Review of The Electric Horseman (1979) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012
Directed by Sydney Pollack, (Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Way We Were (1973), Tootsie (1982) and Out of Africa (1985)), this is an amusing and moving romantic adventure that had two of the biggest stars of the day, with some country songs by Willie Nelson, who co-stars.
It has a touch of the sort of films Clint Eastwood was doing at that time, but here, it was in the right hands. This tells the story of rodeo star Sonny Steele (Robert Redford), who has won many rodeo championships across America, but after signing a contract to the Ampco Corporation, promoting a brand of breakfast cereal.
He finds himself being exploited for all it's worth, and his image being milked for money, and his fame is dwindling. During a Las Vegas promotional appearance, Sonny is scheduled to champion thoroughbred race horse Rising Star, who is worth $12 million, but he's been drugged and injured.
So, Sonny makes off across the land with Rising Star to set the horse free, much to the ire of his bosses, but television reporter Hallie Martin (Jane Fonda) follows him. While Sonny doesn't trust her at first, they soon begin a romance.
It's a big story with some amusing horseplay (literally), and stunts that wouldn't be seen out of place in Smokey and the Bandit. But, Redford does good with the material, and plays well with Fonda.
It has good visuals and is typical of the sort of film that came out around that time.
This review of The Electric Horseman (1979) was written by Stuart K on 23 Apr 2012.
The Electric Horseman has generally received positive reviews.
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