The Sugarland Express

Every cop in the state was after her. Everybody else was behind her
Every cop in the state was after her. Everybody else was behind her
THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS (PG)
D: Steven Spielberg
Universal (Richard D. Zanuck & David Brown)
US 1974
110 mins

Crime/Adventure

W: Hal Barwood, Matthew Robbins & Steven Spielberg
DP: Vilmos Zsigmond
Ed: Edward Abroms & Verna Fields
Mus: John Williams


Goldie Hawn (Lou Jean Poplin), William Atherton (Clovis Michael Poplin), Ben Johnson (Capt. Harlin Tanner), Michael Sacks (Maxwell Slide)

The Sugarland Express is the first film Steven Spielberg directed specifically for cinema release, and it demonstrates some fine traits which the director became accustomed to, particularly with its framing of action sequences and the broken family theme, which became more prevalent with Spielberg's subsequent movies.
Goldie Hawn plays Lou Jean Poplin, a convict's wife who persuades her husband to escape prison and go on the run to prevent their baby from being adopted. The law is on the chase, but the rest of the country supports the couples race against authority.
Stylishly handled, with an unusually downbeat ending. It's not amongst Spielberg's finest work, but it's a good sign of things to come.
6/10

William Atherton & Goldie Hawn in The Sugarland Express
William Atherton & Goldie Hawn in The Sugarland Express