I got to see this on the big screen at "Poppapalooza", local legend Will Viharo presenting a couple movies starring his dad Robert Viharo, who appears in this one as a sheriff driven to insanity by two anarchic drifters (Nick Nolte and Don Johnson) and a schizo girl (Robin Mattson) who beat him up and tear their way through Wisconsin in a fire yellow Chevy.

Best thing about the movie is the music. The movie's set in the mid/late 50s and you get to hear a lot of the great tunes of that time from people like Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, Ricky Nelson, Gene Vincent. My friend even recognized that they were using the great pop song from the movie "Circus of Horrors." The car is pretty cool, although the chases aren't nearly as thrilling as those in "Eat My Dust" or "Gone in 60 Seconds" or some of the other drive-in movies I've seen from the period. The movie that this one most reminded me of was "Two-Lane Blacktop", although the style is very different because this movie is less realistic and gritty. But the essential plot seems to have been lifted from "Two-Lane" (SPOILERS rest of paragraph) -- the two drifters, one of whom is clearly the driver and the other the mechanic, picking up this girl who ends up not coming between them but causing lots of trouble anyway and ends up leaving them abruptly by hitching a ride with another guy. The car is a similar model as well, and the scene with Johnson taunting the other guy into a race is very similar. But this is a much more conventional, action and thrill oriented film despite the plot similarities. With the 50s rock and roll music and the bright yellow sports car look, it's kind of a mash of "Two Lane" and "American Graffiti", both of which were produced by Gary Kurtz, who like the director of this film Richard Compton started out in Roger Corman's New World organization in the late 60s.

It's a very well-cast movie -- Johnson and Nolte were very little known at the time but they were both obviously up and comers who did a lot for their careers by holding down this film. Robin Mattson is very cute and seems period appropriate in the same kind of way that Cindy Williams was in "Graffiti" and Corman's "Gas!". Viharo is convincingly tough and nutso.

I'd probably rewatch it with a six-pack and have just as much fun with it the second time around.

Two hotrodders, Harley & Bo(Don Johnson & Nick Nolte, the latter's debut) driving a souped up Yellow Chevy, have designs on traveling cross country to California for a big race, but those desires are put on hold when they come across a rather daffy, often unstable, unpredictable girl(..a waitress working at a diner they come across), Junelle(..the adorable Robin Mattson) getting into a series of troublesome ordeals as a result.

I haven't seen MACON COUNTY LINE, yet, but, as I understand it, this is a cash-in "sequel of sorts" to that successful movie. It really doesn't have a hell of a lot of plot, just these two wild bucks getting themselves into a lot of hot water. It's really cool seeing Nolte and Johnson so young, and full of raucous spirit. As Harley and Bo, they are thrill seekers and this enthusiastic 'we don't give a crap' attitude often fuels the danger they find themselves in. When the two(..Junelle in tow)enter Macon County, Georgia, their lives are never the same.

Harley can not resist showing off what his car can do, the adrenaline junkie he is, and accepts the challenge of MC local thug, Tom(Eugene Daniels) with a black Ford who doesn't like some outsider driving into the area preening his muscle vehicle. What Tom doesn't realize is that Harley is a grease monkey with some serious firepower under the hood, and the race isn't even close. So Tom and his bullying brood leave Harley a bloody, bruised mess. Harley befriends a local teenage cheerleader, Betty(Devon Ericson, all bubbly schoolgirlish)who is able to drive him to the location where Bo and Junelle were waiting, and this sets up the future plot implications..Junelle(..carrying not one, but TWO pistols)will hold up Tom at gunpoint, demanding Harley's money, and as the group spin out, they cause a series of wrecks, including an unfortunate encounter with Macon County cop, Sergeant Whittaker(Robert Viharo). Avoiding arrest, by leaving Whittaker beaten to a pulp, the trio, Harley, Bo, and Junelle(..Betty was left as the trio drive off, escaping Tom and his droogs)head off to leave the state. Narrowly dodging capture from MC police, Whittaker doesn't listen to his superiors, demanding him to let them go, seeking after them, despite no longer having jurisdiction. Tom and Whittaker both decide to follow after the trio, such a decision ultimately costing them in the long run. Meanwhile, Junelle causes a rift between Harley and Bo because of her wildly crazy antics / shenanigans..such as the hold-up of a couple at this grocery store they own because they wouldn't pay her money as a sponsor for Bo's up coming race!

Great rural locations I think enhance this little movie that marches after it's own drum beat, bucking convention, allowing the characters to work their reckless charm on the viewer. We shouldn't really like them, to tell you the truth, for the trouble they get in is of their own making, but maybe it's the star power of the leads that works over the viewer. I will say that the dialogue, quite colorful language, is a great deal of fun to listen to and the soundtrack(..featuring golden oldies)fits the rhythm of the film extremely well since it is set in 1958.

This is light fair that I found entertaining. I am a big fan of Nick Nolte's body of work and although he was playing a 20 something hot-rodder when he was in his mid 30's he certainly looked young and naive. His partner in this drag race movie was Don Johnson as the mechanic who knew everything there was to know about making a hot rod go faster than any of the local hicks residing in Macon County.

Of course Nick picks up a wild and crazy chick played by Robin Mattson. So Nick and Robin end up in a love-hate-love relationship and Nick never knows how extreme Ms Mattson's actions will take the boys in to more trouble than they can get in all by themselves.

So the film has fast cars, faster girls, the local tough guys and the sheriff chasing Nick, Don and Robin through Macon County. I wouldn't want to spoil the ending but suffice to say the movie creates a bit of havoc on wheels with property damage and a few guys feelings also get hurt. But 'eh, what's two young hot rodder's to do except create action.

And so began an illustrious career filled with action films and TV series for our two young stars. It certainly was worth a watch for the retro cars and music. I wasn't disappointed. I give it a 6 out of 10 rating.