1974 - THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS, early good Spielberg film.

Spielberg's road epic about a couple of dim witted white trash Texans who take a state trooper hostage is unlike anything he ever made since.  The film is full of humor and car chases all well handled.

Goldie Hawn a real acquired taste as an actor is perfectly cast as the stupid wife married to her equally clueless husband.  Ben Johnson one of John Ford's actors, is the Texas lawman in pursuit of them.  This is a rare Spielberg film where as much attention to characterization is given as are the meticulously staged action scenes.

In a way this film is an aberration in Spielberg's career.  His next film was Jaws and he's been chasing that three ring circus ever since.

The excellence of The Sugarland Express also owes a great deal to Vilzmos Zsigmond the cinematographer.  Zsigmond was one of the most important filmmakers of the 1970's.  He was responsible for the photography on Deliverance, The Deer Hunter, Heaven's Gate, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and McCabe and Mrs Miller

110 minutes, written by Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins.