O Roubo

I have recently gotten into TV movies out of the 70's and been trying to track them down anyway that I can find them. I was fortunate to run across this on a compilation DVD at Suncoast with some other trucker movies.

Well on to the review, this movie does look dated because it was made in 1973, major league 70's fashion along with clothes,cars and even the eighteen wheelers that were used in the movie.(SPOILERS) The story revolves around two truckers who are offered a substantial amount of money to take a big rig from Los Angeles to Houston, Texas. Along the way a group of individuals try to stop them anyway they can even if they have to kill them to do it. The acting by the two leads David Janssen and Keenan Wynn are quite good and keep the movie going along. I was surprised at how well some things that were handled, along with the photography and stunts. The Dialog is not great but for a TV movie it was a nice waste of time as opposed to some of the major movies that are put out nowadays.

It's nice to know that some of the simple movies that were put out in the 70's are not lost, even if they were put out on TV.

It's not great but it's not bad either.

This made-for-TV movie is very nicely paced. There's a steady rhythm to the story and I was pulled along for the duration of the movie. There's a lot of driving since they're going from California to Texas, but it's not boring. There's some of everything. The action and crisis points are well done. The dialogue is pared down and snappy. No long-winded discussions. Each scene is succinct and easy to follow.

I really, really enjoyed this movie. David Janssen leads the cast and his acting is always so good, so natural, and he is so relatable. He just makes you root for him. The character he plays (Jake) is a nice person, a good friend, dependable, always calm and steady. Soft spoken and kind, yet tough. Kind of the perfect man.

Right from the start, the bond between Jake and his friend Donny is apparent. Jake asks about his health, his wife. I like that there's no complaining about women, which can be common in buddy/buddy movies. Throughout the movie, you hear and see Jake's concern for Donny's health. It's a tight friendship.

Jake meets a young woman named Eileen at a road-side stop in a small town. She's also warm, calm, independent. Their interaction is pleasant and a welcomed reprieve - a nice detour on this road trip loaded with trouble.

David Janssen, Keenan Wynn and Lee Purcell are all very good. It's a fun movie. Watch it for the action, fights, explosions, and especially the very fine performances of the cast. I recommend it.

It would be interesting to learn who originated this story of bamboozled couriers. Though this movie was made in 1974, a 1963 story by Gene Roddenberry appeared as The Virginian episode 1:29, 'Run Away Home' featuring this same basic plot with the same slug-fisted ending. I remember seeing it reworked again in 1988 as Miami Vice 5:6, 'Line of Fire' where Sonny Crockett is transporting a 'top secret' witness. Another variant is Airwolf 3:18, 'Hawke's Run'. Does anybody remember any other variations? I am sure there must be more. This plot-line seems to be another one of those television tropes that pops up every few years wearing another hat or in this case, being transported by another vehicle, i.e. horse, truck, or boat.

This TV movie was Black Dog, Thunder Run and The Road Warrior all rolled into one, though it was made before the others. David Janssen from the TV series The Fugitive is a truck driver who has lost his truck driving license. It will be temporarily reinstated if he drives a load from Los Angeles to Houston, and, upon completion of the run, it will be permanently reinstated. Gee, can the law really be manipulated like that? Didn't that happen in Black Dog? Keenan Wynn plays his co-driver. They drive one of the White Freightliner cabovers popular at that time. Along the way, people try to highjack the load. Gee, didn't that happen in Thunder Run? They stop for a while in the desert. Will they make it to Houston? And what were they hauling, anyway?

Why wouldn't such important stuff be better protected?? why would they hire a man who lost his license?? not logical unless the company WANTS it stolen or its a decoy you'd think they'd get cops sooner with a co-driver and important load, why stop at motel? 40-50 shots until stopping truck! truck versus helicopter only good is final punch

The plot for "Hijack!" is bizarre and seldom makes a lot of sense. Even when the ending supposedly explains everything...it still is confusing and nonsensical. It just goes to show you that not every made for TV film of the 70s is worth seeing, as this one has more holes than a ton of Swiss cheese!

David Janssen plays a down and out semi truck driver. He's recently lost his license and is in dire straits. So, it seems like a godsend when he's approached with a deal that is just too good to be true....to transport a shipment to Houston for ten times the normal rate!! He is told that his cargo is vitally important to the US government and he's encouraged to bring along a co-driver....another down and outer (Keenan Wynn).

Soon after they leave, it's obvious that they are being followed. And, it's soon apparent that these folks mean to do them harm. And, when the various attempts on their lives fail, the baddies respond by sending a helicopter after the shipment!!

Over and over again, I found myself thinking "why did they go that?" or "why didn't they do that?"...and I am sure everyone watching the film thought the same things. Such as, why not go to the police sooner? When the first cops seemed indifferent, why not find other cops? Why not park the vehicle at a police station or National Guard Armory? Why not contact the FBI? Why, why, why, why??? I could come up with many more whys but the bottom line is that I felt that the film insulted the viewer because it left so many plot holes in the script. It also was an insult to Janssen and Wynn, as they gave it their best but the script was just junk. A really bad film because a comprehensible script IS necessary when you make a picture!