The Sugarland Express main backdrop
The Sugarland Express main poster

The Sugarland Express

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6.6/10 • 420

1974-03-311h 50m

CrimeDramaComedy

A girl with a great following. Every cop in the state was after her. Everybody else was behind her.

Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean and Clovis Poplin lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman.

Directors
Steven Spielberg
Editors
Verna Fields

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Goldie Hawn

    Goldie Hawn

    Lou Jean Poplin

  2. William Atherton

    William Atherton

    Clovis Poplin

  3. Ben Johnson

    Ben Johnson

    Captain Tanner

  4. Michael Sacks

    Michael Sacks

    Slide

  5. Gregory Walcott

    Gregory Walcott

    Mashburn

  6. Steve Kanaly

    Steve Kanaly

    Jessup

  7. Louise Latham

    Louise Latham

    Mrs. Looby

  8. Harrison Zanuck

    Harrison Zanuck

    Baby Langston

  9. A.L. Camp

    A.L. Camp

    Mr. Nocker

Reviews3

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DanDare Avatar

DanDare

Jun 1, 2020

6/10

Steven Spielberg's first proper cinema movie has some great photography from Vilmos Zsigmond. The tone is uncertain. A road movie, a tragic comedy with car pile ups that is based on true facts. Lou Jean Sparrow Poplin (Goldie Hawn) takes her husband Clovis (William Atherton) out of a minimum security prison just weeks before his eventual release. All to save their child who has been taken away and ready to put up for adoption. They kidnap a police officer which leads to them being pursued by the police and the media. Goldie Hawn is spiky as Lou Jean but she is also stupidly impulsive. A story that needed more work, Spielberg does make an accomplished film.

Media

  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster
  • The Sugarland Express poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$3,000,000.00
Revenue
$12,800,000.00
Keywords
prisonpolicestadiumkidnappinghostagetexasadoptiontexas rangerbaby-snatchingbased on true storyroad tripon the runvulgarityconvicted felonrunaway couplefugitive lovers