Return to Macon County (1975)

Return to Macon County was made in 1975 and is a sequel to the previous year's Macon County Line, which is another of my favorite films. This one was also written and directed by Richard Compton. Then unknowns Nick Nolte (as Bo) and Don Johnson (as Harley) play best friends heading to California to race their car. Harley is the mechanic and Bo is the driver. Their plans take a detour when they meet Junelle (future soap star Robin Mattson), a waitress with a good heart but definitely in her own world. Junelle accidentally spills food on a customer and Bo goes to her rescue. Bo and Harley attempt to leave the diner before the police arrive, but find Junelle (with suitcase in hand) wanting to leave with them. They reluctantly take her along and they are soon on the run from the police after Junelle tries to force store owners to give her money (I think that's called robbery) so Bo and Harley can use it for their entry fee at the drag race when they all get to California. The tension grows between the two friends as they realize that Junelle is coming between them. One police officer, Sgt. Whittaker, makes it his personal mission to catch the trio, with tragic results. The movie ends with Bo and Harley on foot, discussing how they build their next race car.

I don't think this movie has nearly the cult following of MCL, but in its own way it is a great movie. Sure, the plot is a little far-fetched, but it has some good scenes. Not long after the boys meet Junelle, the three stop in the woods and while Harley goes to town, Bo and Junelle hang around a ruins of a house and talk. It's one of the best parts of the movie. I also like the way Junelle leaves Bo when she realizes that they are just too different to stay together. She catches a ride with a guy in a convertible and as the car is pulling away, Bo starts to run after her (possibly regretting her leaving). I think Return to Macon County is actually a better movie than Macon County Line in a lot of ways. It is definitely work a look as an example of a good low-budget, little-known film.

Thumb Tripping (1972)

Thumb Tripping is what I like to call a 'sleeper'. It is not well known, I don't think it did very well at the box office and it just seemed to slip into obscurity. It's a shame, too, because it is a good movie that deserves a look. Michael Burns was a child actor who had a successful career as an young adult actor until he retired from acting to become a college professor. He plays Gary, a young guy who is traveling around the country between his freshman and sophomore college years. He's not really a hippie, just a free spirit. He meets Chae, played by the wonderful actress Meg Foster. Take a good look at her eyes, she has the most beautiful green eyes I have ever seen. They are such a light green color as to almost be translucent. Chae is more of a hippie than Gary, and they are attracted to one another. They decide to travel together and to accept all rides that are offered. Their first ride is with two hot-rodders (one of whom is played by Bruce Dern). The guys seem to dislike hippies and also seem to have a lot of built-up anger. After a few scary moments, during which Gary and Chae seem to be growing closer to each other, they are able to escape and decide to be more careful. Their adventures on the road continue and they meet a lot of different types of characters. Some of them include two hippies camping on the beach who share their soup with Gary and Chae, a trucker who wants Chae and won't let Gary stand in his way, a mother with kids in a WV who has serious mental issues (played by Joyce Van Patten) and finally they meet up with a couple who are out for a good time. It's a husband and wife who are somewhat of swingers and are definitely heavy drinkers. They go skinny dipping, visit a bar and things get out of control. After this, Gary decides to travel on his own. I would have liked for the movie to end differently, with Gary and Chae staying together, but I can see how it wouldn't have worked with that ending. This is a great movie of a time when people actually did hitchhike and had adventures on the road.