Steelyard Blues
Steelyard Blues

Movie spotlight

Steelyard Blues

1973
Movie
93 min
English

A group of misfits who want to find a happier life somewhere out of society decide to leave town on a PBY flying boat. The problem is that their transport needs a lot of work before they can fly it.

Insights

IMDb5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Director: Alan MyersonGenres: Comedy, Crime

Plot Summary

A bizarre and quirky crime comedy, Steelyard Blues follows a group of misfits attempting to repossess a building from a corrupt lawyer. The group includes a hippie couple, a drug dealer, a retired cop, and an ex-convict, all brought together by the eccentric millionaire "Vinnie" who wants the building back for his own mysterious purposes. Their elaborate and often comical plans unfold with unpredictable consequences.

Critical Reception

Steelyard Blues received a mixed to negative reception from critics upon its release, with many finding its plot convoluted and its humor hit-or-miss. While some appreciated its offbeat style and the chemistry between its lead actors, a significant portion of reviews highlighted its lack of coherence and underdeveloped characters. Audiences were similarly divided, with its unconventional approach failing to resonate broadly.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its unique, counter-culture vibe and the performances of Fonda and Sutherland.

  • Criticized for a convoluted plot and inconsistent comedic tone.

  • Seen as an ambitious but ultimately flawed attempt at a quirky crime caper.

Google audience: Audience reception for Steelyard Blues is difficult to quantify through aggregated Google reviews, but its niche appeal suggests it was appreciated by those seeking unconventional and psychedelic-tinged cinema, while others found it bewildering and unfocused.

Fun Fact

The film's original title was 'The California Blues', and it was conceived as a vehicle for the burgeoning counter-culture movement of the early 1970s.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

I usually reckon that heist movies are always more interesting as the plotters get together and do their scheming, then they fall away a bit as very, very, rarely do they ever get away with their crime. Well this one has the scheming phase,...

Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Oddball drama about outcasts (Sutherland, Boyle and Fonda) starts shaky, but finds its footing**_ A group of misfits in the Oakland area hang out in a junkyard and an abandoned airstrip. They come up with the harebrained scheme of rep...