Trucking Movies to Tame Your Inner Vagabond
If you ever find yourself fantasizing about leaving your regular life behind and hitting the road, you may enjoy these six trucking movies that showcase the long-haul lifestyle. Most of them will also leave you feeling nostalgic for the 1970s. Rather than attempt to rank them, they are listed in chronological order based on the release date.
Duel
This 1971 thriller represents the full-length film directorial debut of Steven Spielberg. It is one of the most intense films ever made and is responsible for making a whole generation a little bit leery of truck drivers. Though it includes a few moments of dark humor, the film is primarily unnerving. We watch as meek and mild David Mann, played by Dennis Weaver, is accosted on the road by a shadowy, maniacal truck driver. Throughout the movie, Mann becomes more panicky as the mysterious, malevolent driver becomes more menacing. This is not a calm, relaxing movie. Since the villainous truck driver remains anonymous throughout the film, the truck itself becomes a terrifying central character.
Smokey and The Bandit
This 1977 flick is probably what most people think of as the quintessential truck driver movie. It starred Burt Reynolds and Sally Field, and its popularity likely spawned many a truck driving career. It also increased the popularity of CB radios and trucker lingo. This film was the second-highest-grossing movie of 1977, behind Star Wars. Do we think that Smokey would have been number one had George Lucas delayed his blockbuster by a year? That’s a 10-4, good buddy.
Watch the YouTube video. Enjoy this Smokey and The Bandit clip uploaded by Universal.
Convoy
The year after Smokey and the Bandit hit the screens, Kris Kristofferson starred in this movie as Martin “Rubber Duck” Penwald. His foil was Sheriff Lyle “Cottonmouth” Wallace, played by Ernest Borgnine. Director Sam Peckinpah was inspired to make the film after hearing the 1975 country song “Convoy” by C.W. McCall. In fact, a new, saltier version of the song was recorded for the movie’s soundtrack. Though the flick remains a cult favorite among trucking enthusiasts, it tanked at the box office, probably because the trucker/CB radio enthusiasm had begun to die down.
Every Which Way But Loose
Riding the tail end of the 70s trucker movie era is this 1978 comedy starring Clint Eastwood as Philo Beddoe, a laid-back truck driver with an orangutan named Clyde who comes along for the ride. Perhaps due to the addition of the chimp, this film enjoyed enough success to spawn a sequel, released two years later, called Any Which Way You Can. Unfortunately, there are allegations that the orangutans used in the films were not treated well.
Big Trouble in Little China
This 1986 film was directed by John Carpenter. It stars Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, and James Hong. The sole focus of this fantasy/comedy/martial arts movie is not necessarily trucking, but the profession is prominently featured. Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, an all-American truck driver, who becomes enmeshed in a centuries-old mystical conflict in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Big Rig
Taking a leap forward in time, this 2007 documentary gives viewers a glimpse into the modern-day trucking industry. The documentary’s cameraman/director, producer, and production assistant approached truckers at a rest stops and asked for interviews. If the driver was agreeable, the director rode along with the trucker for the day and interviewed the driver. The filming took place over four separate two-week road trips. Big Rig became an official selection of the 2007 Seattle International Film Festival and the American Film Institute (AFI) Fest.
Fairfield Truck Accident Lawyer
Welcome to our legal blog. I’m Ed Smith, a truck accident lawyer in Fairfield, California. A trucking accident can cause significant injuries. If you have been injured in an accident involving a commercial truck and have questions about your legal options, talk to one of our case managers or injury lawyers. Reach out to us for compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
For more than 38 years, I have advocated on behalf of injured Northern Californians. Have a look at our verdicts and settlements page to see some of our past case results.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/truck-password-worth-2663163/
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