I'm talking, of course, about the copyright that would have otherwise kept this jewel in the closet as "obsolete." I had forgotten all about this movie until I saw it offered at a ridiculously low price, and I never pass up ridiculously low prices - even when they're attached to movies now being marketed by a company named "Cheezy Flicks"!!!! OK, let's get down to business on this review.

Convoy is one of the less publicized movies directed by Hollywood blood-guts-veins-in-the-teeth legends, the multi-talented (he wrote, directed, acted, composed music, etc.) Sam Peckinpah. It wasn't his first, although some swore it had to be after watching it, and it wasn't as bloody as some (The Wild Bunch) but it had some features that his other films didn't. Peckinpah grew up in Fresno, California, served in the USMC during WWII, and after discharge (like a lot of WWII veterans) enrolled in college as a Theater Graduate student at USC. After his graduation he went through a series of nothing jobs, including set sweeper on the Liberace Show. He got his first break when he was given a job as a gofer (and a minor role with it) on Don Siegel's classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. His first directorial job was a zero, but his second ensured his career. He directed the film classic Ride the High Country (1962) which featured the last film appearances of Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea. As you can see, by the time he got to Convoy (1978) he was in full stride as a director.

This film is notable for, with the sole exception of Ernest Borgnine (who had won the Oscar for his performance in the 1955 Marty) were either non, or borderline "A list" actors. Kris Kristofferson was known for his role in A Star is Born in which he played a weak second-fiddle to Barbra Streisand, and his role in The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea in which he played a subdued second-fiddle to the superbly sexy Sarah Miles (their love scenes were featured in Playboy, and cost Kris his marriage to Rita Cooledge) and her demonic and maleable movie-son. I don't care what you say, Ali MacGraw was a two-film wonder with only Love Story and Goodbye Columbus (which was carried by "co-star" Richard Benjamin) as her claim to fame. In addition to getting her footprints at Graumann's Chinese Theater after only four films (well, she had been a successful model...) she was also the least endowed (33A-24-34) of just about any "sex symbol" in Hollywood's history!

Other "B List" notables in the cast were Burt Young who was just two years past playing Rocky's brother-in-law, Paulie. In fact, in Convoy he plays the character "Pig Pen" who drives a truck with the company name of "Paulie Hauling" in honor of his Rocky role. Another mainstay in the movie was Madge Sinclair, the Black actress who may be remembered for her role as "Bell" in the TV mini-series Roots. The Governor was played by Seymour Cassell, who was nominated for a supporting actor Oscar for his role as "Chet" in the John Cassavetes film Faces. Enough of this, I'm sure you get the idea - highly competent and talented cast who, for whatever reason, just never made it onto the "A List."

The story was very basic, and was actually inspired by the original C W McCall (real life name Bill Fries) song of the same name. Fries/McCall's story is another goodie, but will have to wait for another time and another subject. In developing the script from the song, it became apparent that the song left a lot to be desired, so Fries/McCall re-wrote it to accomodate the plot line of the film. Don't you dare yell at me - this movie does too have a plot! In fact it had enough of a plot for Director Peckinpah to let his friend actor James Coburn take a turn as Second Unit Director so that Coburn could qualify for his DGA (Directors Guild of America) card. Rumor has it (reliable, too) that Coburn actually did some directing when Peckinpah was temporarily down with 'Kristofferson's disease' (a bit too much tequila on their New Mexico location shooting).

Kris is, of course, the stalwart and mostly silent hero, "Rubber Ducky" - real name (if you care, and I didn't) Martin Penwald. His not so stalwart and not so silent 'main ssqueeze' (I never could figure out where she came from, or why) is single-name Melissa, played of course by flat-top Ali. Am I being mean toward her? Yes, because I never believed she deserved the financial success she achieved in movies, especially when she divorced her director/producer first husband (who contributed GREATLY to her success) in order to marry Steve McQueen (with whom she had "co-starred" in 1973 and who she divorced while she was "co-starring" with Kris in Convoy.

To all intents and purposes there is only one other character in this movie, and that is "Cottonmouth" (appropriate to his venemous treachery) aka Sheriff Lyle Wallace. Cottonmouth has been making a career of speed-trapping until he overloads himself by stopping three trucks for violations that were specious at best. Of course, that didn't set well with either Rubber Ducky (who just happened to be one of the three) or Pig Pen or Spider Mike - played well by Franklyn Ajaye. It is at this point the three begin attracting other truckers and building their convoy. Hey, they had to do something to give the movie a name, didn't they?

From here on, action - interspersed with cool (but sparce) dialog - takes over. Cottonmouth is thoroughly despicable and even sadistic in his attitude toward and treatment of truckers, and plays the villain to perfection. Did I say that this was a model for the later Smokey and the Bandit - well it wasn't. Burt Reynolds did his trucker trip the year before, but with a far weaker script. I point this out because there will inevitably be attempts to link the two - forget it. Smokey and the Bandit was heavier on driving stunts, but Convoy runs rings around it in elaborate destruction and general thrills.

Does Rubber Ducky survive? Does Melissa accept Rubber Ducky on a permanent basis? Does Pig Pen clean up his act as leader of the convoy? Does Spider Mike survive the vicious beating at the hands of Cottonmouth? And, why is Cottonmouth laughing (yeah, you heard me right, laughing) at the end of the movie? Have I got your interest? I should, especially since I've been writing so long. To make a long story short, this is STILL (after 28 years) a good, entertaining, and easy to watch movie. Besides all that, it's super cheap!

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12