Steelyard Blues (1973)

As Good As It Gets

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It's kind of ironic that someone wants to have his/her own place in this world. But if you have been in trouble with the law, you would considered to be an outcast to society. A rebel is a person who won't conform to society means. Donald Sutherland plays Jesse Veldini, a demolition driver who seems to be on the edge. Howard Hesseman plays Frank, his brother and D.A. who seems to help his brother get on the straight and narrow. Jesse is notorious for wrecking every kind of American car during his times in the demolition derby. When he sees the 1950 Studebaker, he has to wreck it. With all the other misfits he hangs with, they get to restore a plane. This movie is a barrel of laughs. And it's a reunion of Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda. Two years ago, they did "Klute" where Sutherland played a cop. Fonda plays a prostitute again in this film. This is a story of find a place in society, more like finding your own world. What a better place to be like the junkyard. The ultimate treasure yard. I enjoyed it very much. 4 out of 5 stars.

This is one of my favorite movies from the '70's. Peter Boyle steals the show, he is just over-the-top hilarious. Sutherland shows signs that he is becoming a famous actor, even though he doesn't seem to be trying very hard, but then that's Donald. Fonda seems like she is still trying to learn how to act. Then again, maybe it was just because they all may have been stoned during the entire film (although that subject does not come up in this movie). The scene at the demolition derby is one of my favorite scenes ever, even though I'm a car guy and it kills me to see the '50 Stude destroyed. This is probably more of a guy film even though Fonda brings out the "new woman".

my favorite line(s), while eagle is climbing up the hangar wall."how does he do that?" "Have you ever worked in a circus?" "No." "I can't tell you."The story is Cain and Abel. Abel, supported by his friends and Cain, supported by his societal structure are at odds when the Abel brother, Jesse, gets out of jail and tries to avoid thievery, which he had used to support his "habit" of driving demolition derby cars. Frank, the Cain character, happens to be running for public office and doesn't want to be embarrassed by Jesse. Jesse and his friends meld into one wacky , seemingly improv group. Many of the support cast has Second City credit as well as the San Francisco Committee. Alan Myerson was the Committee's director. And Peter Boyle extends his talents beyond even those he later displayed on SNL opposite John Belushi. Jane Fonda unobtrusively adds the new woman movement of the 70's when asked what she could contribute to the group's project of rebuilding a plane for escape to freedom. "I could help with the welding," she says, totally out of the character she has become while Jesse was in jailHoward Hesseman is the perfectly suave villain, Garry Goodrow the perfectly wacky techie.There is so much to say about the music. Bloomfield, maria muldaur, nick gravenites, on and on. just a great uplifting soundtrack, very bluesy and toe tapping.

Steelyard blues is a terrific addition to the Woodstock, or anti-establishment, era movies which include Easy Rider, Vanishing Point and Zacharia, to name a few. Peter Boyle is priceless as he does an impression of Marlon Brando and later scales a building without the use of ropes -- also a terrific early performance by KWRP's Howard Hessman. Don't miss this hip, fun farce. They don't make em like this anymore. Fantastic sound track featuring Maria Muldaur -- among others.