Sunday, April 14, 2013

White Line Fever (1975)



          Drive-in pulp with a smidgen of substance, this one combines all sorts of lurid elements—blue-collar rebellion, high-octane chase scenes, deadly revenge, rednecks, shootouts, smuggling, truckers, a Vietnam veteran, and, just to put the cherry atop the whole tasty treat, a colorful cast including R.G. Armstrong, Kay Lenz, Slim Pickens, Don Porter, and Jan-Michael Vincent. In other words, if White Line Fever doesn’t get your blood pumping, then the repertoire at the grindhouse of your dreams is far different than the one at mine. White Line Fever has so many cool attributes that whether the movie’s actually “good” is quasi-irrelevant—therefore, the fact that the picture is somewhat respectable as a piece of low-rent drama becomes a bonus.
          Vincent stars as Carrol Jo Hummer (seriously, that’s the character’s name), a good ol’ boy who returns from Vietnam intent on driving an independent big rig and living happily with his sexy young wife, Jerri (Lenz). In order to get the cash to buy his truck, Carrol Jo borrows money from disreputable types who expect Carrol Jo to pay off his debt by smuggling illegal goods. Once Carrol Jo realizes what he’s gotten into, he uses the court system, threats, and finally violence to declare his independence. That leads to beatings, hassles, intimidation, and, eventually, deadly results for those around Carrol Jo. The movie climaxes with Carrol Jo striking a highly symbolic blow against his enemies, because Our Hero uses his souped-up truck, which bears the name “Blue Mule,” as an instrument of working-man’s justice.
         Co-writer/director Jonathan Kaplan, who spent the ’70s making well-crafted exploitation films before venturing into topical studio pictures (notably 1989’s The Accused) and then a long career in television that continues to this day, displays his signature touch for stirring up juicy narrative conflict. Predictably, however, logic takes a backseat to slam-bang spectacle. Like Kaplan’s enjoyable blaxploitation pictures The Slams (1973) and Truck Turner (1974), White Line Fever feels like a hard-edged comic book—when Vincent struts out of his hovel with a shotgun in his hand, then hops into the cab of “Blue Mule” hell-bent for vengeance while pounding music blasts on the soundtrack, the movie rises to a plane of intoxicating macho silliness.
          I freely admit to having an inexplicable affinity for Vincent’s lackadaisical screen persona, so chances are I watch this particular B-movie through forgiving eyes. I’m also sweet on Lenz, and I can watch Armstrong and Pickens in nearly anything. So take this praise for White Line Fever with the appropriate caveat: If you don’t groove to the idea of Jan-Michael Vincent playing an avenging trucker, then there’s probably only so much White Line Fever is going to do for you. But if you’re intrigued, strap in for a trashy good time.

White Line Fever: GROOVY

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm glad to read that you are a fan of Slim Pickens a very engaging and distinctive character actor. He is also quite funny in the offbeat 70's gem 'Rancho Deluxe'. Believe it or not he worked as a rodeo clown before he got into acting.

Anonymous said...

I also think Vincent is a better actor then he is given credit and enjoy many of the 70's movies that he is in. It is unfortunate that his self-destructive ways got the better of him and ruined his career.

Chaarles said...

Yeah, I thought Vincent was pretty good. Loved him in The Mechanic with Bronson. I'll have to check-out White Line Fever, sounds fun. Thanks, Peter.

F. Ben Martin said...

To paraphrase my opinion of America's song "Sister Golden Hair," "White Line Fever" may not be the best movie of the 70s, but it is the perfect movie of the 70s. ha ha, yeah, I said perfect. "A trashy good time" indeed.

Unknown said...

Yeah, this one is right up my alley: seen it as teen on TV, loved it, never forgot it and just re-watched it 3 decades later. Still a good one, charming actors, good story doesn't need much logic, enjoyed brisk 90 minutes. Drive-in as it shoulda be. No masterpiece, but good ol craftsmanship and a step over TRUCK TURNER (sorry).