Electra Glide in Blue (1973)

Regisseur:

James William Guercio

Drehbuchautoren:

Robert Boris (screenplay)
Robert Boris (story) ...

Premierendatum:

4. Oktober 1973 (France)

Genre:

Action | Krimi

Werbezeile:

He's A Good Cop. On A Big Bike. On A Bad Road.

Plot:

A short Arizona motorcycle cop gets his wish and is promoted to Homicide following the mysterious murder of a hermit...

Plot Keywords:

Sans Coulettes | Midget | Desert | Reading | Impotence

Filmpreise:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Nutzerkommentare:

Criminally obscure film has more to offer than 90% of modern day fare.

Besetzung

Robert Blake	...	John Wintergreen
Billy Green Bush	...	Zipper (as Billy 'Green' Bush)
Mitch Ryan	...	Harve Poole (as Mitchell Ryan)
Jeannine Riley	...	Jolene
Elisha Cook Jr.	...	Willie (as Elisha Cook)
Royal Dano	...	Coroner
Hawk Wolinski	...	VW Bus Driver (as David J. Wolinski)
Peter Cetera	...	Bob Zemko
Terry Kath	...	Killer
Lee Loughnane	...	Pig Man
Walter Parazaider	...	Loose Lips
Joe Samsil	...	Sgt. Ryker
Jason Clark	...	L.A. Detective
Michael Butler	...	Truck Driver
Susan Forristal	...	Ice Cream Girl

Alternativ:

Harley Davidson 344 (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) [de]

Länge:

114 Min

Produktionsland:

USA

Sprache:

Englisch

Farbe:

Farbe

Seitenverhältnis:

2.35 : 1

Tonverfahren:

Mono (Todd-AO) | 4-Track Stereo

Altersfreigabe:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:PG

Drehorte:

Arizona, USA

Firma:

Guercio-Hitzig

Dies und das:

Bassist and lead vocalist for the group "Chicago", Peter Cetera, plays a character named "Bob Zemko". A real actor who plays a bit part is also in the cast. His actual name was Bob Zemko. He died a year after making this, his only film.

Pannen:

Abfolgefehler: In the final driving scenes, the van and the bike, supposedly driving along a long straight road, drive by the same distant butte at least three times.

Dialogzitate:

John Wintergreen: I need you to give me some information.
Pig Man: I'll give you some information. You're standing in pigshit.

Bezüge zu anderen Titeln:

Ausschnittsweise enthalten in "TCM Underground: Electra Glide in Blue (#1.5)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Free from the Devil

Criminally obscure film has more to offer than 90% of modern day fare.

Before he found himself on the wrong side of a murder investigation, Blake was noted for playing an unconventional cop on the TV show "Baretta" (and also the flip side as a brutal killer in the film "In Cold Blood".) Here he is a square peg trying to fit into a round hole as a California Highway Patrolman with dreams of more. At 5'4", he is a full head shorter than the shortest of his fellow motorcycle-riding fellow officers. Though his cohort Bush balances his days between sitting on his bike reading comic books and listening to the radio with pulling over anyone even remotely suspicious, Blake yearns to be a better cop than that and, ultimately, a detective. When (after a thoroughly gripping opening sequence) a man is found shot to death, Blake seizes the opportunity to piece the situation together and becomes the driver and right hand man to hotshot detective Ryan. As the pair attempts to solve the mystery of the man's death, their faults, attributes and insecurities are laid bare (notably in an extended scene with Riley, a barmaid who has known both men for a long time.) Finally, the truth of the death comes to light, but only after significant turmoil, carnage and some surprises. Blake is terrific in the lead. He perfectly captures the awkwardness mixed with ambition of his character. He has many memorable scenes, more than a few of which that poke fun at his size (though he was in great physical shape at the time.) Bush lends strong support as his rather amoral buddy. Ryan is splendidly authoritarian and paints a memorable portrait of a man who is a big shot (especially in his own mind) every time and everywhere except when it counts. He is perfect in the role. Cook has a very showy and effective role as a mentally challenged old man who discovers the body. Riley is effective in her sleazy, but sympathetic role, but her big scene does seem out of place somehow and shifts the focus of the movie more than it probably ought to. Dano, a strong character actor in countless TV and film projects, does an excellent job as a jaded coroner (a far cry from "Quincy M.D.", he not only eschews a surgical mask, but smokes a cigarette during the autopsy!) The film is gorgeously photographed and extremely creatively directed. It had to be way ahead of its time in terms of camera-work. The texture and atmosphere of the scenes is beyond most of what is cranked out today. It's also loaded with quirkiness and irony (some might say overloaded.) In any case, it's a unique viewing experience with many rewards for the patient and incisive viewer. There's also a motorcycle chase that rivals any of the best from this period. Like so many films, the only way it can be fully appreciated is in the widescreen format. The glimpses of Monument Valley are welcome and add much to the visual appeal of the film. The film isn't completely flawless, but it is highly memorable. The title refers to the make and color of a motorcycle.