Electra Glide in Blue [Blu-ray]

Director: James William Guercio James William Guercio

Overview

A police officer who would rather use his brains than his gun is put into a situation where neither can help him in this police drama. John Wintergreen (Robert Blake) is a sawed-off and street-smart Arizona motorcycle cop who dreams of climbing the ladder and becoming a police detective, but his ambitions are scoffed at by his partner, Zipper (Billy "Green" Bush). Wintergreen's superiors tend not to take him seriously due to his short stature, but when he stumbles upon the site of a murder, he digs up enough relevant evidence to insure his advancement to detective status. However, after a few days on the job, Wintergreen begins to realize just how corrupt his superior Poole (Mitchell Ryan) truly is after Poole attempts to frame a local hippie, Bob Zemko (Peter Cetera), for a crime he didn't commit. Adding fuel to the fire is Poole's discovery that he and Wintergreen have been dating the same woman, dancer-turned-barmaid Jolene (Jeannine Riley). Electra Glide in Blue was the first (and to date only) directorial credit for James William Guercio. Successful in the music industry as a manager and producer, Guercio was best known for his association with the top-selling jazz-rock group Chicago; several members of the band appear in the movie, as does a young Nick Nolte in a bit part. On a note of sad irony, Terry Kath, the longtime Chicago vocalist who died in 1978 from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head, plays a gun-wielding killer in this film.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/16/2022
UPC:	0738329259716
Original Release:	1973
Rating:	PG
Source:	Kl Studio Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:54:00
Sales rank:	21,252

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Robert Blake	John Wintergreen
Billy Green Bush	Zipper
Mitchell Ryan	Harve Poole
Jeannine Riley	Jolene
Elisha Cook Jr.	Willie
Royal Dano	Coroner
David J. Wolinski	VW Bus Driver
Peter Cetera	Bob Zemko
Terry Kath	Killer
Lee Loughnane	Pig Man
Walter Parazaider	Loose Lips
Joe Samsil	Sgt. Ryker
Jason Clark	LA Detective
Michael Butler	Truck Driver
Susan Forristal	Ice Cream Girl
Lucy Angle Guercio	Ice Cream Girl,Child,Composer
Melissa Green	Zemko's Girl Friend
Bob Zemko	The Beard
Madura	Rock Group at Concert
Rebecca Kapp	Cop's Girl Friend
Jim Gilmore	Detective
Percy Curtis	Detective
John Scovern	Detective
Herb Sells	Detective
Lew Burch	Detective
Gary Nichamin	Hospital Attendant
J.N. Roberts	Belly Flop
Jane Ferris	Policewoman
Adrienne Hayes	Bike Girl
Susan Hail	Bike Girl
Michelle Powers	Waitress
Chester Grimes	Actor
Jeff Ramsey	Actor
Richard Karie	Actor
Doug Burns	Actor
Mickey Alzola	Actor
Alan R. Gibbs	Actor,Actor
Jerry Brutsche	Actor
George Dockstader	Police Car Driver
Steve Fagin	Commune Guy
Ron Rondell	Actor
David Wolinski	Bus Driver

Technical Credits

Robert Boris

Michael Butler

James William Guercio	Director,Producer
Jerry Brutsche	Stunts
Bud Elkins	Stunts
Candy Flanagin	Special Effects
Joe Lombardi	Special Effects
Robert Boris	Screenwriter
Rupert Hitzig	Producer
Robert Glass	Sound Effects
J.N. Roberts	Stunts
Ron Rondell	Stunts
Candy Flanagan	Special Effects
Alan Gibbs	Stunts
Mickey Alzola	Stunts
Rock Walker	Stunts
Michael Butler	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Anyone who appreciates the experimental phase Hollywood went through in the '70s is likely to enjoy this effective blend of mystery and social critique. Electra Glide in Blue starts off with the kind of premise that could have worked as an episode of Quincy, M.E. but slowly transforms into a meditation on the challenges of being a honorable person in a world where most people find it easier to be dishonorable. The resulting film is not for all tastes but it is a joy for the adventurous viewer: James William Guercio directs with a grand flair for montage and widescreen visuals and the imagery he chooses is beautifully visualized by ace cinematographer Conrad Hall. Electra Glide in Blue further benefits from strong, lived-in performances by a reliable cast of character actors. Robert Blake is fantastic as John Wintergreen, bringing a great sense of underdog charm and wit to the character, and Mitchell Ryan is alternately scary and pitiful as a "big dog" type cop who isn't as brilliant or upright as he first seems to be. Royal Dano and Elisha Cook Jr. add extra color in smaller roles, and Billy Green Bush offers a performance as Blake's layabout partner that takes on a surprising depth as the film progresses. Finally, it is worth mentioning that Jeannine Riley pulls off an extended monologue scene with great skill as Blake's sometime girlfriend. All in all, Electra Glide in Blue is a slow-burning gem that is well worth the time for students of the New Hollywood era of the '70s.

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