The Last American Hero (1973)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Lamont Johnson

Writers:

Tom Wolfe (articles)
William Roberts (written by)

Release Date:

27 July 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

It took him 20 years to find out who he was and 2 laps to let the world know.

Plot Keywords:

Backwoods | Southern | Country | 1970s | Father In Jail

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Elroy Jackson Jr. / Junior Jackson
Valerie Perrine	...	Marge Dennison, Morley's Secretary
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Mrs. Jackson
Ned Beatty	...	Hackel, Derby Promoter
Gary Busey	...	Wayne Jackson
Art Lund	...	Elroy Jackson Sr.
Ed Lauter	...	Burton Colt
William Smith	...	Kyle Kingman, Driver (as William Smith II)
Gregory Walcott	...	Cleve Morley
Tom Ligon	...	Lamar, Good Ole' Boy
Ernie F. Orsatti	...	Davie Baer, Driver (as Ernie Orsatti)
Erica Hagen	...	Trina Kingman
James Murphy	...	Spud
Lane Smith	...	Rick Penny, Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bob Cole	...	Marshall Collins
Louis Compton	...	Track Announcer (Martinsville)
Bill Connell
Bridget Furr Jones	...	Baby girl with Junior Jackson at speedway

Also Known As:

Hard Driver (USA) (reissue title)

Runtime:

95 min | 91 min (FMC Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Hickory, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Rojo Productions

Trivia:

The movie depicts Junior's father as being arrested for producing moonshine. In reality, it was Junior himself that was arrested and sentenced. In 1956, federal tax agents found Johnson working at his father's moonshine still in Wilkes County; they arrested him. Many local residents believed the raid was done in revenge for the agent's inability to catch Johnson delivering moonshine on local highways; this is depicted in the movie when we see the local law enforcement busting up his father's still. Junior Johnson was convicted of moon-shining and was sent to prison in Chillicothe, Ohio. He served 11 months of a two-year sentence.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Precious Images (1986)

Soundtrack:

I Got A Name

Exciting ride with thrills and spills just ahead of characters and plot

Jeff Bridges' combination of redneck roughness and choirboy sweetness is just right for this 1973 tale of a poor Southern boy, Junior Jackson, making good on the car racing track. The movie is based on Tom Wolfe's articles about the famous stock car racer, Junior Johnson, whom Wolfe dubbed "The Last American Hero". Cinematic Junior, like the real one, learns how to drive hard and fast while running the moonshine whiskey made by his father. The movie covers the first year or so of his career, from when he takes up racing to raise money while his father is in jail, until his first big win.

The movie celebrates individuality and competitiveness, but despite all his skill, guts and cheek, even Junior can't make it by himself. Real success comes only after he gives up his independent status, and agrees to drive for a car-maker (Ed Lauter). Also in support are his family, with Art Lund and Gary Busey excellent as his father and brother; and a stock car groupie (Valerie Perrine) who retains a soft spot for him, whoever else she's currently sleeping with. However, for many viewers, the main interest of the film will lie less in its plot, characterisations, or "right stuff" message, than in the atmosphere and thrills of the races which the movie graphically captures.