Featured Art & Inspiration Two Lane Blacktop book review

Just got my issue of Two Lane Blacktop Journey by Walt Bailey.

If you are interested in anything to do with Two Lane Blacktop, this book is full of info you won't find any where else.
Bailey reports on the (3) cars built for the movie, and what happened to all of them.
Very interesting.
(I got mine thru Amazon)

 

Thanks for the head's up. It's always amazed me how a low budget almost made for the drive in movie can make such an impact. I found this movie review in a car magazine at the time of it's release.

 

Movie was filmed while I was in Southeast Asia. I didn't see it till later, but remember what the USA looked like when I got back: just like that film.

 

I'm about half way thru the book;...Richard Ruth built the 3 55's for the movie;...I met & talked with Ruth in 2024 at the Glory Days event in Byron, Illinois where he was racing his own 55 Chevy g***er.
I picked up a discarded racing fuel can and had Ruth sign it for me.
..he put one of his business stickers on it.

 

Read the original paperback in the 70's. It was basically the screenplay. It had still photos from the movie. I didn't see the movie until the late 80's.

 

The review posted was all too accurate. Taylor's and Wilson's acting chops can be defined by the fact that this was the only movie either ever appeared in.

 

Adam-12

 

Distracted driving!
Get that laptop off the dash.

 

set up at the tri-five nats weekend before last

 

Very cool cars but a real ****py movie.

 

Don't have the book yet but I loved the movie, I always thought that it was strange they had 2 very talented musicians and didn't take advantage of the fact. HRP

 

If you have a DVD copy there is a commentary on the special features all about filming of it and film locations. I'm pretty sure it was on this commentary that I heard that the release of the movie to home video was delayed for so long due to copyright laws involving the music played over it.

 

Sounds like a movie about nothing

 

the 55 was the star

 

Some get it, most dont.

 

I just wonder why Taylor..

 

I can't believe "car guys" wouldn't find TLB, whether the movie or the book at least a little bit entertaining.

 

Don't forget the Glendale speed center.

 

Loved the car. The whine of that Muncie transmission sticks in my mind. Cinematic masterpiece it was definitely not. I still dig it.

 

Roadkill before Roadkill…two buddies driving Cross country in a tough-as-nails ‘55 having adventures at every turn, sign me up.

 

I only saw the movie once. I kinda recall bits a pieces of it, but I do remember when they were talking about racing across country? or whatever distance it was.
Along the lines of “here’s what we do, we mail our ***les to -****x- PO general delivery…”

But it surely was one of those movies that left you wanting more, and I mean while you watched it!

 

I was still in high school so I had not yet developed any movie critiquing skills yet.
But I liked what I saw!

 

I was working 2nd shift and my "buddies" saw it during the week while I was at work for which I thanked them profusely.. I don't think I saw it till it was on TV.

 

Not referring to the AG piss yellow coupe? I don't remember anything from TLB, got a clip?

 

I've always liked the film. However, it took about 3 or 4 viewings to pick up on the subtle parts of the movie.
I'll be looking for the book. It will go with the 4 copies of the film that I have... Two of which are on VHS.

 

I think it's watchable. I saw it for free on YT then bought the DVD. The extras are pretty cool.
Back story is the studio left the director pretty much alone save for the total running time cap at 1:45:00. First cut was way, way long. Huge chunks of the movie, numerous scenes (as per the screenplay) were cut, which killed a lot of the storytelling. Unfortunately, the director's cut no longer exists, so a true ****ysis is impossible. Of the 1:42:00 released version, there is a lot of enthusiasm a**** filmmakers and film students.
Essentially a cowboy film where the gunslinger and his sidekick are swapped for JT and Wilson.
They shot it in sequence and Wilson partied his way across the country with crew parties every night, his singing and guitar playing a regular occurrence. JT hated the whole deal, the process, the director and sort of sulked his way through. JT said his brother was a gearhead and is embarr***ed to this day about leaving one of the 55s in reverse and blowing up the differential on a retake launch. He's never seen it and said he never will.

 

The Milner coupe was on Emergency!

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/2-lane-blacktop-adam-12-connection.810868/

 

Yup.

Yup.

Exactly !!


The story line was as watery as prison soup , but the high gear action more then made up for it !