. 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. It is about a husband and wife trying to outrun the law and was based on a real-life incident. It's difficult for anybody to foreshadow the kind of career Hall would have, including Hall himself. Hall said he believed Bryant's change toward players and experience with him was noticeable at Alabama, where he led that program to prominence. The Sugarland Express hit movie theaters in 1974. Bobby disarmed the stunned state trooper, making his better half a present of Krones .357 Magnum, and forced him to try on his own handcuffs for size. The Sugarland Express marked Spielberg's de facto debut as a feature film director, and should be treated accordingly. How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire. Bobby Dent was not only a third-rate petty criminal, who had done hard time for vandalizing vending machines, he also was incredibly gullible. Hall had what they call video-game numbers when he was a running back at Sugar Land High School in the early 1950s. I wrote him back and told him, 'Well, I think the way you handled me probably was a mistake, but I didn't know that at the time and neither did you. All rights reserved. The event partially took place, the story is . Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Legendary running back, Ken Hall, speaks at a news conference, Wednesday September 05, 2001 in San Antonio, Tx., announcing that the U.S. Army All-American Bowl will be played at Alamo Stadium in January of 2002. The young audience that had embraced the challenging tonal shifts of Bonnie and Clyde and Easy Rider in the late 1960s was no longer so reliably drawn to narrative . Our first film visit in Texas is 1974's The Sugarland Express. Reply to this post Reply Poster: guyzilla : Date: Feb 26, 2021 2:44am : Forum: feature_films: Subject: Re: The sugarland express : No, not PD. Ken Hall, also known as "The Sugar Land Express", announces the 12 finalist for the National High School football Player of the Year at a Rotary Club luncheon at the Bright Shawl, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004. photo bob OWen, Sports dialy - Ken Hall announces the 12 nominees for the Spalding Player of the Year Award for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003, at the Bright Shawl. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. Cinemark PG. The chase is led by a decent man (Ben Johnson) who has never killed anyone in 18 years on the force and would like to preserve his record. It was six oclock in the morning, when Krone walked into the kitchen of the ranch house and found Bobby and Ila Fae holding handguns pointed right at him. Corrections? Its never one side . He has a high school stadium named after him, as well as a neighborhood and a trophy. In 1974, one year before Steven Spielberg. So easy to put both in a crowded environment with limited resources and fan the conflict with propaganda. The director, Steven Spielberg, is twenty-six; I can't tell if he has any mind, or even a strong personality, but then a lot of good moviemakers . He truly had no idea what he'd be looking back on all these years later. Lou Jean vows to get Langston back by whatever means, and she needs Clovis' help. Sugarland Express was also written by Spielberg, the story based on a true Texas tale of comedic madness which started when Lou Jean Poplin talks husband Clovis Michael Poplin into breaking out of a low-security prison to go after their 2-year-old son Langston who is in foster care. 1965 Buick Electra 225. As for what happened to him 32 years ago, Not a month goes by that someone doesnt bring it up, he says. Coming Soon, Regal Hawn and Atherton have an amazing setup-he's about to get out of prison and has been transferred to pre-release. A safe source? SNAP, CRACK & POP! Even the nickname Sugar Land Express. (The movie will be shown tonight in the New Directors series at the Museum of Modern Art and will . I told him what you are doing is foolish, Capt. Drama. director of photography Film Editing by Casting By Art Direction by Joe Alves . Qui dendit que quam, commo beressin ea ium eaquis eum que ium qui rectatur sunt libus exerro in consedio moluptae volupta delest, quo corporecume autempore, aut inctet voluptate nos doloresci ad quis cus et fugit autecaerum ut iumquos atios essin plabo. The Sugarland Express 1974 Directed by Steven Spielberg Synopsis Every cop in the state was after her. Those moments turned into a high school football career that still towers over the game to this day. Nothing much ever happened in Sugar Land, except Ken Hall. Steven Spielberg's first theatrical feature is a fact-based tale about a Texas couple, both with felonious . The Sugarland Express The Sugarland Express By JohnnyD, June 20, 2013 in JOHN WILLIAMS Followers 1 1 2 3 Next Page 1 of 3 JohnnyD Frequent Poster Group: Members Joined: December 16, 2011 Posts: 1989 Reputation: 1094 Active: February 15 Location: Florida, United States of America Posted June 20, 2013 I was just curious about something. Despite a cast with two Academy Award winners (Goldie Hawn as Ila Fae and Ben Johnson as Capt. The Sugarland Express Roger Ebert August 26, 1974 Tweet Now streaming on: Powered by JustWatch It's dumb thing to do, but they do it anyway. " said Jackie James, who grew up with Hall. "That night that he broke it, I got calls from ESPN, the Houston Chronicle," Hall said. And next time pick a side for once, before hearing the consensus. And its always a good distraction from the real problems on the world.This helps keeping order and everybody in his place and social class. Florida's only full-size steam-powered passenger train. "[12] Arthur D. Murphy of Variety called Hawn's performance "generally delightful" but found that "something happens to the picture" toward the end as "the story opts for an abrupt series of production number shootouts, as though this was the real purpose in making the film, and all that preceded was introductory filler and vamp. She doesnt want to come back there with you! was his heated response. January 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? Of all his films, Munich really stands out as the best for my taste, and its one of my top ten spy films. The three climbed the front steps with Patrolman Krone in the lead, Bobby behind him with the shotgun and Ila Fae bringing up the rear with the .357 Magnum. But is it really Spielberg's film. 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. Threatened with capture, the couple take rookie Texas State trooper Maxwell Slide hostage, and head across the state in his patrol car. But you learned from that, that all kids are not made the same.'". Bobby disarmed the stunned state trooper, making his better half a present of Krones .357 Magnum, and forced him to try on his own handcuffs for size. The ex-convict, out of the joint just two weeks, did not know what the lawmen wanted, but he was not about to hang around and find out. The speedy 'Sugar Land Express' awed fans of high school football in the 1950s. The Sugarland Express. And I turned around and those guys were way back there, and nobody had touched me. Hall guessed everyone who worked for the sugar company logged in 20 years each on average. Coleman is a graduate of Westside High School and Texas Tech. The Sugarland Express is a 1974 American crime drama film directed by Steven Spielberg in his feature film directorial debut. 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. You're almost there! Obeying Bobbys terse instructions to drive, it did not take Krone long to realize his captors had no plan nor even a destination. By NORA SAYRE. It might have helped ticket sales if the script had stayed true to the real story. When the commandeered cruiser reached Texas largest city, a lengthening line of law enforcement was in close but restrained pursuit. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. In 1974, one year before Steven Spielberg became a household name with the release of Jaws, the director made his feature film debut with The Sugarland Express. Overview; Details; Steven Spielberg's debut film stars Goldie Hawn and William Atherton as Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin, a down-on-their-luck couple who lose their child to the state of Texas and decide to pull out all stops to get him back. He was a painter. "The Sugarland Express" hit movie theaters in 1974. In dire need of a four-wheel getaway, Bobby hit upon the ironic idea of calling the cops for a ride. Its the perfect allied of the establishment. The infallible puppy eyes will get you every time!! As per Millers orders, the caravan parked a mile down the dirt road. The trooper has only been on the force nine months, but hes level-headed enough to know that his kidnappers dont want to kill anyone. Powerful people like Spielberg have a responsibility. In retrospect, I believe his rise to one of the greatest wag-the-dog producers of our time was ordained from the beginning. The Poplins bring Slide to the home of the foster parents, where they encounter numerous officers, including the DPS Captain who has been pursuing them, Captain Harlin Tanner. It shows people without a family and a house being sad and depressed. But the movie has its moments, and when the fugitives parade down Main Street and are presented with gifts by their newly made fans, we admit: Yes, thats the way celebrity works in America -- no matter what youre known for. Miller later recounted. Miller), the first feature film by 30-year-old Steven Spielberg laid an egg at the box office. Because he sprang himself from it so quickly (destroying it in the process . "We all knew it," said former teammate Jerry Cooper, who played with Hall for two years. [3] The film follows a woman (Goldie Hawn) and her husband (William Atherton) as they take a police officer (Michael Sacks) hostage and flee across Texas while they try to get to their child before he is placed in foster care. By the time the chase turned north toward Conroe, DPS captain Jerry Miller was in charge and in constant two-way radio communication with the fleeing fugitives. The drama arrived a year before the filmmaker broke out with his first . The Sugarland Express (1974) The Sugarland Express Blu-ray delivers great video and audio in this overall recommended Blu-ray release A woman attempts to reunite her family by breaking her. His 4,045 rushing yards his senior year remain a national record for a 12-game season. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. The Sugarland Express [Blu-Ray] (1974) UNIVERSAL MOVIE INFO Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Goldie Hawn, Ben Johnson, William Atherton Writing Credits: Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins Synopsis: A woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison and together kidnapping their son. From 1950 to '53 he rushed for 11,232 yards. Just leave us a message here and we will work on getting you verified. What you need to know, UH favored by wide margin to win NCAA tournament, per ESPN's BPI. Kael, Pauline (March 18, 1974). Dont surrender your moral integrity to a mythical avatar, and realize the more you know, the less you know. There weren't 11 high schools in the town. "[13] Tom Milne of The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote that it "seems peculiarly contrived it may have happened this way in real life, but in the film the fugitives are so unequivocally presented as poor, harmless innocents that the veritable army of police cars absurdly queuing up to be in at the kill looks very much as though both they and the film were taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. For her part, Ila Fae Dent was given five years but served only five months. Robert Bobby Dent, 22, was passing through Port Arthur at 2 a.m. with his wife of one year, Ila Fae Dent, 21, when flashing red lights suddenly appeared in his rearview mirror. It might have helped ticket sales if the script had stayed true to the real story. He lost. These included the first tracking shot from front seat to back and the first 360-degree pan within a car in film history. The reason?--child welfare services have awarded permanent custody of their infant son Langston to his foster parents who live in Sugarland, Texas. Despite a cast with two Academy Award winners (Goldie Hawn as Ila Fae and Ben Johnson as Capt. Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean (Goldie Hawn) and Clovis Poplin (William Atherton) lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. The Sugarland Express Goldie Hawn William Atherton Ben Johnson (1974) Police chase an escaped convict (William Atherton) and his wife (Goldie Hawn) fleeing to Sugarland, Texas, to reclaim their son from his foster parent.