April 7th: The Sugarland Express
The Sugarland Express
Released: 1974
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Michael Sacks, Ben Johnson
The Sugarland Express seems on the surface to be a crime movie that is about these charming criminals trying to get their baby back in what turns out to be a mostly slow-moving car chase. Goldie Hawn is in it! There are silly and goofy scenes! They are not antagonistic to the policeman they kidnap. Nor are they disrespectful to the Captain running the show. It sets up to be a dramedy with some wacky fun along the way. Nope. It’s a slow-moving tragedy, with only one character not fully understanding the situation: Lou Jean, played by Hawn.
Initially, I was put off by the premise even though it was based on a true story. Lou Jean breaks her husband Clovis, played by William Atherton, out of jail. She is upset that their toddler son, Langston, has been put in foster care. They proceed to steal a car and eventually kidnap a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Patrolman Maxwell Slide, played by Michael Sacks. His superiors, out of fear for his safety, try not to push the couple too hard and let it play out. This is done underthe lead of Captain Tanner, played by Ben Johnson. What put me off was how this feels incongruous with the history of policing in this country, especially in places like Texas. Add to that the uncomfortable thought that if this were a Black couple, the situation likely would have turned deadly much more quickly, rather than being allowed to evolve into the media spectacle the film presents.
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That said, once it becomes clear that Lou Jean doesn’t fully grasp the gravity of their situation, the story changes drastically. Clovis stays with her, still holding onto the idea that this ends with them as a happy family. The shift becomes clear during the drive-in scene, where they watch a Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Clovis seems to realize they’re in far more danger than Lou Jean understands. That feeling is confirmed the next day when they’re attacked by vigilantes. Lou Jean panics, while Clovis recognizes he needs to regain control. The zaniness of the scenario continues — especially with the citizens of Texas rallying behind them — but Clovis and Slide both understand the true jeopardy they’re in.
Small Observations:
- I first thought Goldie Hawn’s character was just silly and childish. But it becomes clear she’s playing it that way intentionally, making the tragic ending land even harder. She’s honestly brilliant.
- Having only seen William Atherton as Walter Peck in Ghostbusters and Richard Thornburg in Die Hard and Die Hard 2 — both similar roles — I didn’t expect him to be so believable as a leading man. The drive-in scene is a great example of his nuanced performance here.
- Ben Johnson is excellent as Captain Tanner — someone who sees these kids as making an extreme choice out of desperation rather than being violent sociopaths. While his performance is strong, that perspective still feels at odds with the historical reality.
- This is Steven Spielberg’s first theatrical feature, following the TV movie Duel. You can already see elements of what would make him one of the greatest directors of all time. The shootout at the used car lot is especially well done.
- MCU actors: 0, though there is the mother of one who is also the partner of another
Overall Rank: A
I walked into this movie to think of it one way. For the first 30 minutes or so, I did. The directing and performances were great, but the story was odd and almost insulting to me. But when I realized what story they were really telling, everything changed. Recommended
