McQueen hams it up in Faulkner’s early 1900’s Southern misadventure
In northern Mississippi, 1905, the first automobile is brought to town, a yellow Winton Flyer, bought by the patriarch of the McCaslin family (Will Geer). A likable rapscallion named Boon (Steve McQueen) talks the 11 year-old McCaslin grandson (Mitch Vogel) into going to Memphis in the “borrowed” vehicle for a few days while gramps is out of town for a funeral. Rupert Crosse joins the fun trip and Sharon Farrell plays a woman of ill repute in Memphis.
Based on William Faulkner’s last novel, "The Reivers” (1969) is a picaresque tale that’s worth seeing just for the primitive automobile. Steve called the vehicle “the real star of the picture” and acquired it after filming for his personal collection. Yet the exploits of the colorful protagonists are entertaining in a fun way.
However, the tone is initially jarring, combining the air of a Disney kid’s flick from that era with adult bits, like staying overnight at a brothel and everything that goes with it. I should add that there’s no nudity except for a full-bodied painting on the wall in the boy’s bedroom, which he amusingly gazes at with fascination.
Being too adult-oriented for children and not meaty enough for adults, the movie unsurprisingly failed to connect with audiences at the box office, leading McQueen to later lament that it made him look like “the village idiot.” While it is true that he comes across as an “Aw shucks” simpleton, the character of Boon IS a man-child, an adult who still behaves like an irresponsible child. Meanwhile the kid is the real star since it’s his coming-of-age story.
On the female front, Sharon Farrell is reminiscent of Ann-Margret and was one of the most beautiful women to walk the earth in her prime. Meanwhile redhead Diane Shalet is on hand as Hannah.
If what I said interests you, check it out, but "Paper Moon" (1973) is a better choice for this kind o’ flick. It lacks the curious hammy approach of McQueen (and a couple others, to lesser degree).
The film runs 1 hour, 47 minutes, and was shot in Greenwood & Carrolton, Mississippi, with the horse racing sequences (obviously) done at Walt Disney's Golden Oak Ranch in Newhall, California, which is located in the high country just north of Hollywood and east of Santa Clarita.
GRADE: B-/C+
