Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		2.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.5

The Great Smokey Roadblock Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 29, 2018

Adventures highlighting the travel plans of rebellious truckers were all the rage in the 1970s, but only one production had the smarts to cast one of the greatest actors of all time, Henry Fonda, in the leading role. 1977’s “The Great Smokey Roadblock” (titled “The Last of the Cowboys” on the disc) offers Fonda the part of a sickly man facing his mortality, taking off on one last mission across America to help friends new and old while avoiding trouble from local cops and younger rivals. Writer/director John Leone isn’t making high-art with the endeavor, and his command of tone leaves a lot to be desired, with “The Great Smokey Roadblock” unsure if it wants to be deadly serious or slightly madcap. It doesn’t come together with any sort of distinction, but the movie does have Fonda, who gives a little extra to the production, playing up the story’s death march severity and its interest in wackiness with professional ease.

Stuck in a hospital waiting to die, “Elegant” John (Henry Fonda), beloved trucker, has lost his livelihood and his rig, Eleanor, to the bank, leaving him with nothing but dreams of his past life. Reclaiming what was lost, John decides to break out of the medical center and reclaim Eleanor, setting out to cross the country for one last ride, reflecting on all that’s been lost as his health fades. Electing to pick up hitchhiker Beebo (Robert Englund), a lost man looking for purpose in Florida, John finds an initially unwilling partner for his odyssey, with the pair bonding on the road. Making a stop to see old flame Penelope (Eileen Brennan), John feels new emotions for his favorite woman, who’s now a madam with a stable of prostitutes about to be run out of town. Volunteering to take Penelope and her employees to South Carolina for a fresh start, John accepts a final haul, soon facing pressure from rural cops and the bitterness of younger rival Charlie (Gary Sandy), who wants to ruin John.

“The Great Smokey Roadblock” isn’t fixated on rigid structure, preferring a looser inspection of John’s crisis of health and heart. He’s a man who’s been suffering for far too long, losing everything he has while battle medical issues. He misses Eleanor, a truck named after his hero, Eleanor Roosevelt, ready to reclaim his life and bust out of treatment, stealing his rig and setting out to experience all he’s missed for likely the last time in his life. It’s an empowerment tale from Leone, but one that’s darkened quite a bit by sadness, watching Fonda articulate the reality of a failing body and a worried mind, keeping the character vulnerable as he tries to play the part of a young man ready to work again.

There’s no major chase in “The Great Smokey Roadblock,” and while oily Charlie is positioned as the villain of the piece, his participation is intermittent at best, with the majority of the tale following John around the U.S., getting to know timid Beebo and reunite with Penelope, reintroduced to a loving touch after years on his own, which cost him his family long ago. Leone keeps things fairly meandering during the run time, often stopping the picture to deal with supporting characters, including an unnecessarily long scene that details the bust that’s pushing Penelope and her sex workers out of the state, leaving her in a precarious legal position if she doesn’t get to South Carolina and try her luck there. The sex workers are meant to be a fun addition to “The Great Smokey Roadblock,” with their impish, flirtatious ways putting pressure on Beebo and helping John get out of trouble with corrupt law enforcement types, including Sheriff Harley (Dub Taylor), who’s happy to lock up the girls, who use their feminine charms to facilitate their escape. There’s a suggestion of group sex with Dub Taylor in this scene, but nothing, thankfully, is explored in full.

The Great Smokey Roadblock Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The packaging heralds a "Brand new HD master," and while the claim may be true, there's no information provided as to where the master originated from. The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation doesn't provide a fresh viewing experience, leading with a muddier, aged look that also seems to be hit with some baked-in filtering. Detail isn't profound, and while cinematography doesn't always meet professional standards, textures are softened and smoothed throughout. Faces lack definition, along with costuming, with everything looking flat and uninviting. Colors are fatigued, keeping skintones and clothing drab. Outdoor adventuring fares better due to brightness, offering some blue skies and adequate greenery. Delineation isn't terrific, finding solidification claiming scenes with limited lighting. Source has some considerable wear and tear, with speckling and lengthy scratches detected, along with jumpy frames. Grain is zombified. At the 77 minute mark, a brief stretch of footage is warped.

The Great Smokey Roadblock Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Little is expected from the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix, which maintains a very average listening event for "The Great Smokey Roadblock." Age is apparent throughout, along with recording limitations of the day, but dialogue exchanges aren't difficult to follow, reaching a handful of muddier moments. Soundtrack selections fare a little better, and while instrumentation isn't precise, the tunes support mood as intended, delivering a road trip vibe with a country slant. Sound effects are loud enough, highlighting squealing tires and revving engines.

The Great Smokey Roadblock Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Interview (22:15, SD) with Robert Englund is specifically centered on "The Great Smokey Roadblock," leaving out the rest of his filmography, so don't expect any "Nightmare on Elm Street" anecdotes. The actor recalls his start in theater, which permitted him creative freedom and a chance to meet girls, working his way to an audition for "The Great Smokey Roadblock," with co-producer Susan Sarandon personally supporting his casting. To get the part, Englund had to earn Henry Fonda's approval, with the pair hitting it off, sharing a love of theatrical performance, with the men eventually sharing a Winnebago during the shoot, strengthening their relationship. Englund discusses his co-stars, with emphasis on Brennen and her distinctive ways, and he also palled around with John Byner. There's a dissection of themes and a recollection of a specific technical challenge that inspired Fonda to voice his concern for the benefit of his fellow actors. Englund also considers the time capsule nature of the production.

• And Theatrical Trailer #1 (1:51, SD) and Trailer #2 (2:16, SD) are included.

The Great Smokey Roadblock Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Great Smokey Roadblock" gets out of control in its second half, with the trucking family eventually meeting with knuckleheads Bobby (John Byner) and Guido (Austin Pendleton), who's carefully described a molester of ducks. Drugs, dance, and unfunny jokes lead into a climax, which doesn't come fast enough for a film in need of more precise editing. However, John's passion for his journey remains open for study, and Fonda makes the script's emotionality come to attention, even when his authenticity contrasts harshly with the rest of the offering's trivial mischief. Leone tries to have it both ways, exploring the concept of a dying freeway cowboy and the shenanigans he gets involved in, and it doesn't come together cleanly. "The Great Smokey Roadblock" is only sharp and expressive in small amounts, appreciated more for what it wants to do over what it actually accomplishes.