Tracks (1976)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Henry Jaglom

Writer:

Henry Jaglom (writer)

Release Date:

1976 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Vietnam war has just ended. But for Jack Falen, the battle is only beginning.

Plot:

A soldier (Dennis Hopper) returns from Vietnam on special assignment, accompanying the body of his friend by train to California for burial...

Plot Keywords:

Flashback | Soldier | Train | Nudity | Train Ride

Cast

Dennis Hopper	...	1st Sgt. Jack Falen
Taryn Power	...	Stephanie
Dean Stockwell	...	Mark
Topo Swope	...	Chloe
Alfred Ryder	...	The Man
Zack Norman	...	Gene
Michael Emil	...	Emile
Barbara Flood	...	The Lady
Cayle Chernin	...	Train Passenger
Vance Davis	...	Train Passenger
Nate Esformes	...	Train Steward
James Frawley	...	Train Passenger
Mary George	...	Train Passenger
Jim Gitter	...	Train Passenger
Kevin Hoffman

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Trivia:

The role of 1st Sgt. Jack Falen was originally meant for Jack Nicholson.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1997)

Classic Dennis Hopper performance!

Much has been written about Dennis Hopper's off screen "adventures" during his exile from mainstream Hollywood in the 1970s, but the wild stories of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll overshadow the fact that when he WAS allowed in front of a camera he almost always gave brave, and emotionally open performances. The little seen 'Tracks' is a case in point.

Hopper plays a soldier from Vietnam on a mission to escort the coffin of a fellow soldier back to the United States. He does this by traveling by train, hence the title. While on the journey he interacts with the other passengers, who include a mysterious hipster (Dean Stockwell), and a beautiful young college student (Taryn Power). He is smitten by the young girl, and wrestling with his shyness and uncertainty, attempts to develop a relationship with her. He is torn between his desire, his duty, the memories of the war, and of his childhood, and finds himself walking the line between sanity and madness. He must battle his demons and fight against hallucinations that plague him.

'Tracks' features many fine, naturalistic performances from the supporting cast. The dialogue as a whole feels improvised, and Hopper particularly excels at this. Stockwell also impresses, and the few scenes between the two are fresh and memorable. 'Tracks' is a strong example of intelligent, uncliched 1970s film making, and should appeal to fans of Wenders 'The American Friend' (another strong Hopper role from this period), 'The King Of Marvin Gardens', 'Fingers', 'Scarecrow', 'The Last Detail', and other unfairly neglected character studies from this exciting era. This movie has been overlooked for too long! It's time to rescue it from obscurity.