Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

Director:

Monte Hellman

Writers:

Rudy Wurlitzer (screenplay) and
Will Corry (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

28 October 1972 (Japan)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You can never go fast enough...

Plot:

Story of two men drag racing across the USA in a primer grey 55 chevy. Wilson is the mechanic, James Taylor is the driver.

Plot Keywords:

Car | Driver | Mechanic | Drag Racing | Gas Station

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

James Taylor	...	The Driver
Warren Oates	...	G.T.O
Laurie Bird	...	The Girl
Dennis Wilson	...	The Mechanic
David Drake	...	Needles Station Attendant
Richard Ruth	...	Needles Station Mechanic
Rudy Wurlitzer	...	Hot Rod Driver (as Rudolph Wurlitzer)
Jaclyn Hellman	...	Driver's Girl
Bill Keller	...	Texas Hitchhiker
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Oklahoma Hitchhiker (as H.D. Stanton)
Don Samuels	...	Texas Policeman #1
Charles Moore	...	Texas Policeman #2
Tom Green	...	Boswell Attendant
W.H. Harrison	...	Parts Store Owner
Alan Vint	...	Man in Roadhouse
Illa Ginnaven	...	Waitress in Roadhouse
George Mitchell	...	Truck Driver at Accident
A.J. Solari	...	Tennessee Hitchhiker
Katherine Squire	...	Old Woman
Melissa Hellman	...	Little Girl with Old Woman picked up by G.T.O.
Jay Wheatley	...	Man #1 at Race Track
James Mitchum	...	Man #2 at Race Track (as Jim Mitcham)
Kreag Caffey	...	Boy with Motorcycle
Tom Witenbarger	...	Pickup Truck Driver
Glen Rogers	...	Soldier #1

Directed by
Monte Hellman

Writing credits
Rudy Wurlitzer		(screenplay) (as Rudolph Wurlitzer) and
Will Corry		(screenplay)
Will Corry		(story)
Floyd Mutrux		uncredited

Produced by
Gary Kurtz	....	associate producer
Michael Laughlin	....	producer (as Michael S. Laughlin)

Original Music by
Billy James		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Jack Deerson		(director of photography)
Gregory Sandor		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Monte Hellman

Casting by
Fred Roos
Jennifer Shull

Costume Design by
Richard Bruno

Production Management
Walter Coblenz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ken Swor	....	assistant director

Art Department
H. Alan Deglin	....	custom auto design and construction
William Kincheloe	....	custom auto design and construction
Richard Ruth	....	custom auto design and construction

Sound Department
Charles T. Knight	....	production sound (as Charles Knight)
Howard S. Wollman	....	sound re-recordist
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Gregory Sandor	....	photographic advisor
John Bailey	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Earl C. Williman	....	lamp operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Billy James	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Jaclyn Hellman	....	dialogue coach
Bonnie Prendergast	....	script supervisor
Marion Sampler	....	title designer
Lee Wenner	....	assistant to producer
Jay Wheatley	....	technical advisor
Steven Henschel	....	location manager (uncredited)
Beverly Walker	....	publicist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Michael Laughlin Enterprises
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Boid (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (2011) (Australia) (theatrical) (New 35mm Panavision film print)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (France) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Atalanta Filmes (Portugal)
• Criterion Collection, The (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2013) (USA) (DVD)
• Eureka Entertainment (2011) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
• Universal Pictures
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Edit-Rite  sound editing
• Synchrofilm Inc.  music editing
• Technicolor  color
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

102 min | Argentina:105 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:Btl | USA:R | Argentina:13 | UK:X | UK:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:12

Filming Locations:

Athens, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Michael Laughlin Enterprises

Trivia:

This is the only time that James Taylor ever acted in a movie. He is the only one of the main actors in the film still alive today (2009).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the G.T.O pulls into the gas station it's extremely shiny and clean considering it's just driven across 3 States!

Quotes:

G.T.O.:[after being approached sexually by a male hitchhiker] I'm not into that!
Oklahoma hitchhiker:I just thought it might relax you while you drive.
G.T.O.:This is competition, man. I've got no time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Interview with Chris Petit and Keith Griffiths (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Me and Bobby McGee

Even though "Easy Rider" came earlier and was much more successful, "Two Lane Blacktop" is a far superior film

I am now convinced Monte Hellman is one of America's most unjustly overlooked filmmakers. "Cockfighter" was good (easially the best hicksploitation film ever made), "The Shooting" was great, and "Two Lane Blacktop" is simply put a masterpiece. Even though "Easy Rider" came earlier and was much more successful, "Two Lane Blacktop" is a far superior film. The films minimalist style is engrossing throughout, and despite the slow pacing your interest never waivers. Its also the greatest road movie ever made because its thematically interesting unlike many other car films. To call this a car film is akin to calling "2001" a sci-fi film or "The Seven Samurai" an action film.

What makes it work so well? For one, the stark minimalism of it all. Hellman proves you don't need flashy effects or a big budget to make a great motion picture (something which Hollywood's school of music video directors hasn't caught on to). Everything is very low key, especially the performances of James Taylor, Laurie Bird, and Dennis Wilson. It perfectly captures the lack of meaning to their lives. Unlike many other counter culture heroes, they seem to be rebelling against nothing except life itself. Secondly, Warren Oates makes the film. Oates is one of the most tragically underrated actors of all time, and this is next to only "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" as his best film. In both, he manages to take a desperate and pathetic man and make him all too human. Its a shame that this is so hard to find as its one of the best films of the decade. (10/10)