Steelyard Blues
| Steelyard Blues | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Alan Myerson |
| Written by | David S. Ward |
| Produced by | Tony Bill Michael Phillips Julia Phillips |
| Starring | Donald Sutherland Jane Fonda Peter Boyle Howard Hesseman John Savage |
| Cinematography | Stevan Larner |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1 million (US/ Canada rentals)[1] |
Steelyard Blues is a 1973 comedy crime film starring Donald Sutherland, Jane Fonda and Peter Boyle.
Tagline: If you can't beat 'em ... drive 'em crazy!
Plot
It concerns the lives of a group of misfits trying to find a happier life against the norms of society. Sutherland plays an ex-con with a passion for demolition derbies. He has wrecked almost every possible car, but violates his parole when confronted by a 1950 Studebaker. This embarrasses his brother, a politically ambitious district attorney (Howard Hesseman, in an unlikely respectable role). Fonda plays a prostitute with an off-on relationship with Sutherland's character. The gang tries to get an old Consolidated PBY Catalina plane flying, and much humor ensues.
The film is notable for reprising the Fonda-Sutherland pairing, featured initially in the 1971 film Klute.
Cast
- Mel Stewart - Black Man in Jail
- Donald Sutherland - Jesse Veldini
- Howard Hesseman - Frank Veldini
- Morgan Upton - Police Capt. Bill
- Peter Boyle - Eagle Thornberry
- Jessica Myerson - Savage Rose
- Beans Morocco - Rocky (as Dan Barrows)
- John Savage - Kid
- Jane Fonda - Iris Caine
- Nancy Fish - Pool Hall Waitress
- Roger Bowen - Fire Commissioner Francis
- Garry Goodrow - Duval Jax
- Lynette Bernay - Bar Waitress
- Richard Schaal - Zoo Official Mel
- Edward Greenberg - Rookie Cop
Notes
Because Fonda, Sutherland and Boyle were active in anti-war activities when this movie was made, it seems that Steelyard Blues was not given a wide release or much publicity. Nevertheless, it is memorable for its portrayal of oddball characters, and found a warm reception among college students and non-conformists. With its anti-establishment message and hip soundtrack by musicians Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Nick Gravenites, Maria Muldaur and others, it is an iconic seventies film.
The film was broadcast on television (including NBC in 1979) under an alternate name, Final Crash.[2][3]
Soundtrack listing
- 1. Swing With It
- 2. Brand New Family
- 3. Woman's Love
- 4. Make The Headlines
- 5. Georgia Blues
- 6. My Bag (The Oysters)
- 7. Common Ground
- 8. Being Different
- 9. I've Been Searching
- 10. Do I Care
- 11. Lonesome Star Blues
- 12. Here I Come (There She Goes)
- 13. If You Cared
- 14. Theme From Steelyard Blues (Drive Again)
References
- ^ "Big Rental Films of 1973", Variety, January 9, 1974 p 60
- ^ October 13, 1979 listings for CHEK-TV, Victoria, British Columbia, in TV Guide, Eastern Washington State Edition, October 13–19, 1979.
- ^ Listings for KSD-TV from Radio-Info: "Retro: St. Louis Tues, July 31, 1979", July 31, 2012.