Watch Steelyard Blues

Steelyard Blues is a 1973 American comedy-drama film directed by Alan Myerson and starring Mel Stewart, Donald Sutherland, and Howard Hesseman. The movie follows a motley crew of misfits who band together to carry out an elaborate heist in pursuit of their dreams. The story begins with two former convicts, Jesse Veldini (Stewart) and Frank Mulder (Sutherland), who have just been released from prison. With little prospects of employment, they turn to a group of eclectic characters living in a disused Marine junkyard in Venice, California. These characters include a radical activist (Hesseman), a hippie musician (Mark Gordon), and a delusional inventor (Peter Boyle). The group is rounded out by a young runaway named Iris (Jane Fonda) who joins them after leaving her wealthy family.

The group soon finds themselves in desperate need of cash and decides to pull off a daring heist at a local airport. They plan to steal a plane from the airport and use it to smuggle a large load of marijuana across the border to Mexico, where they plan to sell it for a fortune. Along the way, they must navigate a series of misadventures and confront various obstacles, including greedy corrupt officials and a gang of drug smugglers.

Despite the various obstacles, the group manages to successfully steal the plane and embark on their risky journey to Mexico. Along the way, they encounter a series of unexpected setbacks and challenges, but they persevere and eventually arrive in Mexico, where they face their final challenges.

Throughout the movie, there are several themes and motifs that are explored. The movie highlights the spirit of rebellion and nonconformity of the 1960s counterculture movement, as well as its disillusionment and disillusionment with the failures of societal norms. The narrative also explores many of the social disparities of the era, including wealth inequalities and the difficulty of climbing the economic ladder, as seen through the character of Iris, who comes from a wealthy family but chooses to reject her privileged lifestyle in favor of joining the group of misfits.

Overall, Steelyard Blues is a highly entertaining and adventurous film that is full of wit, humor, and a dose of whimsy. The characters are richly drawn, and the performances by the ensemble cast are both hilarious and heartfelt. The film can be appreciated both as a time capsule of the era and as a timeless tale of chasing one's dreams, no matter how unlikely or unconventional they may seem. For those who love unconventional heist movies with a comedic edge, Steelyard Blues is a must-see gem from the 1970s.

Steelyard Blues is a 1973 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.