The Sugarland Express (1974)

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PG
1h 50min
Crime, Drama
29 May 1974 (Sweden)
Movie

6.7 (19,108)

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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.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Stars:

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations.
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Photos and Videos

The Sugarland Express: Does That Mean We Can Kiss?

Still of Goldie Hawn (I) and William Atherton (I) in The Sugarland Express (1974)

Still of William Atherton (I) in The Sugarland Express (1974)

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155 photos | 2 videos

Cast verified as complete

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	Goldie Hawn	...	Lou Jean
	Ben Johnson	...	Captain Tanner
	Michael Sacks	...	Slide
	William Atherton	...	Clovis
	Gregory Walcott	...	Mashburn
	Steve Kanaly	...	Officer Ernie Jessup
	Louise Latham	...	Mrs. Looby
	Harrison Zanuck	...	Baby Langston
	A.L. Camp	...	Mr. Alvin T. Nocker
	Jessie Lee Fulton	...	Mrs. Nocker
	Dean Smith	...	Russ Berry
	Ted Grossman	...	Dietz
	Bill Thurman	...	Hunter
	Ken Hudgins	...	Standby #1 (as Kenneth Hudgins)
	Buster Daniels	...	Buster Daniels - Drunk (as Buster Danials)
	James N. Harrell	...	Mark Fenno (as Jim Harrell)
	Frank Steggall	...	Logan Waters
	Roger Ernest	...	Hot Jock #1
	Guich Koock	...	Hot Jock #2
	Merrill Connally	...	Mr. Vern Looby (as Merrill L. Connally)
	Gene Rader	...	Gas Jockey
	Gordon Hurst	...	Hubie Nocker
	George Hagy	...	Mr. Sparrow
	Big John Hamilton	...	Big John
	Kenneth Crone	...	Deputy
	Peter Curry	...	Judge Peter Michael Curry (as Judge Peter Michael Curry)
	Charles Conaway	...	Attorney
	Robert Golden	...	Dybala's Kid
	Rudy Robbins	...	Mechanic
	Charlie Dobbs	...	Local Cop
	Gene Lively	...	Reporter
	John L. Quinlan III	...	Bailiff
	William Scott	...	Station Man (as Bill Scott)
	Ralph E. Horwedel	...	Dispatcher
	Edwin 'Frog' Isbell	...	Jelly Bowl
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	James Robert Allen	...	D.P.S. Officer (uncredited)
	Ceslie Armstrong	...	Girl (uncredited)
	Marianna Clore Blase	...	Waitress (uncredited)
	David Bowen	...	Proprietor (uncredited)
	Richard Bright	...	Marvin Dybala (uncredited)
	B.M. Burch	...	Deputy (uncredited)
	Charly	...	Wreckee (uncredited)
	Harvey Christiansen	...	Old Reporter (uncredited)
	Michael J. Croshaw	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Maria De Lange	...	Matron (uncredited)
	Al Evans	...	Guard (uncredited)
	James R. Gough	...	Deputy (uncredited)
	Charles Gunn	...	D.P.S. Officer (uncredited)
	Dean Jones	...	Policeman at Football Game (uncredited)
	Sam Kindrick	...	Reporter (uncredited)
	Myles R. Kuykendall	...	D.P.S. Officer (uncredited)
	Robert Lee Loper	...	Car Ghoul (uncredited)
	Rafael López	...	Val Verde Deputy (uncredited)
	Maury Maverick	...	Shoplifter (uncredited)
	Lorraine Meeks	...	Woman from Hondo (uncredited)
	Lucky Mosley	...	Wrecker (uncredited)
	Darrell Murphy	...	Wrecker (uncredited)
	Carol W. Nell	...	D.P.S. Officer (uncredited)
	Darrell Newman	...	FFF Boy (uncredited)
	Harold Offer	...	Hardware Man (uncredited)
	Karen Olenick	...	Karen (uncredited)
	Bill Pattie	...	Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
	Don Peck	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
	Patrick Reagan	...	Reserve Officer (uncredited)
	Michael Santiago	...	Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
	Adolfo E. Urrutia	...	Small Role (uncredited)
	Robert C. Willey	...	D.P.S. Officer (uncredited)

Directed by

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Steven Spielberg

Written by

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Hal Barwood	...	(screenplay) &
Matthew Robbins	...	(screenplay)

Steven Spielberg	...	(story) and
Hal Barwood	...	(story) &
Matthew Robbins	...	(story)

Produced by

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David Brown	...	producer
Richard D. Zanuck	...	producer

Music by

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John Williams

Cinematography by

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Vilmos Zsigmond

...

director of photography

Editing by

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Edward M. Abroms	...	film editor
Verna Fields	...	film editor

Editorial Department

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Jeff Gourson

...

assistant film editor (uncredited)

Casting By

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Mike Fenton	...	(uncredited)
Shari Rhodes	...	(uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Joe Alves

...

(as Joseph Alves Jr.)

Makeup Department

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Del Armstrong	...	makeup artist (uncredited)
Susan Germaine	...	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management

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William S. Gilmore	...	unit production manager (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Charles Clement	...	post production operations head (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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James Fargo	...	first assistant director
Tom Joyner	...	second assistant director (as Thomas Joyner)

Art Department

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Bill Dietz	...	property master (uncredited)
Mike Fenton	...	carpenter (uncredited)
Bill Gold	...	poster designer (uncredited)

Sound Department

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John R. Carter	...	sound (as John Carter)
Robert L. Hoyt	...	sound (as Robert Hoyt)
William Griffith	...	radio man (uncredited)
John McDonald	...	mike man (uncredited)
Dennis C. Salcedo	...	optical sound recordist (uncredited)
John Stacy	...	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Frank Brendel

...

special effects

Stunts

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Carey Loftin	...	stunt coordinator
Max Balchowsky	...	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Duncan	...	stunts (uncredited)
Patty Elder	...	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Grossman	...	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Harris	...	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	...	stunts (uncredited)
Rudy Robbins	...	stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith	...	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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James O. Blair	...	gaffer (uncredited)
Bobby Burton	...	best boy (uncredited)
Jim Coe	...	unit stillman (uncredited)
John J. Connor	...	assistant camera (uncredited)
Nick McLean	...	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Robert Moore	...	key grip (uncredited)
Aaron Pazanti	...	best boy (uncredited)
Al Perry	...	generator operator (uncredited)
Steve Rez	...	second grip (uncredited)
Steve Rez	...	second grip (uncredited)
Jack L. Richards	...	camera operator (uncredited)
George Triandos	...	crane grip (uncredited)
Sven Walnum	...	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Liz Owen

...

casting secretary (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Robert Ellsworth	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
James Gilmore	...	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department

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Toots Thielemans	...	harmonica: solos (as 'Toots' Thielemans)
Malcolm McNab	...	musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Emil Richards	...	musician: percussion (uncredited)
John Williams	...	conductor: "The Eyes of Texas" (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Ulla Bourne

...

script supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department

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Alby Thomas	...	transportation manager
John Lackey	...	mechanic (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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William S. Gilmore	...	production executive (as William S. Gilmore Jr.)
Lucy Ballentine	...	secretary to producers (uncredited)
Roy D. Smith	...	unit publicist (uncredited)
Nona Tyson	...	secretary to director (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Universal Pictures (an MCA company)
Zanuck/Brown Productions (A Zanuck/Brown Production)

Distributors

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Universal Pictures (1974) (United States) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Finland) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (France) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1975) (West Germany) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Italy) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Japan) (theatrical)
Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1974) (Norway) (theatrical)
Centrala Rozpowszechniania Filmów (CRF) (1975) (Poland) (theatrical)
Filmes Lusomundo (1975) (Portugal) (theatrical)
National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1975) (United States) (tv)
Universal Films of India (1976) (India) (theatrical)
Esselte Video (Finland) (VHS)
Atlas Film (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
MCA Home Video (1983) (United States) (VHS)
Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1984) (Finland) (tv)
Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1987) (Greece) (VHS)
Metropolitan Filmexport (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
CIC Video (West Germany) (VHS)
Tocantins (Brazil) (VHS)
MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (United States) (VHS)
Yleisradio (YLE) (1995) (Finland) (tv)
GoodTimes Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS)
Carlotta Films (2001) (France) (theatrical) (re-release)
Universal Pictures Finland (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Video (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Video (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Spain (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
Universal Studios Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2015) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Cinematique (cosmetics by)
Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
Universal Title (titles & optical effects)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	When faced with the loss of her infant son, Lou-Jean Poplin makes her husband, Clovis, escape from a minimum security prison. Threatened with capture, the couple take rookie Texas State trooper Maxwell Slide hostage, and head across the state in his patrol car. Pursued by dozens of police cars, the trio contend with their sudden elevation to folk heroes, and vigilantes out to stop them. Their only real friend may be trooper Captain Tanner, who struggles to find a peaceful end to the situation. Written by Kevin L. Plot Summary Plot Synopsis
Plot Keywords	year-1969 lens-flare notoriety baby-boy news-media See All (150) »
Taglines	A girl with a great following. See more »
Genres	Crime Drama
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:13 Australia:M Brazil:12 Canada:PG (video rating) Finland:K-12 Finland:K-16 France:Tous publics Iceland:12 India:A Italy:T Japan:PG-12 (video rating) Kuwait:PG Malaysia:U Netherlands:6 New Zealand:M Norway:15 (iTunes rating) Norway:15 Norway:18 (cinema rating) Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) Portugal:M/12 Russia:16+ Singapore:PG South Africa:PG (video rating) South Korea:18 Spain:13 Sweden:15 United Kingdom:AA United Kingdom:PG (video) United States:TV-PG (TV rating) United States:PG United Arab Emirates:Not Rated West Germany:12

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Carte Blanche (United States) Sugarland Express (France) Sugarland Express (Germany) Loca evasión (Spain) Boja evasió (Spain, Catalan title) See more »
Runtime	110 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio	2.39 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Filming Locations	San Antonio, Texas, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget	$3,000,000 (estimated)
Cumulative Worldwide Gross	$12,800,000

Did You Know?

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Trivia	This is the first movie to feature a tracking shot (front seat to back) and a 360-degree pan with dialogue from within a car. See more »
Goofs	There 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. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in Special Show: The Magic of Spielberg (1984). See more »
Soundtracks	The Eyes of Texas See more »
Crazy Credits	Epilogue: "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." See more »
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. See more »

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