This movie recalls the golden days of the hotrod culture, now virtually lost in time, as far as newer generations of Americans are concerned. Watch it and see a little bit of history. This is a "hotrod movie." Or at least it recalls the golden age of hotrod movies. This one comes at least 15 years too late. There were many of them made, and very few are around anymore, except inside some film archives somewhere....
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anonreviewer20 September 2003
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Ed-Shullivan24 September 2014This is light fair that I found entertaining. I am a big fan of Nick Nolte's body of work and although he was playing a 20 something hot-rodder when he was in his mid 30's he certainly looked young and naive. His partner in this drag race movie was Don Johnson as the mechanic who knew everything there was to know about making a hot rod go faster than any of the local hicks residing in Macon County.
Of course Nick picks up a wild and crazy chick played by Robin Mattson. So Nick and Robin end up in a love-hate-love relationship and Nick never knows how extreme Ms Mattson's actions will take the boys in to more trouble than they can get in all by themselves.
So the film has fast cars, faster girls, the local tough guys and the sheriff chasing Nick, Don and Robin through Macon County. I wouldn't want to spoil the ending but suffice to say the movie creates a bit of havoc on wheels with property damage and a few guys feelings also get hurt. But 'eh, what's two young hot rodder's to do except create action.
And so began an illustrious career filled with action films and TV series for our two young stars. It certainly was worth a watch for the retro cars and music. I wasn't disappointed. I give it a 6 out of 10 rating. -
stevenfallonnyc31 January 2002This was one I watched fifty times on late-70's cable. This movie never lets up for a second as it's filled with great action, pretty girls, great 50's music and bad dialogue. Not to mention a young Nick Nolte and Don Johnson! How can you go wrong? The car is incredible too, I used to think the "extra juice" they'd give it during drag races was the wildest thing. The crazy cop is hilarious. I used to look for "sail rabbits" after seeing this one haha. Not to be missed, especially by car fans of fans of films set in the 50's.
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saxman191931 August 2008I'm flipping channels this afternoon and my wife goes, "OMG, is that Nick Nolte? And that looks like Don Johnson." We watched it for a while. It was pretty good. The plot synopsis on this site is spot on. I liken it to a racier version of the Dukes of Hazard (one is even named BO) before the Dukes were TV staples. As a Georgia native I made the comment to my wife, Man that looks like home! I was thrilled when I saw the title and I can verify those are some 2-lane Macon roads for sure. It was an indie film and it has that kind of indie feel to it. Worth 2 hours of your time on a lazy Sunday afternoon if you've already cleaned the house and done your yard work.
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seagem15 August 2005Great nostalgic road trip for those who remember the 1950's - Johnson is the mechanic and Nolte is the driver on their way to compete in Grand Nationals Drags in California - movie hits on all cylinders with buddy film + cool car film + new guy in town film + evil townie hoods + misguided cop + lesson learned factors all working to achieve the Fabulous Fifties mood. Two or three good female acting roles will keep the ladies interested too - as if seeing Johnson and Nolte in all their pre-hunk hottiness won't attract them anyway. The Don Johnson drag racing scene rivals the James Dean scene in Rebel without a Cause. Soundtrack is superb. This film will appeal to anyone interested in hot rods from the 1950's--1960's up to the 1970's.
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daydriver201029 August 2016I just watched this again on one of the rerun cable stations tonight. It takes me back to my youth because I am 63 now. In 1975 when this movie came out I was a the projectionist at a multi-screen drive in movie theater. I was around 21 years old and had just started to do this job for a living.
The picture did so well that it was held-over for at least 4 weeks! That almost never happened in a drive-inn! I remember we had 4 screens and all the projectors in one room over the snack bar. The starting times of the movies were staggered just right so that I could run them all with no mistakes other than an occasional tear in the film which would automatically shut down the machine.
That picture had nearly every car space filled on the weekends and several other nights as well. So, this lot was the full one while the other screens did dismally worse than that. one. By the time I shipped it out I must have seen the car chase scene a hundred times! -
mgirl25 April 2003I initially rented this movie, because I confused it with Macon County Line (which I have never seen but heard was good). So I came into this movie without any prior knowledge to plotlines or previous recommendations or criticisms. I was pleasantly surprised. I have just finished watching it about ten minutes ago. Although the audience is supposed to be oooohed and aaaaahed by the car chases, I was mostly impressed with the relational dynamics between the three leads. The movie takes two long-time buddies and throws a crazy girl into the mix.
Characters: Bo (Nick Nolte)-Bo is a bit hot-tempered and obviously not the brains of the group. He is the "driver" of the movie's centerpiece, a flashy yellow Chevy. He is loyal, almost to a fault and determined.
Harley (Don Johnson)-Harley seems to be the brainier of the two. He does tend to look out for Bo a bit. He's the "mechanic" of the car.
Janelle (Robin Mattson)-Janelle was a waitress, who suddenly latches onto the two boys, romantically with Bo. She's quite crazy and will do anything.
Plot: Harley has finally put his greatest touch to the yellow Chevy, Bo's and Harley's pride and joy. They are on their way to California to enter the National race, having fun and flings on the side. Along the way, Janelle jumps onto the bandwagon, despite Harley's misgivings. She begins to form a bond with Bo, while Harley is out testing the car. During the test drive, Harley gets into a drag race and wins. The loser claims that Harley cheated, and so the two get into a fight over the $100. In a major sub-plot, the gang gets into trouble with Sergeant Whittaker, who becomes obsessed with their capture.
As I said earlier, I greatly admired how the relationship worked between Harley, Bo, and Janelle. The plot was almost used solely to create the dynamic. Bo feels he must choose between racing (and hence Harley) and Janelle. Harley quietly resents Janelle and rationalizes her craziness is dangerous. Janelle feels the intruder, yet is still a member of their little bunch.
I will point out that this movie is good, but not great. It's good for a one-time viewing. -
funkyfry9 May 2008I got to see this on the big screen at "Poppapalooza", local legend Will Viharo presenting a couple movies starring his dad Robert Viharo, who appears in this one as a sheriff driven to insanity by two anarchic drifters (Nick Nolte and Don Johnson) and a schizo girl (Robin Mattson) who beat him up and tear their way through Wisconsin in a fire yellow Chevy.
Best thing about the movie is the music. The movie's set in the mid/late 50s and you get to hear a lot of the great tunes of that time from people like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Ricky Nelson, Gene Vincent. My friend even recognized that they were using the great pop song from the movie "Circus of Horrors." The car is pretty cool, although the chases aren't nearly as thrilling as those in "Eat My Dust" or "Gone in 60 Seconds" or some of the other drive-in movies I've seen from the period. The movie that this one most reminded me of was "Two-Lane Blacktop", although the style is very different because this movie is less realistic and gritty. But the essential plot seems to have been lifted from "Two-Lane" (SPOILERS rest of paragraph) -- the two drifters, one of whom is clearly the driver and the other the mechanic, picking up this girl who ends up not coming between them but causing lots of trouble anyway and ends up leaving them abruptly by hitching a ride with another guy. The car is a similar model as well, and the scene with Johnson taunting the other guy into a race is very similar. But this is a much more conventional, action and thrill oriented film despite the plot similarities. With the 50s rock and roll music and the bright yellow sports car look, it's kind of a mash of "Two Lane" and "American Graffiti", both of which were produced by Gary Kurtz, who like the director of this film Richard Compton started out in Roger Corman's New World organization in the late 60s.
It's a very well-cast movie -- Johnson and Nolte were very little known at the time but they were both obviously up and comers who did a lot for their careers by holding down this film. Robin Mattson is very cute and seems period appropriate in the same kind of way that Cindy Williams was in "Graffiti" and Corman's "Gas!". Viharo is convincingly tough and nutso.
I'd probably rewatch it with a six-pack and have just as much fun with it the second time around. -
mbtoon14 August 2005If anyone born in the late 40's to mid 50's doesn't see this as a symbol of their times, then they're not from the late 40's or 50's. Period. Great vernacular of the times and the emotions we all felt. Too bad they don't make a "modern" version of this movie. The actors seemed so young in this movie, but they're about the same age as I am, so it seems so real to me. Give it a try and see what you think. Especially if you're in your mid to late fifties or early sixties. We're all the same generation and it must strike a familiar cord with you. It is much like the classics like "Of Mice and Men" by Steinbeck. I didn't really put much stock into all of that back in my high school days and early college days, but it's all coming together now. Give a look-see. You'll know what I'm talking about.
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Scarecrow-8827 August 2009Two hotrodders, Harley & Bo(Don Johnson & Nick Nolte, the latter's debut) driving a souped up Yellow Chevy, have designs on traveling cross country to California for a big race, but those desires are put on hold when they come across a rather daffy, often unstable, unpredictable girl(..a waitress working at a diner they come across), Junelle(..the adorable Robin Mattson) getting into a series of troublesome ordeals as a result.
I haven't seen MACON COUNTY LINE, yet, but, as I understand it, this is a cash-in "sequel of sorts" to that successful movie. It really doesn't have a hell of a lot of plot, just these two wild bucks getting themselves into a lot of hot water. It's really cool seeing Nolte and Johnson so young, and full of raucous spirit. As Harley and Bo, they are thrill seekers and this enthusiastic 'we don't give a crap' attitude often fuels the danger they find themselves in. When the two(..Junelle in tow)enter Macon County, Georgia, their lives are never the same.
Harley can not resist showing off what his car can do, the adrenaline junkie he is, and accepts the challenge of MC local thug, Tom(Eugene Daniels) with a black Ford who doesn't like some outsider driving into the area preening his muscle vehicle. What Tom doesn't realize is that Harley is a grease monkey with some serious firepower under the hood, and the race isn't even close. So Tom and his bullying brood leave Harley a bloody, bruised mess. Harley befriends a local teenage cheerleader, Betty(Devon Ericson, all bubbly schoolgirlish)who is able to drive him to the location where Bo and Junelle were waiting, and this sets up the future plot implications..Junelle(..carrying not one, but TWO pistols)will hold up Tom at gunpoint, demanding Harley's money, and as the group spin out, they cause a series of wrecks, including an unfortunate encounter with Macon County cop, Sergeant Whittaker(Robert Viharo). Avoiding arrest, by leaving Whittaker beaten to a pulp, the trio, Harley, Bo, and Junelle(..Betty was left as the trio drive off, escaping Tom and his droogs)head off to leave the state. Narrowly dodging capture from MC police, Whittaker doesn't listen to his superiors, demanding him to let them go, seeking after them, despite no longer having jurisdiction. Tom and Whittaker both decide to follow after the trio, such a decision ultimately costing them in the long run. Meanwhile, Junelle causes a rift between Harley and Bo because of her wildly crazy antics / shenanigans..such as the hold-up of a couple at this grocery store they own because they wouldn't pay her money as a sponsor for Bo's up coming race!
Great rural locations I think enhance this little movie that marches after it's own drum beat, bucking convention, allowing the characters to work their reckless charm on the viewer. We shouldn't really like them, to tell you the truth, for the trouble they get in is of their own making, but maybe it's the star power of the leads that works over the viewer. I will say that the dialogue, quite colorful language, is a great deal of fun to listen to and the soundtrack(..featuring golden oldies)fits the rhythm of the film extremely well since it is set in 1958. -
Sequel to the hixploitation classic "Macon County Line." Max Baer Jr. produced and co-wrote the original film, but was not part of this production. However the co-writer and director of the original film, Richard Compton returned to write and direct this solidly entertaining sequel, which is essentially the same story as the first film but with a new set of characters. Two young men, not brothers this time, are traveling through the south on their way to race cars in California, but run afoul the local sheriff after picking up a local girl and angering the local hot rodders after losing a race. Although the story and action are inferior to the original film, this film boast a much stronger cast, which includes a before-they-were-famous Nick Nolte and Don Johnson as the two leads. It's clear that both Nolte and Johnson were destined to be stars with their strong screen presence and charisma, especially Johnson. Robin Mattson is also quite good as the local girl they pick up, although she did not go on to have the major career of Johnson and Nolte. Overall, "Return to Macon County" is not a classic exploitation film, but it is a solidly entertaining one.
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Thunderbolt11 July 2000This movie is a favorite of mine filled with alot of songs from the 50's. Two men in their late 20's are working on their Chevy to compete in races in the near future. On the way they meet up with a girl, and later have trouble with the law. Alot of good music, and car scenes.
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lightninboy15 May 2005Could two young men afford an almost-new 1957 Chevy and afford to soup it up and afford to drive it cross-country to a big drag race? It's just a movie. There's an obsessed cop in this Macon County movie, but he's not the same one as in the first. And what was the boys' secret weapon: nitrous oxide? The boys become enemies of some local kids with a black '49 or '50 Ford. I thought that the stop signs, etc., looked too new for 1958, but no big deal for a low-budget movie. '50s rock 'n' roll is played in the movie. In order for there to be a happy ending to this movie, there's going to have to be atonement with the obsessed cop. And in order for the boys to atone and still live afterward, some substitution is going to be necessary.
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Woodyanders29 January 20211958, Georgia. Thrill-seeking hot rod racers Bo Hollinger (a very boyish and likeable Nick Nolte in his first big film role) and Harley McKay (a lively and engaging performance by Don Johnson) get more than they bargained for after they pick up the wild and reckless Junell (a delightfully vibrant portrayal by Robin Mattson) while traveling through the Deep South.
Writer/director Richard Compton relates the enjoyable story at a zippy pace, offers a flavorsome evocation of the 1950's period setting (the sound of choice 50's golden oldies is especially spot on), maintains an amiable breezy tone throughout, and stages the exciting vehicular action with muscular aplomb. Nolte and Johnson display a very relaxed, natural, and utterly charming chemistry in the lead roles; they receive sturdy support from Robert Viharo as the vengeful and obsessive Sergeant Wittaker, Eugene Daniels as the cocky Tom, and Devon Ericson as the sweet Betty. Jacques R.Marquette's sunny cinematography provides an attractive bright look. A fun flick. -
vchimpanzee22 September 2003In 1958, Bo Hollinger and Harley McKay are taking their bright yellow '57 Chevy to California to race in a Grand National event. Bo is the driver and Harley the mechanic, and both have a tendency to get in trouble, especially after they meet a spunky waitress named Junelle who wants to be an actress. In Macon County,Georgia, they get in such a big mess they are chased by the cops.
There were funny parts, but overall, I didn't care much for the macho stuff or even the romance. There was an interesting race between the Chevy and a '49 or '50 Ford (they looked the same). But the car chases never reached their full potential, and this was certainly no 'Smokey and the Bandit'. I did like the cars. I'm not a fan of '50s music but I did like the slower tunes. Junelle was my favorite character, and Robin Mattson did a pretty decent job playing her. Don Johnson was charming but profane (fortunately, I saw an edited version), and I sort of liked his character.
How can I say this without spoilers? I thought there was too much emphasis on revenge in this movie, and I don't really care for violence as the solution to every problem, even if the violence wasn't excessive. And I really didn't like the eventual result. -
videorama-759-85939126 September 2021Although this is nothing to write home about, it'a a real chance to see two superstars, in their starting. This being Nolte's first film, just lays proof, of what such a superb character actor he is. He is by far the stronger lead performance, but Johnson is bl**dy good, while also having such a sexy, angel cute performance by Mattinson, as the woman, they really should of not brought with em', is much admired, where her departure, is much disappointing. Nolte's character has a dream of winning this big car race, in Dayton, California, if I'm not mistaken. Where for bread, cherry smiling mate, Johnson, with his cheating powerhouse engine, races young ill bred, bad boy townsfolk for money, and we know who'll inevitably win, only this time they've picked the wrong dude, and add a crazy homicidal cop, many troopers all after our sexy trio, and there you, pretty have your story. The best thing about this movie is it's opening and ending, little music number, by Chuck Berry, which surpasses anything else between, just like the music number at the start and end, does the same in Miami Vice. Have. A 90 minute tme passer, it's only interest if see a much younger Nolte and Johnson. With the chase scene, off the road, into the woods, I couldn't see how they could of lost Johnson and Nolte. Well, really, not something to keep me up, dwelling on all night.
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redstone35724 September 2014Don Johnson and Nick Nolte as southern teen agers out for a good time....Doesn't get any better than this. Great movie, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes movies from that era, or just great movies in general. The fast cars and supped up engines are great and the acting is excellent as well. Both Nolte and Johnson give stellar performances although Johnson steals the show in my opinion. The characters that play the small town people all do a great job and the cinematography and music are both exceptional. The only thing that was a little disappointing is that it ended too soon! This rates to me up there with the movie that started the whole Dukes of Hazzard series which was called Moon Runners, they are a lot alike, and both excellent.
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robertwc195619 March 2018I can't believe all the good reviews for this flick. I am a huge AIP fan and love me some cheese, but this was just plain idiotic. Ripped off the basic idea of Two lane blacktop, add a little more sex and a pissed cop. Oh don't worry sarg, they are just kids? They punched a cop and no one cares. 1 star.