Steven Spielberg Throws Apple Watch at Sugarland Express Event
In a surprising turn of events at the Tribeca Festival, Steven Spielberg, the legendary filmmaker, found himself interrupted by his own Apple Watch. Spielberg was in the midst of celebrating the 50th anniversary of his debut feature, “The Sugarland Express,” when his watch suddenly issued a distress signal. The message read, “It looks like you’ve taken a hard fall.” Spielberg, with his characteristic humor, quipped, “I’m not going to press the SOS [button],” before dramatically tossing the watch to the ground. “I’ll pick it up later,” he added, only to retrieve it a few minutes later when it continued to signal distress.
The incident occurred during a talk where Spielberg was reflecting on his early career and the making of “The Sugarland Express.” Before the Q&A session began, a pre-recorded message from Goldie Hawn, the star of the film, was played. Hawn expressed her gratitude to Spielberg and reminisced about the pivotal role the film played in both their careers. Released in 1974, “The Sugarland Express” received positive reviews but was pulled from theaters after just two weeks due to poor box office performance. Spielberg noted to the audience, “You’re the first audience to ever see ‘Sugarland Express’ in 50 years.”
Spielberg shared with moderator Brent Lang, Executive Editor of Variety, that the inspiration for the film came from an article titled “Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde” in a local Los Angeles newspaper. The story of a Texas couple, Bobby and Ila Fae Dent, who led a multi-car police chase to reclaim their baby from child welfare, captivated Spielberg. He sent the article to his friends Hal Barwood and Matthew Robbins, who agreed to collaborate on the script.
However, Universal Studios was hesitant to finance the film without a major star. Spielberg credited Goldie Hawn for making the film possible, saying, “The movie wouldn’t have gotten made without her.” He felt Hawn was perfect for the role of Lou Jean Poplin, one of the naive cop car hijackers, due to her inherent simplicity and heart.
Casting the rest of the ensemble led Spielberg and casting director Shari Rhodes to seek talent beyond Hollywood. Spielberg humorously recounted asking Rhodes to find “real people” for the film, even suggesting she find a drunk in a bar. Rhodes did just that, casting an old man she found in a bar as a well-lubricated passenger in the film.
The film’s plot, involving a car chase followed by police cars, news trucks, and onlookers, reminded Spielberg of the O.J. Simpson Bronco chase. “I did! I did!” Spielberg exclaimed when asked if he thought of his movie during the infamous chase. “I said, ‘Shit, they’re stealing my thunder!'”
“Sugarland Express” also marked the beginning of Spielberg’s legendary collaboration with composer John Williams. Spielberg, a longtime fan of Williams’ scores, vowed to have him score his first feature film. “When ‘Sugarland’ became a reality, one of the first people I contacted was John,” Spielberg said. Their partnership has since spanned over five decades, with Williams scoring many of Spielberg’s iconic films, including “Jaws,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” and “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”
Spielberg’s work on “Sugarland Express” with producers Richard Zanuck and David Brown led to his involvement in “Jaws.” Spielberg recalled discovering the book “Jaws” in Zanuck’s office and being captivated by it. Although another director was initially assigned to the project, Spielberg was eventually offered the film, which became a massive success and solidified his status as a top director.
The event at Tribeca was a nostalgic journey through Spielberg’s early career, punctuated by the unexpected interruption from his Apple Watch. The audience at the BMCC in Lower West Side Manhattan was treated to a rare screening of “The Sugarland Express” and a glimpse into the mind of one of Hollywood’s greatest directors.
