Oddball drama about outcasts (Sutherland, Boyle and Fonda) starts shaky, but finds its footing
A group of misfits in the Oakland area hang out in a junkyard and an abandoned airstrip. They come up with the harebrained scheme of repairing a PBY Catalina flying boat and escaping their troubles. Donald Sutherland plays the black sheep brother of a district attorney (Howard Hesseman) while Jane Fonda is on hand as a high-priced prostitute sorta romanced by the former. Meanwhile Peter Boyle plays an eccentric bloke who used to work in the circus. John Savage is also on hand.
"Steelyard Blues" was shot in 1971, but not released until 1973. Sutherland & Fonda were an item after the success of “Klute” (1971), but this one understandably failed at the box office and fell into obscurity. It’s a drama with amusing touches and not a comedy; although it could be described as a black comedy. It tries to be the early 70’s follow-up to iconic counterculture flicks like "Easy Rider" (1969).
In any case, it starts shaky and I was concerned that I had stumbled upon a real dog, but it thankfully finds its footing by the second act as the characters are fleshed out. I suddenly found myself involved in their story. Boyle goes over-the-top to entertain and his Brando scene is a highlight. Another good sequence involves the successful brother (Hesseman) and his ‘loser’ sibling (Sutherland) having a melee in a cell.
Meanwhile, Fonda’s character is a turn-off, but that’s just me. The movie was released during the height of the backlash over her 1972 trip to North Vietnam earned her the nickname Hanoi Jane.
The notable soundtrack fittingly features rockin’ country blues by variations of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, then known as Better Days; featuring Nick Gravenites and Mike Bloomfield, as well as Maria Muldaur.
The movie runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in Oakland, California, & places nearby.
GRADE: C+
