Watch Deadhead Miles

Deadhead Miles is a 1972 comedy-drama road movie directed by Vernon Zimmerman. The film stars Alan Arkin as Cooper, a disillusioned truck driver who picks up a hitchhiker named Ellie (Donna Anderson) and embarks on a journey across the American Southwest. The film begins with Cooper driving his beaten-up truck through the desert landscape of New Mexico, hauling a load of toilet paper across the country. He is bored and unfulfilled with his life, and he spends his days drinking beer and smoking cigarettes, dreaming of a better existence. One day, on a whim, he picks up Ellie, a free-spirited young woman who is hitchhiking her way to San Francisco.

As Cooper and Ellie travel further westward, they encounter a host of eccentric characters along the way, including a desperate couple on the verge of divorce, a group of hippies staging a sit-in at a local town hall, and a trio of escaped convicts. With each new encounter, Cooper and Ellie's relationship deepens, and they begin to see each other in a new light.

Despite its lighthearted tone, Deadhead Miles is ultimately a meditation on the American Dream and the pursuit of happiness. Cooper and Ellie are both searching for something more in life, and they hope to find it on the open road. Along the way, they discover that the journey is just as important as the destination, and that the people they meet along the way can be just as important as the places they're going.

The cinematography in Deadhead Miles is breathtaking, capturing the arid beauty of the American Southwest with stunning, sun-drenched landscapes. The film's soundtrack is also noteworthy, featuring a mix of country and rock tunes that perfectly capture the era's cultural zeitgeist.

At its heart, Deadhead Miles is a film about finding oneself and discovering the true meaning of freedom. Cooper and Ellie are both outsiders in their own way, and their journey together is a reflection of their shared desire to break free from society's constraints and live life on their own terms.

Overall, Deadhead Miles is a charming, quirky film that is sure to delight anyone who loves road movies, and anyone who has ever dreamed of hitting the open road in search of a better life.