The Sugarland Express main backdrop
The Sugarland Express main poster

The Sugarland Express

Visit website

6.6/10 • 378

1974-03-311h 50m

CrimeDrama

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

View Credits
  1. Goldie Hawn

    Goldie Hawn

    Lou Jean Poplin

  2. Ben Johnson

    Ben Johnson

    Captain Harlin Tanner

  3. Michael Sacks

    Michael Sacks

    Patrolman Maxwell Slide

  4. William Atherton

    William Atherton

    Clovis Michael Poplin

  5. Gregory Walcott

    Gregory Walcott

    Patrolman Ernie Mashburn

  6. Steve Kanaly

    Steve Kanaly

    Patrolman Jessup

  7. Louise Latham

    Louise Latham

    Mrs. Looby

  8. Harrison Zanuck

    Harrison Zanuck

    Baby Langston Poplin

  9. A.L. Camp

    A.L. Camp

    Mr. Nocker

Reviews3

View Reviews
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

Recommendations

  • The Best of Times main backdrop

    The Best of Times

    5.6

  • You & Me Forever main backdrop

    You & Me Forever

    5.3

  • The Happy Cricket main backdrop

    The Happy Cricket

    5.2

  • Jackson County Jail main backdrop

    Jackson County Jail

    5.5

  • WitchStars main backdrop

    WitchStars

    5.1

  • Duel main backdrop

    Duel

    7.4

  • Strike main backdrop

    Strike

    7.3

  • Things We Lost in the Fire main backdrop

    Things We Lost in the Fire

    6.6

  • Lady Snowblood main backdrop

    Lady Snowblood

    7.5

  • Survival of the Dead main backdrop

    Survival of the Dead

    4.9

  • Vanishing Point main backdrop

    Vanishing Point

    7.2

  • Grand Isle main backdrop

    Grand Isle

    5.4

  • 1941 main backdrop

    1941

    5.8

  • Herbie Rides Again main backdrop

    Herbie Rides Again

    6.1

  • Phoenix main backdrop

    Phoenix

    6.9

  • Going Places main backdrop

    Going Places

    6.8

  • Jaws main backdrop

    Jaws

    7.7

  • Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol main backdrop

    Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

    5.5

  • Eileen main backdrop

    Eileen

    6.1

  • Pawn Sacrifice main backdrop

    Pawn Sacrifice

    6.8

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