Electra Glide in Blue (1973)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

James William Guercio

Writers:

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

Release Date:

4 October 1973 (France)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

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:

Murder | Hermit | Desert | Motorcycle Cop | Motorcycle

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

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

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Todd-AO) | 4-Track Stereo

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Guercio-Hitzig

Trivia:

First time director James William Guercio wanted the great Conrad L. Hall to photograph this film, but it was not in the budget. Guercio reduced his own salary to one dollar so he could secure Hall as the cinematographer.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: As Jolene attempts to make out with Big John in front of jukebox, there's a bearded man visible in the mirror behind the jukebox.

Quotes:

John Wintergreen: I think I'll go over and check out the Black Canyon.
Motor Officer Zipper Davis, John's Partner: Aww, there ain't no action over there!
John Wintergreen: Zipper, that's the story of your life... there ain't no action, at no time, at no place... I'll see you later. Somebody's gotta be doing something bad somewhere!

Movie Connections:

References The Blue Dahlia (1946)

Soundtrack:

Most of All

This is real Cinema

An incredible piece of film making, this beautifully shot movie really is about as poetic as it's possible for cinema to be and still have a coherent, gripping narrative. It feels like a western with its dramatic monument valley backdrop and masculine themes, but plays more like a European movie, with it's dark characterisations and existential mood . The soundtrack is fantastic and the feeling the movie imparts is unique. I always recommend this film to people because so few have ever seen it. I think it's a tragedy that James Guercio didn't make more movies because this was his first (and only) film and it's up there with the best of Peckinpah/Leone/Boorman/Seigal (whose work is similar). I'll never forget this film and the ending will live with me forever. If you like movies you need to see this film, This is real Cinema.