The Sugarland Express Music Video (John Williams)

The Sugarland Express is a road movie released on April 5th, 1974. It is Steven Spielbergs first theatrical film and features Goldie Hawn, Williams Atherton, Michael Sacks and Ben Johnson. The film is inspired by the true story of Ila Fae Dent and her husband Robert.

Texas, 1974, Lou-Jean Poplin (Hawn) helps her husband (Atherton) to escape from the Beauford H. Jester pre-release prison facility. She plans to get her child back who has been taken from her by the authorities. At that moment baby Poplin lives in Sugarland with his foster parents. On their way they steel a police car and take the Texas State Trooper (Sacks) hostage. When word of the hostage reaches the police force they decide to pursue the Poplins en masse. Soon the Poplins are followed by dozens of police cars spearheaded by the noble Captain Harlin Tanner (Johnson), who wants to get the situation to a peaceful end.

This film marks the first collaboration between Steven Spielberg and John Williams. Together they created one of their most special works in their career. Spielberg uses the experience from Duel (1971) to shoot wonderful scenes which contain dozens of cars. Also the work of the Hungarian cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond is breathtaking. Williams uses the amazing musical artist Toots Thielemans and his harmonica skills to create a fantastic score.

This films and its music are property of Universal Studios.