Pilot (24 Mar. 1969)

A newspaper reporter quits his job and travels across America by motorcycle.

Director:

William A. Graham

Writer:

Denne Bart Petitclerc

Stars:

Michael Parks, Bonnie Bedelia, Akim Tamiroff

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Parks	...	Jim Bronson
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Temple Brooks
Akim Tamiroff	...	Papa Bear
Gary Merrill	...	Inspector Otis
Sheree North	...	Gloria Oresko
Martin Sheen	...	Nick Oresko
Bert Freed	...	Editor Carson
Bruce Mars	...	Troy
Ted Gehring	...	Diner Owner
Lawrence Hauben	...	Eddie
Michael Bell	...	Petty
Gene Dynarski	...	Boots Kowalski
Art Metrano	...	Barker
Peter Brocco	...	Stationmaster
Stanley Schneider	...	Deputy

Storyline

Jim Bronson is a young newspaperman who quits his job following the suicide of his best friend, and sets out on a cross-country trip on his motorcycle in his quest for the meaning of life in which he befriends a runway bride, another searching soul, in this pilot for the TV series of the same name.

---

Plot Keywords:

tv series pilot

---

Genres:

Adventure | Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1969 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stockton, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bud Ekins did the stunt motorcycle work for this TV Pilot and series, he was best friends with Steve McQueen, and stunt rode for him in The Great Escape.

---

Goofs

During the hill climbing you can see that the bike Jim is on is not a Sportster, the exhaust pipes give that away.

---

Quotes

Temple Brooks: Jim, I want to be your friend.
Jim Bronson: Ya know, when you take on a friend, you take on a lot.

---

Connections

Referenced in Morirás con el sol (Motociclistas suicidas) (1973)

User Reviews

One of seminal moments

I remember when I saw this movie, it must have been around 1980, and me and my sister were baby sitting for my elder sisters kid. I must have been around 12, and I thought, "this guy is sooo cool". It's funny how it came back into my head, 'cos I was listening to Johnny Cash singing "Wayfaring Stranger", and I instantly remembered this song from the movie, all those years ago. Don't know what I'd think about it now if I saw it, but it says something that the memory has lasted so long in my head.