Sugarland Express, The
Truncated for general release in the UK, this marvellously constructed chase movie from a young Steven Spielberg is here presented in its complete form. Based on truth, it is about a young couple heading for Sugarland, Texas, pursued by the police as they race across the state. As written, the couple are not particularly likeable, but as played by Goldie Hawn and William Atherton they're funny and sympathetic, even when they capture patrolman Michael Sacks and hold him hostage. The set pieces are beautifully handled, grizzled veteran Ben Johnson is watchable as the head cop on their tail, and, looking back, it's clear that Spielberg already held all the aces and knew how to deal them.
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