Motion Pictures Not Everybody Liked Two Lane Blacktop…

I can recall being a young teen in the mid 60’s and us guys Dreaming about jumping in a boxcar to travel the country, or a canoe to travel from the Ohio River down the Mississippi to New Orleans.
Similar ideas different transportation.
Graduated in 71. Seen alot of B movies when the windows weren’t fogged up.

 

I feel your pain

 

Well, he ain't wrong. As a film, it's not very good. I do still enjoy it for the cars. Seeing this movie and American Grafitti as a kid are two big reason I own a 55 now.

 

I have to say that this movie influence two of my buddies from high school that drove out to CA in a 55 Chevy from NH. On the way, they max out two credit cards, had to ask their parents to send more money, did not pick up any hot women (girls), got to CA, sold the car and had to take a Greyhound all the way back to NH. Upon returning for their senior year of high school, they were hero's and could now walk on water. But at the end of the day or rather the end of the school year, they along with me and a few others were all inducted into Uncle Sam's army and given a free airplane ride right into CA for a short stay.

 

I'm a pretty big beach boys fanatic so I enjoyed just watching Dennis too. 99% of my worship focus goes to Brian of course since I like recording, but any of the bb's are of interest to me. Especially Dennis being the most rowdy one.

 

As a 16 year old in 1971 vs now as a 66 year old, my standards of cinema quality have evolved, as the industry as a whole has.
Back in '71 it was the movie to see (as one of thousands of young rebellious teens of the time), I have fond memories of those times. The movie was something I could relate to, and place myself right there with them in my mind.
Far out, Groovy, Dig it, Make Love not War, Flower Power, war protests, drugs..had to be there I guess.

 

The gas station scene had builder Richard Ruth in it.

 

And HDS

 

Could he even play the drums? I think Hal Blaine did most of the recordings.

 

Not to go off topic but that is true of much of the Beach Boys recorded music. Yes he could play the drums.

 

the 55 made the movie...

 

The Girl was Laurie Bird. She only made three films. She died by suicide in 1979 at 26. She was Art Garfunkel's girlfriend and killed herself at his home. That is really sad on every front.

 

“Make it three yards mutherfu••ckr and we’ll have us an automobile race”

 

I saw HDS and his band one time, playing in a bar.

 

Liked him in every movie I've seen him in.

 

@Paul said it better than I can upthread. I love it, its art, it's a cultural icon, it's a touchstone of an era, it's great to look at, the car is consistently the loudest, clearest sound in the film for a reason, imperfect characters and confusing relationships, awesome real footage of the USA, old-vs-new Hollywood, et cetera.

As time goes by I appreciate more what it doesn't have... no chase scene with a grimacing driver shifting 37 times in one mile, no dumb explosions, no machine gun battles, no ridiculous "heist", no CGI, the '55 doesn't fly over over a semi full of cocaine or compete in a dirt-track stock car race, no botox, no silicone and no product tie-ins or superheroes uttering witty catch phrases.

Plus how can you not love a movie with shots like this:

 

With lines like:

... Plymouth had a hemi with a torqueflite, believe I could'a sawed the cat in half if the cops hadn't showed up..

 

You would be incorrect about that. Although Hal played on many of the wrecking crew sessions of course (other drummers did as well), Dennis plays on more bb stuff than the wc ever did, and he played live shows, etc etc.

 

My unpopular opinion: That girl wasn't cute.

Yeah, the movie sucks, but I kinda like watching poorly made movies? I have a whole collection of poorly made car movies. They're fun to watch. You just have to lower your expectations.

The street race footage with Big Willie towards the beginning is worth the price of admission.

 

Yep one of the best actors ever, and for me Paris, Texas occupies some of the same headspace as Two Lane Blacktop, slow does not equal boring.

 

That right there ^^^ says it all.

(387) Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) - Trailer - YouTube

Two-Lane Blacktop - Wikipedia

 

"I just don't know if I want the Chevy to work against a home built piece of crap"
I do not care what the critics say, I still love this movie

 

"Make it 3 yards MFer, and we'll have us an automobile race"...
That movie is one of those "if I have to explain it, you would not understand " things... beats watching that cornball American Graffiti.

 

How many of you that didn’t like the movie, have ever lined up on a road at night, with a guy in the middle with a flashlight? My first race, that guy almost got run over. Those were the days my friends. Maybe you had to be there?

 

I've never seen the movie and I'm 65. Guess I should watch it so I can comment on this thread. I was usually too busy cruising around in my big block Chevy back then to watch any movies.

 

This, yes. You just raised my personal rating a notch or 2 considering all that. Thanx...

 

Wasted my money on it, never made it to the end.

 

As bad as it is by some measures it has something that is NOT for everyone so you're right. Did I do that? Lets say I'm glad such things have a statute of limitations. Fastest street car I ever ran would do 11.60s in the 1/4 which was pretty damn respectable back then. Many were faster and out of my league but there was a lotta action for such a car. Done right they never look the part.

 

the cars were the stars...wait-there were boobs in it too?!?!

 

We have it on in the garage while working on cars. Someone generally makes some crack about "the jets" anytime we are out. (A.G. gets played on occasion also)