EyeDunno I finally got the chance to watch DMCL, decades after enjoying it on network television back in the 1970s and it still is a very watchable and thrilling piece of filmmaking. First I have to compliment the way the story boarding brought the characters together. Deke (my favorite) joins up with Larry and eventually, Mary and the trio wind up running afoul of the law. Headed by a no-nonsense captain, his squad battle over ribbons of two-lane highways that showcase driving and flying skills as well as one of the most classic rides in muscle car lore, the 1969 Dodge Charger R/T 440. It could have been easy to scoff at Larry - an egotistical, narcissistic race car hopeful - paired with Mary, a very attractive woman who really talked far more than I could have tolerated. Deke was the moral compass who kept the whole operation from going belly up. While ready to take care of business, he showed a sense of compassion very early in the film and that moment was conveyed by Adam Roarke through moments of candor and even a simple smile. "Comedy" should also be added to the description of this cool retro chase flick. There are plenty of one-liners which keep the entertainment flowing, coupled with moments of facial expressions and glances by a number of the supporting cast. Also look for Hank, played by Eugene Daniels, as the ground-based obsessive patrolman, driving a pursuit special and the talent of James Gavin, who operates the Bell Huey helicopter. A fine piece of suspenseful flying. I revisit some of my favorite films that I recall as a youngster to see whether they could stand the test of time and DMCL definitely is one for the muscle car enthusiast. It's a classic, IMHO. As long as you get past Mary's incessant chatting.

Cheese Hoven Imagine all the clichés of early 70s road movies rolled into one. A sub-par Bonnie and Clyde gang; a maverick sheriff who clashes with his by-the-book superior; a series of incompetent Dukes-of-Hazzard-style police chases. You've got yourself the plot of DMCL.Add to that the early 70s obsession with being gritty. The actual robbery sequence (stealing money from Roddy McDowall's safe while holding his family at gunpoint) is far nastier than it could have been and makes us lose all sympathy for the robbers. Strangely the film then carries on as if this hasn't happened and mostly (up until the "shock" ending) treats the characters in a light-hearted way. We're supposed to be on their side, despite one of them (with the complete approval of the other) having broken into someone's home, pulled a woman violently from the shower and held her and her daughter in a state of fear at gunpoint, then tied them up and left them, while McDowall is frantic about what has happened to them. There is even a threat that the child would be hurt if necessary. And he is shown as being the "good guy" of the gang! Susan George is oddly miscast as Mary. She unfortunately speaks an unpleasant accent (when she has such a good speaking voice normally). I have no idea why she is dirty, however.Peter Fonda is Larry, and to be fair, it is easy to see why he is 'crazy'. Mary is initially attracted to Larry but curiously seems to favour the third gang member (ie the house breaker) later after he gallantly defends her.The dialogue is either very banal or expositional and the action is the semi-comic no-one-really-gets-hurt car carnage common of the era.The "shock" ending is heavily telegraphed long before it happens and only seems to be there, like the robbery, be make the film look weightier than it actually is.

gavin6942 Larry Rayder (Peter Fonda) is an aspiring NASCAR driver, Deke Sommers (Adam Roarke) his mechanic. As they feel they collectively are the best, the only thing that is holding them back is money to build the best vehicle possible. As such, they decide to rob a supermarket's office of the money in its safe to pursue their dream.Roddy McDowall appears in an uncredited cameo, presumably as a favor to director John Hough who had him starring the year before in "Legend of Hell House". (Indeed, Hough's career is largely built on horror films and this is a bit outside of the norm.) I expected this film to be a lot of fun, especially now that Quentin Tarantino has championed it and Shout Factory felt the need to give it a Blu-ray release. Indeed, it is fun, but I am not sure if it was everything I hoped it would be.

JasparLamarCrabb A high energy though essentially plot-less chase film. Director John Hough puts together a brainless, fun thriller starring Peter Fonda & Susan George. Fonda and crony Adam Roarke are on the run after robbing a grocery store (managed by Roddy McDowell) and are pursued by the nearly psychotic Vic Morrow. Good time girl George is in tow. There's nothing more to it than that. Fonda and George have little chemistry though Fonda & Roarke do. Morrow is great fun as a lunatic cop in a single-minded pursuit. Fonda rarely takes his sunglasses off. George is scantily clad and sexy to be sure, but her grotesque teeth are a real distraction. Nevertheless, once the chase is on, this film is a lot of silly fun. Surely this one influenced Tarantino's DEATH PROOF.