Concrete Cowboys (1979)

I watched this oddity under the title RAMBLIN' MAN. It's a broad, laidback kind of production that trades on the easygoing rural charm of something like SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT and THE DUKES OF HAZZARD, except it's nowhere near as funny. The story is told in short chapters, which is an odd touch that makes it feel cheap, and features a pre-stardom Tom Selleck alongside Jerry Reed as a couple of cowboys having adventures in Nashville. The likes of Claude Akins show up in cameos throughout, but the film simply isn't very interesting and isn't very funny; oddly, it was written by former Hammer scribe Jimmy Sangster, who perhaps was a bit out of his depth with it.

"Concrete Cowboys" is a rather unusual mix of buddy comedy, country musical (with several real-life singers appearing as themselves) and murder mystery. It does fairly well in all departments: Tom Selleck and Jerry Reed (who also sings the amusing theme song) have a comfortable chemistry, and the mystery plot has one or two good surprises (and even lying flashbacks!). The problem with the film is that it's too laid-back for its own good - a tighter script would have helped. Apparently this was followed by a short-lived TV series, where Selleck was replaced by another actor - which is probably why the series failed. **1/2 out of 4.

The movie was worth watching just to see Jerry Reed and Tom Selleck ham it up with such a great supporting cast of characters, many of whom are no longer with us. The plot was contrived, but who cares! Jerry Reed, as usual, stole the show! Now that he has passed on, Concrete Cowboys is a tribute to the fact Reed's appearance rescued the movie. The plot includes the usual car bomb, shoot-out, cop-car chase, and bad guy fight scenes that keeps the action moving, but just to see so many great artists in their prime is worth watching the film. Also interesting is the set decor, costumes, vintage cars, and those tame nightclub dance moves. Best of all: there was no filthy language, sleazy sex scenes, or female meat-market pandering! This is a good movie to watch with your kids and not have to censor the kind of disgusting garbage vomited out of Hollywood today. Although "Hollywood" has long been morally bankrupt, we can thank God we still have some old and timeless classics, and some B movies worth watching like this one.

A country-fried buddy movie, and potential pilot for a series (that later emerged with Reed, but with Geoffrey Scott in Selleck's role), this concerns two cross-country cowboys on their way to Hollywood who become embroiled in a missing person/murder investigation and find themselves on the edge of danger. When Reed loses the pair's money in a shady card game, he and pal Selleck take up residence in a buddy's luxury apartment in Nashville. However, once there, they are mistaken for private investigators by a (hilariously) brunette Fairchild and, in order to regain the funds they lost, opt to take on her case. They've barely begun to sort out the clues when their lives become threatened. In standard issue, TV show fashion, they make the rounds, interviewing various suspects and witnesses while trying to piece together the mystery. In a finale that isn't all that hard to guess (but with a subplot or two that help keep things from becoming too predictable), the gentlemen wrap things up and proceed on their way to H-town. Reed yuks it up and delivers a lot of sassy dialogue, clearly enjoying himself in a rare leading role. (in fact, video releases have eliminated his picture from the cover and sometimes his name, despite his top-billing!) Selleck is his typically easy-going and charming self. He would soon land the iconic role of "Magnum PI" and launch a more significant career for himself. Both men wear pants that are almost criminally tight and are at times distractingly so! Fairchild isn't put to any tremendous task in her dual role, but adds a bit of camp factor to the proceedings thanks to her dated styling and soap opera-esquire acting. Akins appears as a country music star who seems uneasy about the case while real-life singers Acuff, Mandrell and Stevens have cameos as themselves. Benson gets an amusing little part as a cathouse madam and familiar face Zabriskie has a role as co-proprietress of a country music wax museum. Easy-going and lacking a significant budget, it's harmless, undemanding entertainment for those who aren't expecting a great deal. Commercial breaks are punctuated by a series of illustrations and chapter names which add a whimsical feel to the movie.