THE LAST AMERICAN HERO (STOCK CAR HERO)

US, 1973, 95 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Bridges, Valerie Perrine, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ned Beatty, Gary Busey.
Directed by Lamont Johnson.

This is a modest film, a look at young ambitious, idealistic men breaking free of the unimaginative poverty and grind of their upbringing to achieve a personal success. Part of the threat and inevitable disillusionment is learning that this is almost impossible. We are under other people's power. Our hero fights for his freedom and integrity and ultimately has a choice - to that extent he is a hero on his chosen field of stock-car racing. Is the world so competitive that he could be the last American hero? An interesting sports film with significance - Jeff Bridges stars.

1. The emphasis of this title? The theme and significance of the original title, 'The Last American Hero'? How did this widen the scope and the meaning of the film? The emphasis on a hero the irony, the truth, the accent on America?

2. The use of the Panavision colour screen, the presentation of the Carolina Hills. the moonshine background, the roads and the car chases, the atmosphere of stock-car racing. hotels etc.? How authentic an atmosphere did they create suitable for this film?

3. The film's emphasis on the car, its power and its motion, the human control, the drive. the urge to win. the car as the 20th Century image of power and self-assertion? The 20th Century masculine symbol of achievement? The popularity of the car and the audience's watching sports involving cars? The speed sports, the destructive sports?

4. What did the film say about the nature of heroes. their own idea of themselves. their drive. their sense of achievement,, their ruthlessness? The importance of independence and self-image,, the necessity of hustling? How was Junior a hero in this film?

5. The presentation of Junior and his driving: the initial sequences of the practises in the hills, his defying the police and the federal agents. the sense of racing and speed power, the subjective feelings of Junior as he drove? His energy and determination in the battering and the demolition derby? His playing dirty? The presentation of the sequences in the racing. the crashes and their effect on the cars, the drivers, the crowds? The atmosphere of the pit-stops and the crews?

6. The contrast with the Jackson family and their background: the presentation of the home scenes and their quiet and sensitivity? Mother and father in the atmosphere of home, the background of the moonshine and the stills, the carting of the moonshine, the making of money and the defying of the police? Elroy Jackson and his background? His regrets at the way of life he had to lead, moonshine and prison? His standing on principles and dignity and his instilling these into his sons? His attitude in going to jail Junior paying for the extras, the lawyer and the court-case? His patriarchal attitude towards his sons, even from jail? Comment on the emotional build-up when the sons proudly show him the still and then he destroys it? What had he achieved in his life? What did he want his sons to achieve?

7. Comment on the portrait of Mrs. Jackson: her relationship with her husband.. sharing his way of life, poverty and danger, the way she had brought up her sons, their love for their parents and their respect? Her concern for Junior, her appreciation of his love for cars, her not understanding the nature of the sport. yet her sharing in his victory? A convincing portrayal of a mother?

8. The contrast of Junior and Wayne? At home, their relationship with their parents, to one another, their work with the moonshine their supporting their family? Their relationship with their friends? How effective were the numerous sequences of interaction between Junior and Wayne and their friends. especially Junior’s self-assertion over the boys' slinging off at him? What did Junior want to achieve with them?

9. The importance of the demolition derby in setting Junior on his way, the importance of his dirty play and his destruction, the crowd's response? Hackel and the delineation of the manager of a demolition derby, his application of the rules. his trying to cheat Junior of his money. Junior's harsh reaction towards him and defiance?

10. The film's build-up of the presentation of the races, Junior's success his crashes and yet his brother and friends continuing to help him? The importance of his independence? The importance of his doing his own mechanical work on his car? The impact of the crashes, of winning?

11. What did Marge contribute to the film? What kind of character was she, her work in the office, her liaisons with the various drivers? Her moral stances and lack of them? How important were morals to her? Human relationships? Her helping Junior with the hotel? Her sweetness towards him? His taking her to the dance and their conversations? His discovery of her relationships with the other drivers? The importance of the sequence of their night together.. the effect on Junior, his capacity for humanity and loving, her capacity for love? The importance of the exchange of confidences, especially her talk about her past and her fatness, his talking about being himself? Her taking up with the other drivers at the end? Her final words of keeping in contact because he was her darling? How accurate a portrait of this kind of girl?

12. How well did the film fill in the background of the personalities of the other drivers, their ways of behaviour parties and socializing, rivalry, driving? Wives and their jealousies? The atmosphere of the people who go the round of the tracks?

13. The importance of Junior and his decision to become dependent on Colt? The sequence of his defying him? Yet his going to him with tough terms? Their encounter and the setting of terms? The character of Colt and his wanting to win, his power? His control of Junior during the race and Junior's decision to disobey? The effect of winning on both of them? Colt's threats and Junior's brazen retaliation? what was the future for him?

14. The final image and the still of Junior going into the interview, his sense of achievement and winning, the balance of the humanity in his background? The question of 'where are you going from here, Junior'? What would the audience answer? What would Junior answer?

15. How interesting a film in itself about human beings, about sport. about American heroes?