by Hal Ashby was one of the most important American filmmakers in the 1970s. In 1976, he signed a powerful and moving film, rarely quoted in his filmography: “En route for glory”, devoted to the legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie.
Largely fallen into oblivion today, Hal Ashby was however one of the most important American filmmakers in the 1970s. Before sinking into drugs and paranoia in the 1980s, to die in 1988 when he was only 59 years old.
“Hal Ashby had the most remarkable list of all the directors of the 1970s. After The ownerin 1970, he made Harold and Maude,, The last chore,, Shampoo,, BackAnd Welcome Mister Chance in 1979 “ Written Peter Biskind about the one who is nicknamed “The Hippie of Hollywood”, in his monumental work devoted to New Hollywood.
“His films, with their singular way of combining satire and disenchantment, constituted one of the major voices of the New Hollywood” Acquires the filmmaker and historian Jean-Baptiste Thoret, in his work “The found spirit: return from Hal Ashby”, published on the occasion of the release from Carlotta of this powerful film carried by Jon Voight and Jane Fonda.
He adds: “At the time, he was equal to a Francis Ford Coppolaof a William Friedkin or a Robert Altman. And, later, an essential source of influence for good numbers of contemporary filmmakers, whether Cameron Crowe or Wes Anderson“.
The voice of the voiceless of America of the great depression
In the list of his works greeted above, one of them nevertheless misses the call, and is hardly quoted: on the way for glory, released in 1976 (and 1977 with us). A work unfortunately too little known, which however largely deserves discovery and a serious reassessment. In appearance, this film seems far from this protest period of America from the 70's in which Hal Ashby anchors his works. In reality, she is completely consistent and complementary to her concerns.
On the way to glory, it is the portrait of America left behind, migrants and farmers ruined by the 1929 crisis, which throws millions of Americans on the roads, taking the paths of the exodus to try their chances in California, with the vague promise of a better future. For often, on arrival, cruelly disillusion. The common thread of this formidable film, carried at arm's length by David Carradine (the future Bill of Tarantino!), Trakes in reality the life of an immense singer and American folk guitarist, Woody Guthrie.
United Artists
Emblematic figure of the American culture of hobos (“vagabonds” produced by the great depression), he became an important musical spokesperson for workers and popular feelings. Very marked politically, he composed songs expressing the struggles of the poor and oppressed, while celebrating their spirit of indomitable libertarian resistance. His militant songs inspired the renewal of American folk from the 1960s, at the head of which we find performers such as Bob Dylan or Joan Baez. Guthrie has since largely entered the Pantheon of memory and the consciousness of America.
A revolutionary technique at the service of the film
On the way to glory was cited six times in the Oscars in 1977, and won two statuettes. That of the best music, deserved given its subject, awarded Leonard Rosenman. And the Oscar for the best photograph, awarded to Haskell Wexler, a huge operator, who had notably signed the flight photo over a cuckoo nest and in the heat of the night.
There too a deserved trophy, with a particularity. Contrary to a widely used idea which attributes to Shining the authorship of the first use of steadicam, Hal Ashby's film will use it for the first time.
In fact, this is probably the only candidate for the best film that you did not hear about that year … It must be said that in front, they were competitors super heavy weight category: the men of the president, Network, Taxi Driver, and the winner in the category, Rocky …
Do you want to discover this superb film? Published with us on DVDs … 22 years ago, he finally benefited from a publication in Blu-ray in 2018 at ESC Editions. A very correct edition, which is more available at a very low price, under 10 €. No reason to deprive yourself, therefore. Especially since there remains a hell of a work of evangelization around this film: he has only 54 unhappy notes on his file …
