The Sugarland Express (1974)

My Review

Director Steven Spielberg made his theatrical film debut with the crime drama “The Sugarland Express.” It tells the story of a woman and her newly escaped-from-prison husband who take a policeman hostage and flee across Texas to try and get their child before he is placed in foster care. The unlikely story is somehow made believable by a lucid screenplay written by Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, and competent direction by Spielberg. He makes good use of old-fashioned movie ploys such as big shoot-outs and police cars excessively crashing into each other, i.e., the Keystone Cops routine.

The cast is headed by recent Oscar-winner Goldie Hawn (“Cactus Flower” 1969) and William Atherton as her hubby. Michael Sacks plays the kidnapped peace officer, and Ben Johnson is the police captain. They are competent performers, but don’t expect deep character development here. This is escapist programming. The supporting cast includes Gregory Walcott, Dean Smith, Frank Steggall, Harrison Zanuck, Louise Latham, and Steve Kanaly, who would become famous as Ray Krebbs on the CBS nighttime drama “Dallas” beginning in 1978.

“The Sugarland Express” is the first collaboration between Spielberg and composer John Williams, who has scored all but five of Steve’s directorial projects. It was a hit at the box office for producer Richard D. Zanuck, The Zanuck/Brown Company, and Universal Pictures. It was filmed at various locations across the great state of Texas.