This well-acted chase movie was a box office flop when it was first released and is now most significant for being the first feature film that Steven Spielberg directed. Its story, which Spielberg also co-wrote with Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, features enough car chases and stunts to illustrate that his ability to choreograph action sequences was already well developed at this early stage of his career, as was his skill at creating shots that are beautifully composed and visually impressive.
Based on a real-life incident that took place in 1969, "The Sugarland Express" is an account of what happened when a young married couple, who had both spent time in prison, decided to embark on a long trip across Texas with the intention of kidnapping their child from its new foster parents.
Having recently been released from a prison sentence she'd served for shoplifting, Lou Jean Poplin (Goldie Hawn) visits her husband Clovis (William Atherton) at the minimum security prison where he has only four months of his one-year sentence to serve and insists that he should break out immediately (with her assistance) so that they can head to Sugarland, Texas to take back possession of their son who the welfare people had fostered out to a middle-aged couple. Clovis initially resists the plan but gradually gives in to Lou Jean's forcefulness and they simply walk out of the establishment together before travelling away from the place, courtesy of an elderly couple who travel along the highway at about half the speed limit before getting pulled over by a highway patrolman.
When Patrolman Maxwell Slide (Michael Sacks) talks to the elderly couple outside of their vehicle, Lou Jean becomes convinced that he's actually pursuing them and so the young couple drive off at high speed and are soon followed by Slide. The chase ends when Lou Jean crashes the car she's driving and the couple then surprise the patrolman by taking him hostage and hijacking his vehicle. From this point on, the two fugitives and Slide continue their long journey to Sugarland during which they're pursued by an ever-growing number of police and media vehicles that follow them at a very slow speed. Police Captain Harlin Tanner (Ben Johnson) is put in charge of the whole operation and becomes determined to avoid any harm coming to Patrolman Slide or the misguided couple who he regards as being simply foolish and naïve rather than dangerous criminals.
During their journey, an unlikely friendship develops between Slide and his captors and they're also met by crowds of well-wishers as they pass through various towns on their route. Lou Jean, who always acts on instinct without ever thinking about the repercussions of her actions, clearly has no idea of how much trouble they're in and foolishly expects that when she and Clovis are re-united with their baby, that they'll all be able to live together, as a family, and be happy ever after. The fact that the media attention has made them into celebrities and they get lots of public support only reinforces her delusional thinking and strengthens her determination even further. All the chaos and activity that characterised their journey suddenly ands' however, when they get to Sugarland and the police convoy comes to a halt some distance before they reach their baby's current home.
This movie is brightened up by its action sequences, some moments of droll humour and an amusing example of Stockholm syndrome but otherwise its pace is too slow, and there is none of the exhilaration that would normally be found in a road movie or the excitement that a chase movie would usually provide. This is because the fugitives are only out of sight of the authorities for the first few miles of their journey and the remainder of the pursuit is played out in slow motion with the police even staying back at a respectful distance when the fugitives have to stop to refuel their vehicle.
Goldie Hawn is brilliant as the loud and not-very-bright, Lou Jean and William Atherton is marvellous as her obedient husband who's prepared to do anything she wants even though he doesn't share her belief that everything will turn out fine. The remaining members of the cast also provide consistently solid performances with Ben Johnson and Michael Sacks standing out in their important roles.
Based on a real-life incident that took place in 1969, "The Sugarland Express" is an account of what happened when a young married couple, who had both spent time in prison, decided to embark on a long trip across Texas with the intention of kidnapping their child from its new foster parents.
Having recently been released from a prison sentence she'd served for shoplifting, Lou Jean Poplin (Goldie Hawn) visits her husband Clovis (William Atherton) at the minimum security prison where he has only four months of his one-year sentence to serve and insists that he should break out immediately (with her assistance) so that they can head to Sugarland, Texas to take back possession of their son who the welfare people had fostered out to a middle-aged couple. Clovis initially resists the plan but gradually gives in to Lou Jean's forcefulness and they simply walk out of the establishment together before travelling away from the place, courtesy of an elderly couple who travel along the highway at about half the speed limit before getting pulled over by a highway patrolman.
When Patrolman Maxwell Slide (Michael Sacks) talks to the elderly couple outside of their vehicle, Lou Jean becomes convinced that he's actually pursuing them and so the young couple drive off at high speed and are soon followed by Slide. The chase ends when Lou Jean crashes the car she's driving and the couple then surprise the patrolman by taking him hostage and hijacking his vehicle. From this point on, the two fugitives and Slide continue their long journey to Sugarland during which they're pursued by an ever-growing number of police and media vehicles that follow them at a very slow speed. Police Captain Harlin Tanner (Ben Johnson) is put in charge of the whole operation and becomes determined to avoid any harm coming to Patrolman Slide or the misguided couple who he regards as being simply foolish and naïve rather than dangerous criminals.
During their journey, an unlikely friendship develops between Slide and his captors and they're also met by crowds of well-wishers as they pass through various towns on their route. Lou Jean, who always acts on instinct without ever thinking about the repercussions of her actions, clearly has no idea of how much trouble they're in and foolishly expects that when she and Clovis are re-united with their baby, that they'll all be able to live together, as a family, and be happy ever after. The fact that the media attention has made them into celebrities and they get lots of public support only reinforces her delusional thinking and strengthens her determination even further. All the chaos and activity that characterised their journey suddenly ands' however, when they get to Sugarland and the police convoy comes to a halt some distance before they reach their baby's current home.
This movie is brightened up by its action sequences, some moments of droll humour and an amusing example of Stockholm syndrome but otherwise its pace is too slow, and there is none of the exhilaration that would normally be found in a road movie or the excitement that a chase movie would usually provide. This is because the fugitives are only out of sight of the authorities for the first few miles of their journey and the remainder of the pursuit is played out in slow motion with the police even staying back at a respectful distance when the fugitives have to stop to refuel their vehicle.
Goldie Hawn is brilliant as the loud and not-very-bright, Lou Jean and William Atherton is marvellous as her obedient husband who's prepared to do anything she wants even though he doesn't share her belief that everything will turn out fine. The remaining members of the cast also provide consistently solid performances with Ben Johnson and Michael Sacks standing out in their important roles.