The film was popular in its day, but suffers from many unrealistic contrivances, and a dearth of humor and action, except for the spectacular chase scene. Star power, Willie Nelson's songs, the scenery, and a sympathetic sceenplay save it from mediocrity. I noticed that female raters tended to rate it significantly higher than male raters. I suspect this is due to the popularity of Robert Redford among women.
I will say that Redford, as Sonny Steel, looked impressive, all lite up with tiny lightbulbs over his very fancy cowboy outfit, as he rode into the arena: a superstar in the rodeo world, and with his picture on every box of Ranch Breakfast cereal, which he was being paid big bucks to advertise. But, during his journey through the arena, eventually, he fell off his horse, because he was drunk. He had recently retired as a competitive rodeo rider and he felt no real enthusiasm for his highly paid easy new job. In an interview, he even admits that he never eats this cereal. Hence, he has become an alcoholic.
But, he feels sorry for the famous racehorse: Rising Star, he is given to ride in his public exhibitions. It had an injured lower leg that wasn't being tended to, and had been given tranquilizers to make it more calm So, he got a brainstorm. He dressed up in his fancy show outfit, complete with light bulbs and rode Rising Star out on the stage, behind a troupe of dancing, sing, girls then into the audience, and out the door of Ceasar's Palace, Las Vegas, down the main street, and out into the desert, until he came to the lonely abode of a friend. Here, he somehow changes his clothes and borrowed the camper, somehow? Converting it into a horse trailer! His plan is to take Rising Star to a place in SW Utah he's familiar with, where wild horses tend to roam, and release him. Crazy!
Meanwhile, aggressive TV reporter, Hallie(Jane Fonda) has become fixated on finding him and getting some video footage with him explaining why he did this stunt. Very amazingly, she finds him, after getting hints from his friends. Of course, initially, he's angry with her butting into his business. But, eventually, she gets him to do what she wants. She takes the video back to Vegas, shows it to his friends and corporate executives, then it's shown on TV. Then, she goes looking for him, and, amazingly, finds him again. She's even accepted as a rider in his camper/horse trailer. They ride into a town, but police are staked out on the main intersection. So, Sonny decides to get Rising Star out, and ride him out of town, after telling Hallie where to drive the camper to meet him. There follows a spectacular chase by several police cars and motorcycles. Don't know how Rising Star persevered, with a bad leg, to outrun all his pursuers. Amazingly, he meets Hallie where he told her to go. He decides it's now too risky to continue in the camper, so abandons it, and they begin walking, Hallie with her inappropriate shoes. They come across an isolated house. The resident is friendly, having seen Sonny's story on TV. Thus, he puts them in his horse trailer, and takes them most of the way to where Sonny wants to go. Now, they have to walk or ride, in Hallie's case, the remaining miles. At their destination, as promised, Sonny releases the horse, which runs to catch a wild herd. Sonny and Hallie somehow get back to town and part ways, with a final kiss. Lucky Sonny now is more famous than ever.
This was the first of many Hollywood films Willie Nelson participated in,(and still does), as Sonny's friend. Some of his most famous songs are heard in the background, mainly in the early part.
Another of the highlights for me was seeing Valerie Perrine, who plays Sonny's ex-wife. My, what a knockout! Too bad we didn't get to see more of her, but, at least, we had Jane.
I will say that Redford, as Sonny Steel, looked impressive, all lite up with tiny lightbulbs over his very fancy cowboy outfit, as he rode into the arena: a superstar in the rodeo world, and with his picture on every box of Ranch Breakfast cereal, which he was being paid big bucks to advertise. But, during his journey through the arena, eventually, he fell off his horse, because he was drunk. He had recently retired as a competitive rodeo rider and he felt no real enthusiasm for his highly paid easy new job. In an interview, he even admits that he never eats this cereal. Hence, he has become an alcoholic.
But, he feels sorry for the famous racehorse: Rising Star, he is given to ride in his public exhibitions. It had an injured lower leg that wasn't being tended to, and had been given tranquilizers to make it more calm So, he got a brainstorm. He dressed up in his fancy show outfit, complete with light bulbs and rode Rising Star out on the stage, behind a troupe of dancing, sing, girls then into the audience, and out the door of Ceasar's Palace, Las Vegas, down the main street, and out into the desert, until he came to the lonely abode of a friend. Here, he somehow changes his clothes and borrowed the camper, somehow? Converting it into a horse trailer! His plan is to take Rising Star to a place in SW Utah he's familiar with, where wild horses tend to roam, and release him. Crazy!
Meanwhile, aggressive TV reporter, Hallie(Jane Fonda) has become fixated on finding him and getting some video footage with him explaining why he did this stunt. Very amazingly, she finds him, after getting hints from his friends. Of course, initially, he's angry with her butting into his business. But, eventually, she gets him to do what she wants. She takes the video back to Vegas, shows it to his friends and corporate executives, then it's shown on TV. Then, she goes looking for him, and, amazingly, finds him again. She's even accepted as a rider in his camper/horse trailer. They ride into a town, but police are staked out on the main intersection. So, Sonny decides to get Rising Star out, and ride him out of town, after telling Hallie where to drive the camper to meet him. There follows a spectacular chase by several police cars and motorcycles. Don't know how Rising Star persevered, with a bad leg, to outrun all his pursuers. Amazingly, he meets Hallie where he told her to go. He decides it's now too risky to continue in the camper, so abandons it, and they begin walking, Hallie with her inappropriate shoes. They come across an isolated house. The resident is friendly, having seen Sonny's story on TV. Thus, he puts them in his horse trailer, and takes them most of the way to where Sonny wants to go. Now, they have to walk or ride, in Hallie's case, the remaining miles. At their destination, as promised, Sonny releases the horse, which runs to catch a wild herd. Sonny and Hallie somehow get back to town and part ways, with a final kiss. Lucky Sonny now is more famous than ever.
This was the first of many Hollywood films Willie Nelson participated in,(and still does), as Sonny's friend. Some of his most famous songs are heard in the background, mainly in the early part.
Another of the highlights for me was seeing Valerie Perrine, who plays Sonny's ex-wife. My, what a knockout! Too bad we didn't get to see more of her, but, at least, we had Jane.