Customer Reviews

Steelyard Blues

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When this film was released on national teevee, the network, in its infinite wisdom (or something) decided that we wouldn't want to watch a film with a title so irrelevant to what they perceived as the main thrust of the film, and so they retitled it "The Final Crash" -- i assume it was because the main character (Donald Sutherland as Veldini) is a demolition derby driver when he isn't in jail (he was in jail for robbing gas stations in order to pay for the demolition derby driving habit...).

This, of course, is almost irrelevant to the main themes of the film, except as it is to be seen as one more example of a free spirit trammeled 'round by petty mundanity, i guess.

That aside, this is a nice little surreal comedy about a group of non-conformist types who want to fly away and a society that cannot tolerate their oddnesses nor grant them the freedom to opt out, as personified in Veldini's brother, DA "Veldin" (Howard Hesseman, against type as an uptight Establishment politician), who hopes to run for Governor and *doesn't* need his wacko brother making his name a laughingstock again.

Representing the Forces of Freedom (or at least Absurdity) along with Sutherland as Veldini are Peter Boyle as Eagle, a self-defined lunatic who does a wicked Brando impression, and Jane Fonda as Iris Caine, childhood friend of the Veldinis, now a high-priced callgirl (keep an eye on her highball glass full of ice...).

Symbolising the dreams of the free-spirited is the PBY Catalina seaplane that the three plus friends plan to refurbish and fly away to a desert-island paradise in.

Actually, the film is a pretty loose framework for various bits of outrageous comedy, including a non-violent commando raid on a Navy base for parts, and an opening jail-house scene in which Veldini attempts to convince a cellmate that he is, indeed, dangerous.

The main problem that this film has, for me, and, i suspect for others (aside from the fact that some people still reflexively spit when they say "Hanoi Jane" Fonda's name) is that Donald Sutherland (like, say, Bruce Dern) can be, shall we say, a bit wearing as a lead actor primarily carrying a film. I, in this case, at least, don't have that problem, and i really like this movie.

Some classic bits:

Eagle sneaking out of the mental institution where he is a voluntary commitment in the dead of night -- not because he *has* to; he can sign himself out anytime he wants -- but because it *feels* right.

The afore-mentioned Brando imitation that is so right and so wonderfully satiric.

Fonda, Hesseman and the ice cubes.

Veldini's obsession -- there is only one model and year of post-war car he hasn't destroyed at least one of, and he's determined to get one before he goes.

And so on.

The "twist" in the end is fun, too.

Steelyard Blues, with Fonda, Sutherland, and Boyle (C1973) was arguably one of the most hysterical cult movies ever made. I saw it several times when it first came out. Unfortunately, Jane Fonda was having problems with her North Viet Nam excursion at that time and the movie never was promoted as it should have been. If you think Peter Boyle is great on Raymond, please availe yourself of his talent over a quarter of a century ago. An absolutely must see.

Fonda, Sutherland, and Peter Boyle make this an unforgettable cult film. It captures the wacky counter- cultural sixties-seventies anti-hero perfectly - an urban Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Liondrops keep falling on my head (see film to get reference).

A film not for everyone. Early previews of stardom to come, Donald Sutherland is great as an off-beat criminal genius on a quest. Howard Hessman as one of his brothers, the "Good" brother, and John Savage as the little brother. Jane Fonda is great as the love interest. And the Great Peter Boyle as "The Eagle". Black comedy at its best!

Not a bad movie. Donald Sutherland plays a clumsy, cocky, and abnoxious man. His character ( Jesse ) lives in a scrapyard with some of his friends. He has a love for destroying beautiful cars, and having fun at everyone elses exspence. Fresh out of jail, he is forced by his paroll officer to have a normal life. But he seems determined to live his life on his terms. It's definantly worth checking out.

Not a bad movie. Donald Sutherland plays a clumsy, cocky, and abnoxious man. His character ( Jesse ) lives in a scrapyard with some of his friends. He has a love for destroying beautiful cars, and having fun at everyone elses exspence. Fresh out of jail, he is forced by his paroll officer to have a normal life. But he seems determined to live his life on his terms. It's definantly worth checking out.

When this crap came out, 3/4 of the country was stoned and wound be entertained by anything that alluded to drugs, dissed the cops or said a naughty word. This does all of those but it's highlight is killing a '50 Studebaker (You remember those, they looked like 2-row cornpickers with a propeller in the center)in a demolition derby.
Any old car fans will probably be distressed by the destruction of what are now desirable collectables, but what then, were just cheap props.

Acting is about what you'd expect, good actors trying to make something out of nothing, charecters are 2-dimendional, story is a real stretch no matter how stoned you are.
...If you're into torture this might be an effective tool for your bag of tricks.

Oh yeah, they also blow up a WW II PBY Catalina.

This movie is a perfect example of wasted time, I was neither angered nor moved. I cannot remember 1 clever line or exceptional scene. Even blowing up the PBY was an anti-climax. Its like having your brain wiped for the length of the movie
UGH!

Not a bad movie. Donald Sutherland plays a clumsy, cocky, and abnoxious man. His character ( Jesse ) lives in a scrapyard with some of his friends. He has a love for destroying beautiful cars, and having fun at everyone elses exspence. Fresh out of jail, he is forced by his paroll officer to have a normal life. But he seems determined to live his life on his terms. It's definantly worth checking out.

Don't get me wrong--I think Donald Sutherland, Jane Fonda, and especially Peter Boyle are wonderful, talented actors. But Steelyard Blues is easily in the top five worst movies ever. For a movie to be truly horrid, it can't just have a plot that is either pointless or idiotic (or both). Nor can it merely have wooden acting. A really bad movie must also have a soundtrack bad enough to be discarded by both elevators & telephone hold lines. Steelyard Blues is an easy trifecta.

There is no story. Donald Sutherland doesn't do any work, except that he loves to drive in demo derbies. For no apparent reason (for the movie plot or the viewer), Sutherland is on "probation" to Howard Hessman, who plays Sutherland's brother and a district attorney. What Hessman being a district attorney has to do with anything is also beyond this movie. Jane Fonda is a prostitute, who is Sutherland's sometime girlfriend--but also (seemingly) has sex with Hessman. Peter Boyle once worked in a "circus" (I guess), where he learned how to be a "human fly." It must have been this same circus that taught Boyle how to magically remove bullets from guns, and do invisible "ninja" travel in black pajamas. Those circus people!

Supposed hijinks ensues when Sutherland decides to restore an old airplane, instead of getting a job. Boyle agrees to help, along with the usual gang of idiots--one of whom always has an electric guitar around his neck, even though he never plays it.

Nothing happens in the movie. The plane doesn't get built. Peter Boyle gets "arrested" by the army, and somehow escapes (all that happens off camera), and shows up at the end with a bunch of horses. Boyle is dressed like a western Clint Eastwood, or Marlon Brando from One Eyed Jacks--but he looks more like your mother's crazy cousin Ralph who has gone all out for the costume party no one else wanted to have.

And the soundtrack rarely fits the scenes.

This is a good movie to see, only because it's important to gain some perspective on what a "terrible" movie really is. For example, the latest remake of Rollerball was clearly a terrible movie--but still watchable, because the movie challenged to viewer to believe that the next scene couldn't possibly be worse than the current scene (a challenge that Rollerball made & held to the very end. It was amazing). Or Battlefield Earth--another terrible movie, but still watchable because that film holds the record for most buckets of dirt thrown from off-screen (and long may it stand). Steelyard Blues, on the other hand, is so pointless, the characters so meaningless, that watching the film really does become a chore--a struggle. There should be a telephone number at the end of the film, so successful viewers can call & collect a prize. Trust me--not many prizes would be given out.

Off the top of my head, the only other movie I can think of that was this bad was Cheech & Chong's Nice Dreams (And I thought Cheech & Chong's Next Movie was hilarious......).

Do not buy this movie.