Bullet Points: High-Ballin’

Jerry Reed was one of the most talented singer-songwriters of his generation who also was quite successful in the acting world. He had a unique voice and cadence to his speech that lended itself quite well on the big screen and even in action films. While most famous as the Snowman in Smokey and the Bandit (and for the theme song “East Bound and Down”) there is another trucker action movie is right up there in the Jerry Reed filmography. High-Ballin’ (and the theme song “High-Ballin’”) is not not as popular but I really enjoy the action (and the trucks) and I happen to have some Bullet Points as we take a look at Jerry Reed as the Iron Duke (the one with the cabover face, son) in High-Ballin’.

• Truck Be a Lady Tonight – If you don’t like big rigs, and especially cabovers you might not enjoy High-Ballin’ as it hits you right from the start. We see a trucker stopping for damsel in distress (or beaver in the trucker CB parlance) but it is just a setup for the truck to get hijacked. A common occurrence, especially for the independent truck drivers. King Carroll (Chris Wiggins, Friday the 13th: The Series) owns a trucking company with the power to police the hijacking and protect the drivers. Of course that comes at price, working as a company driver forking over part of your profits. Who thinks that King Carroll might be behind these hijackings?
• Bleed Like a Truck Pig – One of the most independent of the independent truck drivers is Iron Duke Boykin (Jerry Reed) with his Kenworth K-100.  Duke gets a surprise visit from his old buddy Rane (Peter Fonda) and what a better way to be introduced to Rane then a fight at a truck stop. The fight was great, but it makes me long for the days when truckers would fight with tire irons in the middle of the parking lot. Rane also meets Pickup (Helen Shaver) who claims to be a truck driver but we only see her driving a pickup truck, and I think those two are going to become lovers.

• Somebody Step on a Truck? – Duke talks Rane to join him on his next run for a little protection, which is probably why Duke’s son Tanker also tags along. Duke is doing a job for King Carroll delivering cars, but it is really a setup for another hijacking to try and get Duke to join King Carroll as a company driver. Fat chance I say. Is a car carrier the most exciting load for an action movie? Watching cars crashing off the back of a trailer is pure fun. The trailer also makes for a great close quarter fighting location. Especially with Rane looking resplendent hanging off the trailer in his CAT toque and eagle coat.
• Mother Truckers – Duke needs just a little more money to get a farm and he won’t get that working for King Carroll but the highjacking is not making it safe to drive. What better way to make some quick cash than with some illegal booze hauling. Smokey and the Bandit much? Duke and Rane will be delivering booze to a lumber camp, and we all know lumberjacks are one of the thirstiest bunch. King Carroll definitely doesn’t want Duke to succeed, but his minion Harvey wants to stop Rane even more for the earlier encounter at the truck stop. Carroll sends his goons, incompetent goons but goons none the less, after Rane who happens to be with Pickup after a night at the bar, and yes there was a bar fight and yes I was right about Rane and Pickup.

• The Truck Stops Here – King Carroll and Harvey are able to kidnap Pickup, but all that really does is anger Rane even more and force Duke to start the bootlegging on his own. I guess that is a problem because Harvey ends up shooting Iron Duke and it almost brought a tear to this old gearjammer’s eye. When Rane gets to Duke and saves his old buddy I was fully verklempt. Once the rest of the independent truckers hear what happened to Duke they all rally to stop King Carroll and Harvey. Convoy much? The ending is very entertaining and satisfying and you better believe there is plenty of vehicular mayhem.

High-Ballin’ is a fun action movie, especially if you like semi trucks and the independent trucking of the 1970s. The truck action and music is one reason I keep coming back, and I can’t get enough of listening to Jerry Reed talk all that CB lingo even if most of it sounds like nonsense. Peter Fonda never fails to show up and seeing Jack Marshak himself as a bad guy is too much fun. They certainly don’t make trucker movies like they used to and with the rise of mega-carriers it is still tough for the independent truckers so take a look at High-Ballin’ when you get a chance, but first don’t forget to look at these Bonus Bullet Points.

• Also Known As – High-Ballin’ began its life as P.F. Flyer but changed names during filming. You might find it in some countries as Convoy II.
• Familiar Faces – Be on the lookout for Michael Ironside and George Buza, both are personal favorites of Chris the Brain.
• Soundtraxx – I mentioned how I like the music and especially Reed’s “High-Ballin’” but I can’t fail to mention the music and on screen appearance of Myrna Lorrie and Prairie Oyster.
• Not Fooling Anyone – High-Ballin’ is set in the USA, with a mention of a run to Green Bay (look out for them hookers) but was clearly filmed in Ontario, Canada, what with the copious amounts of snow, Ontario license plates and the CN Tower in the background of the finale.