Simply A Masterpiece

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It's kind of ironic that someone wants to have his/her own place in this world. But if you have been in trouble with the law, you would considered to be an outcast to society. A rebel is a person who won't conform to society means. Donald Sutherland plays Jesse Veldini, a demolition driver who seems to be on the edge. Howard Hesseman plays Frank, his brother and D.A. who seems to help his brother get on the straight and narrow. Jesse is notorious for wrecking every kind of American car during his times in the demolition derby. When he sees the 1950 Studebaker, he has to wreck it. With all the other misfits he hangs with, they get to restore a plane. This movie is a barrel of laughs. And it's a reunion of Donald Sutherland and Jane Fonda. Two years ago, they did "Klute" where Sutherland played a cop. Fonda plays a prostitute again in this film. This is a story of find a place in society, more like finding your own world. What a better place to be like the junkyard. The ultimate treasure yard. I enjoyed it very much. 4 out of 5 stars.

Not a great movie, but the scene between Sutherland's character and his brother in the brother's office is worthy of the best Marx Brothers material. Unlike the other commentators here, I found Peter Boyle's work in this movie annoying and overwrought, and that's why I gave it an 8. But everything Sutherland did in this movie was comedy magic and totally unexpected, given his reputation as a serious actor. Fonda, on the other hand, seemed to be phoning it in, doing a watered down caricature of her Bree Daniels persona in "Klute." Too bad, there was a lot of talent in this picture.

I recall seeing the movie in '73 and enjoying it. I was about 24 then, and it seemed like a "normal" film with "normal" people doing "normal" things, at the time! lol.What I've been trying to figure out for decades now, is if this is the Sutherland/Fonda film where he rolls the black super ball (which he refers to as a "marble") from the back of the empty bus down the aisle, past Fonda, the only other passenger, as she sat up front ignoring the ball, which was clearly, a message from him. Without turning to acknowledge him, she hurriedly gets off the bus, trying to slip away into the night. He gets off the bus, catches up with her and asks: "Why didn't you answer my marble?" Somebody! Please! Tell me if this is the film that the line came from! I'm desperate to "get closure" on this one! lol. Been using the line all these years thinking it was from "Klute", but that's wrong! Nobody I've ever known seems to recall what I would term "THE classic line" from the film.Thanks! CMAR

Steelyard blues is a terrific addition to the Woodstock, or anti-establishment, era movies which include Easy Rider, Vanishing Point and Zacharia, to name a few. Peter Boyle is priceless as he does an impression of Marlon Brando and later scales a building without the use of ropes -- also a terrific early performance by KWRP's Howard Hessman. Don't miss this hip, fun farce. They don't make em like this anymore. Fantastic sound track featuring Maria Muldaur -- among others.