Two-Lane Blacktop (1971)

2 men drag-racing across the U.S., in a '55 Chevy. Dennis Wilson's the mechanic, James Taylor's the driver.

Director:

Monte Hellman

Writers:

Rudy Wurlitzer (screenplay) (as Rudolph Wurlitzer), Will Corry (screenplay)

Stars:

James Taylor, Warren Oates, Laurie Bird

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The Driver and The Mechanic are 2 car freaks driving a 1955 Chevy through the southwestern U.S., looking for other cars to race. They're totally dedicated to their car, and speak with each other only when necessary. At a gas station, the pair (along with a girl who's ingratiated herself into their world) meet G.T.O; a middle-aged man who fabricates stories and. It's decided to have a race to Washington, D.C., where the winner will get the loser's car.

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Plot Keywords:

road movie | car movie | 1955 chevrolet | sex | car chase | 

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Taglines:

You can never go fast enough...

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Blacktop" means an asphalt road.

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Goofs

The cost/gallons numbers on the gas pumps change several times during the gas station race set-up scene.

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Quotes

G.T.O.: I don't like being crowded by a couple of punk road hogs clear across two states, I don't.
The Driver: I don't believe I've ever seen you. Course there's lots of cars on the road like yours. They all get to look the same. They perform about the same.

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Crazy Credits

The Car ... 1955 Chevrolet

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Connections

Referenced in Lost Highway (1997)

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Soundtracks

John Henry
Traditional
Performed by Kentucky Colonels with Clarence White
Played by GTO when The Girl was riding with him.

User Reviews

Straighter Story

In my view this is the best road movie ever made. Carping about the slow pace or minimal dialogue is like complaining Scorsese's movies are too violent or the Marx Brothers too zany.

Like the car the two friends drive, this is an exercise in stripping things down to their essentials in search of authenticity. Like a Ramones song or an Edward Hopper painting there is absolutely nothing here that doesn't need to be.

Warren Oates' character on the other hand is a study in inauthenticity. After visiting the US in the 80's and 90's with its malls and fast food chains (and indeed looking at the kind of product Hollywood churns out these days) it's clear that his kind won the race in the end.

I've seen this on TV and in art cinemas a couple of times and I'm glad to hear I can now get the DVD. A true American classic.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1972 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Two-Lane Blacktop

Filming Locations:

Mary's Cafe, 7169 US-89 Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$850,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Laughlin Enterprises, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

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

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1