Electra Glide in Blue (1973)

"Electra Glide In Blue" is easily one of my favourite "unknown" films of the 1970's. This was the first (and only) movie directed by rock producer James William Guercio, and in my book it is a top class effort.

Robert Blake ( from TV's "Baretta" ) plays ex-Marine now Arizona motorcycle cop, John Wintergreen, desperate to trade his Harley Davidson Electra Glide police motorbike in for four wheels and join the Stockman Motors detectives division. That opportunity presents itself soon enough, when Wintergreen comes across a gunned down corpse in an dilapidated shack and the puzzle of was it just suicide, or was it murder. Blinded by the supposed granduer of the detective's role, Wintergreen becomes sorely disheartened to find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the hill. Exposed to bigotry, hate and injustice, his lofty opinions of his police superiors quickly crumble as he realises the brutal and impersonal nature of their personalities.

The talented and versatile cast is what makes "Electra Glide in Blue" really crackle....Billy Green Bush plays Wintergreen's partner "Zipper" Davis...an abusive and arrogant police officer who is ultimately so insecure and lonely. The talented actor Mitchell Ryan plays head of detectives Harve Poole, another bombastic and narcisstic man seething with resentment and insecurities wracking his life. Jeannine Riley is the lonely, heartbroken waitress ?Joelene"....seeking warmth and affection in the arms of the local police officers....and the wonderful character actor, Royal Dano, is the tired and irritable Coroner. Plus, I can't leave out veteran character actor, Elisha Cook Jr., as the half witted desert loner, Willy. In the early 1970's, Guercio had produced several albums for rock group "Chicago" and he cast several band members in minor roles in "Electra Glide"....trumpeter Lee Loughnane is "Pig Man", singer/bassist Peter Cetera plays biker "Bob Zemko", guitarist Terry Kath is "Killer" ( Kath died tragically in Jan. 1978 from a gun accident ) and session musician David "Hawk" Wolinski as the harassed VW minibus driver.

Add to this fine cast some spectacular cinematography of the stunning Arizona landscape and a haunting and somewhat foreboding soundtrack...and you have an interesting, thought provoking and powerful film that keep's surprising you right up until the final frames.

A worthy addition to your collection of great 1970's films.....

This film is a disjointed, unfocused, cynical, at times brilliant look at the life of a motorcycle cop in Arizona. Robert Blake plays John Wintergreen, a sympathetic loner and dreamer who aspires to be a detective. The suicide of an old drifter in the desert is quickly seen by Blake as a murder and his attempts to convince his superiors to investigate is met at first with derision. Through Blake's eyes we see a country torn apart: apathetic, neurotic, berift of dreams, lonely, capable of frightening acts of violence. An examination of the mindset of the early seventies and a film that is sometimes know as the "anti Easy Rider." Blake has rarely been better.

Buy Electra Glide in Blue (1973) Now

This episodic and leisurely paced crime thriller/character study was one of the last of the true "60's" films (even though it was released in 1973). The twist here is that the existential anti-hero isn't riding a chopper or racing across America in a Challenger to keep one step ahead of "The Man" but in fact IS "The Man" --a motorcycle cop! One-shot director James William Guercio, previously known for producing the band Chicago and creating the Caribou Records label, does an admirable job (and leaves one wondering why he didn't continue to pursue filmmaking). Robert Blake delivers his second-best ever perfomance ("In Cold Blood" remains his highest watermark) as a highway patrolman yearning for a more glamourous (to his perception, at least) posting as a homicide detective. All the supporting actors are superb, and the expansive cinematography recalls "Vanishing Point" and "Badlands" with its sweeping vistas of the American West. A sleeper worth a look.

Read Best Reviews of Electra Glide in Blue (1973) Here

Aaahhhh ... the memories this brings back! I have always wondered why this movie died away instead of being hailed as a classic. It has only been since Robert Blake's trouble with "that thang he married" that this movie has gotten back into the public's eye.

I remember standing in a block-long line to get into our tiny theatre to see this one. I didn't get in the first night and had to go back the next night. It was so worth the wait! I would stand in line again to watch it today ... if I didn't already own it on VHS.

I loved the character Willie, the crazy old desert rat. But Robert blake was just out of sight with this performance. It was his best ... without competition. He just really got into this role to the max.

The ending is haunting! It has stayed with me all these years. Each time I watch it, I get chills. If you have not seen this movie, order a copy today.

I really believe this movie holds a special place in every motorcycle rider's heart. Most 'Nam vets that I know can tell you all about this movie. Obviously it touched a special spot with them too.

Get it today and join our cult following of this forgotten classic.

Want Electra Glide in Blue (1973) Discount?

This review is for the blu-ray import. Movie is 112 minutes, widescreen, no subtitles, only special features are a trailer and a ten minute intro by James Guercio. Picture quality is excellent except for some occasional sprinkles in the middle. Great movie, waited for a blu-ray release, and despite the high price I am satisfied with it, at least until something better comes along. The widescreen hi-def picture really brings out the beauty of the desert in the outdoor vista scenes. Another scene is in the beginning when John sneaks up on Zipper with his magnum, you can make out the lettering on the gun barrel, try that with VHS tape or a standard DVD. The colors are vibrant, no apparent fading. The sound is great, didn't notice any defects. Love the music, bought the soundtrack separately on CD. What can I say about this movie except that if you saw this in your youth, it must of made quite an impression for you to try to find it again. Motorcycles, good and bad cops, hippies, bike chases, great acting by most of the stars, and iconic 70's jazz/rock music that make this a very enjoyable film. Guercio in his intro talks a little about the making of this movie and what he had to do to keep it under budget. Maybe in retrospect it was a labor of love for him to put up with all the constraints and to persevere and try to create an important American film (his words). A very 70's movie touching on the social changes America was going through for better or worse.

Save 25% Off