A woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison and together kidnapping their son. But things don't go as planned when they are forced to take a police hostage on... Read allA woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison and together kidnapping their son. But things don't go as planned when they are forced to take a police hostage on the road.A woman attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison and together kidnapping their son. But things don't go as planned when they are forced to take a police hostage on the road.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 4 nominations
- Standby #1
- (as Kenneth Hudgins)
- Buster Daniels - Drunk
- (as Buster Danials)
- Mark Fenno
- (as Jim Harrell)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is the first movie to feature a tracking shot (front seat to back) and a 360-degree pan with dialogue from within a car.
- GoofsThere is an Exxon station shown near the prison. The movie is based on events of May 1969. Standard Oil did not change Esso to the Exxon brand until 1973.
- Quotes
Clovis Poplin: We're in real trouble.
Clovis Poplin: Say, I didn't mean what I said.
Maxwell Slide: What was that?
Clovis Poplin: When I called you a son of a bitch, I didn't mean it
Maxwell Slide: And you ain't no mental subject neither.
- Crazy creditsEpilogue: "Lou Jean served 15 months of a five-year prison term following her parole. She convinced the authorities that she was fit and able to take care of baby Langston. They are now living quietly in a small West Texas town. Captain Tanner and Officer Slide are still serving with the Texas Department of Public Safety."
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Special Show: The Magic of Spielberg (1984)
- SoundtracksThe Eyes of Texas
(uncredited)
Written by John Lang Sinclair
[Played by marching band when the car enters Rodrigues, Texas]
Shot in perfect continuity (for financial reasons) The majority of this movie is filmed in a car. But there was no rear view projection or shoot it and then have the actors lip-sync later. Spielberg's timing was just right Panavision inc had recently developed and the Paraflex, the first totally noiseless camera, compact enough to be handheld or shoulder rested. Virtually the entire movie was shot in sync dialogue with only 10 lines a looped later. The Sugerland Expressis one of the first fiims to be shot in this then revolutionary style, though shortly, all filmmaking would follow suit.
This movie shows that Goldie Hawn could have been a fine dramatic actress had her career gone in that direction. Hawn's plan, slightly mad as it is, in fact does have an inner logic. I expected her infedelity (She prostitutes herself to a male neighbour for $65) to become a bigger issue. But it's surprisingly dropped pretty quickly.
There is no villain in this movie. Captain Tanner certainly isn't one. I also like a tender scene involving a Wile E. Coyote cartoon which was probably my favourite scene in the movie. This film marked the beginning of Spielberg's friendship with John Williams and we get a Spielberg trademark (images seen in a side mirror)
This is one of the few Steven Spielberg films that ends on a downbeat note. And boy what a downbeat note it is!!
Sugerland Express grossed $7.5 million (against a 3 million dollar budget) at the domestic box office.
- slightlymad22
- Apr 3, 2018
- How long is The Sugarland Express?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Carte Blanche
- Filming locations
- San Antonio, Texas, USA(Harlandale ISD Stadium & Military Drive)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $3,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $7,500,000
- Gross worldwide
- $7,505,037
- Runtime1 hour 50 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1