The Last American Hero
The Last American Hero (also known as Hard Driver) is a 1973 sports drama film based on the true story of American NASCAR driver Junior Johnson. Directed by Lamont Johnson, it stars Jeff Bridges as Junior Jackson, the character based on Johnson.
| The Last American Hero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lamont Johnson |
| Produced by | William Roberts John Cutts |
| Written by | William Roberts William Kerby |
| Based on | 1965 Esquire article by Tom Wolfe |
| Starring | Jeff Bridges Valerie Perrine |
| Music by | Charles Fox |
| Cinematography | George Silano |
| Edited by | Tom Rolf, A. C. E. Robbe Roberts |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2,130,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,250,000 (US/ Canada)[2] |
The film is based on Tom Wolfe's essay "The Last American Hero Is Junior Johnson. Yes!",[3] which was first published in Esquire magazine in March 1965[4] and included in his debut collection of essays, The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, later that year.[5]
The film's theme song, "I Got a Name", sung by Jim Croce, became a best-selling single.
Plot summary
Junior Jackson (Jeff Bridges), a stock-car driver stays one step ahead of reform school until his father (Art Lund) is thrown in prison for moonshining. Seeing the error of his ways, Jackson begins to concentrate on his driving skills, hoping to become a professional stock car racer to raise money to get his father released from jail.
Despite obstacles like Hackel (Ned Beatty), a cheapskate promoter who doesn't respect a man on his way up; Marge (Valerie Perrine), a cutie who thinks he's the hottest thing unless she's sleeping with top competition Kyle Kingman (William Smith); and Burton Colt (Ed Lauter), a pro-racing owner who refuses to let Junior to use his own crew including his brother Wayne (Gary Busey), he eventually achieves his goal.[6][7]
Cast
- Jeff Bridges as Elroy Jackson, Jr.
- Valerie Perrine as Marge
- Geraldine Fitzgerald as Mrs Jackson
- Ned Beatty as Hackel
- Gary Busey as Wayne Jackson
- Art Lund as Elroy Jackson, Sr.
- Ed Lauter as Burton Colt
- William Smith II as Kyle Kingman
- Gregory Walcott as Morley
- Tom Ligon as Lamar
- Ernie Orsatti, Jr. as Davie Baer
- Erica Hagen as Trina
- James Murphy as Spud
- Lane Smith as Rick Penny
Reception
The film was favorably reviewed by Pauline Kael in The New Yorker, even though The New Yorker had a long-standing feud with Wolfe.[8]
It has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[9]
Home media
The film was released on DVD in 2006 with both full and widescreen presentations alongside its theatrical trailer and it is also available for streaming.[10]
See also
- List of American films of 1973
- New Journalism-a literary movement mixing facts with elements of fiction with members including Wolfe, Hunter S. Thompson and Truman Capote
- I Got a Name- the Jim Croce album featuring the song featured in the film
References
- Solomon, Aubrey. Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series). Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1. p257
- Solomon p 232. See also "Big Rental Films of 1973", Variety, 9 January 1974 p 60. Please note figures are rentals not total gross.
- The Last American Hero Is Junior Johnson. Yes!|Esquire|March 1965
- The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby - Tom Wolfe - Google Books (pg.121)
- AllMovie
- DVD Savant Review: The Last American Hero
- Pauline Kael
- Rotten Tomatoes
- Amazon.com