Carambolages

"Smash-Up on Interstate 5" goes the same path as any disaster flick from the 1970s. The TV movie has a large, notable cast and multiple story lines, which culminate into the title incident. In an unusual move, the filmmakers chose to open the film with the same multi-vehicle accident and flash back to the characters involved in the accident.

Because of this creative decision, I did care about some of the characters and their fates. The most heartbreaking storyline was the older couple played by Buddy Ebsen and Harriet Nelson (Hillard) in which one member of the couple is faced with a fatal medical diagnosis.

In addition, the stunt work and editing of the actual crash was very terrifying and effective.

As with many television movies, finding this item on DVD is challenging.

Have you ever been in a severe traffic accident? I have... And even though it was nearly 20 years ago, I can assure you the narrated words during the opening sequences catapulted me straight back to the exact same sentiments I felt in the first hours and days after the accident. "For the majority of people, the victims of this smash-up will be nothing more than a holiday weekend statistic". That's also how I felt after I crashed into a tree on a Friday night and miraculously came out almost unharmed. In the blink of an eye, you're nothing more than a weekend traffic statistic. But behind every traffic casualty sits a person with his/her own story to tell, and that's what this modest but more than admirable made-for-TV disaster movie wants to emphasize.

In the weekend leading up to the 4th of July, we follow of handful of seemingly random people living in the area between Los Angeles and San Diego. Now, from the title and the opening sequences we already know these same random people will be the ones heavily impacted by the traffic accident on Interstate 5 (39 vehicles, 65 injured, 14 deaths) but before that tragedy happens, they are all "common" people dealing with versatile issues, like accepting medical diagnoses, romantic dilemmas and running from the law. It's not exactly the most exhilarating segmented film ever made, but it perfectly does what it intends, namely giving a background to usually anonymous traffic accident victims.

"Smash-Up on Interstate 5" can rely on the competences of the best TV-movie director in history, John Llewellyn Moxy, and has quite an impressive cast, with Robert Conrad, Vera Miles, Donna Mills, Scott Jacoby and Tommy Lee Jones. For the latter, it was still a relatively small role, in the period shortly before his breakthrough.

Incredible that but for one review, and even that only two months ago, no-one has seen fit to comment all through the years on this above average telemovie. Inarguably dated now, as evidenced by the vehicles themselves, the flares, hair-do's and music, SMASH UP ON INTERSTATE 5 is a reasonably faithful reconstruction (disaster-movie style) of the events leading up to the true-life pile up not so many years earlier.

Better than average script give the cast of well known actors and actresses something to work with. Robert Conrad, still looking the part of Jim West plays the police patrol officer most closely involved in the fifty car collision. Tommy Lee Jones, also a cop, looks like a youthful long haired refugee from WOODSTOCK and Buddy Ebsen is well, Buddy Ebsen, as always!

The film does not attempt to sensationalise the events, merely presenting them as is, albeit with considerable literary license one suspects. The actual collision is quite well done for its day, showed in stop-frame at the beginning and in full gory detail at the conclusion. I have this film in our library and decided to compile this review having watched it this evening, the first time in ten years or so. An absolute time-capsule!

Titled COLLISION COURSE in Australia, and several European countries.

I was 7 when this was on TV and was so hyped by the commercials for it. My favorite thing was the time clock in the corner of the screen: 40 minutes to smashup, 30 minutes to smashup, 20 minutes to smashup, etc. Obviously trying to keep people tuned in. And it worked!! At least for a 7 year old kid. My 10

year old brother and I were on the edge of our seats, even tho we were sitting on the floor, our eyes glued to the screen. I was so excited by it waiting for the big smashup and was in heaven when it finally happened! Being kids we just wanted to see cars smashed, not concerned about anyones welfare. Awesome!

After years of disaster films set on planes, ocean liners and even on trains, we finally got one set on the freeway. Other than that, it is just like the rest of the seemingly endless parade of mid-1970's disaster epics. Also, the characters were just like the ones in the others. You had the lonely rich middle age lady who finds love with a trucker, the older couple facing a terminal illness, the young lovers on the run and the vengeful cop looking for his partner's killer. All of these characters could have been put on the plane, train or ship but instead they are all on a collision course on a major California freeway. Also, it was pretty interesting that this film began with the "smash-up" and showed all the events leading up to it and showing it again at the end and all the aftermaths. For all its faults, it still was a pretty good film.