Two-Lane Blacktop. Directed by Monte Hellman. Starring James Taylor, Warren Oates. Rated R | Runtime 1 hours & 42 minutes

With an introduction by Santa Fe Native Tim Maxwell titled The Life of a Teenager on the Plaza in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Maxwell will be giving a 5-10 minute talk on the Plaza scene of 1970. Joining him will be Guadalupe Antonio Martinez (whose grandfather is the plumber whose signature is in the HSFF bathroom). This is the the premiere re-showing of Two Lane Blacktop, starring James Taylor (the singer/songwriter), Warren Oates, Dennis Wilson (Beach Boys), and Laurie Bird that is directed by Monte Hellman. Esquire magazine called it the movie of the year in 1971. Now considered a cult film, it is seen as a time capsule of U.S. 66 towns before the interstate system was completed.

Maxwell watched the movie for Santa Fe scenes recently and spotted made note of their timestamp. Enjoy noting them and looking for Santa Fe in the screening.

New Mexico scenes start at 12:20
Santa Fe scenes start at 13:00
Plaza was lower than street level at the time/no grass
Old Bandstand
Artist Tamotzu 14:07 (I wonder if they knew they had a famous artist in the scene?)
Building formerly Bert’s Burger Bowl 14:42
Palace Restaurant 21:00
Las Vegas, NM 23:10

Violet Crown Description:
In this cult favorite road film, a mechanic (Dennis Wilson) and a driver (James Taylor) live only to race and maintain their 1955 Chevy. Heading east from California with no particular agenda, they give a girl (Laurie Bird) a ride, and en route she incites jealousy between the men by sleeping with them both. Meanwhile, the trio encounters an overbearing GTO driver (Warren Oates) who agrees to race them to New York, each side putting at stake their most prized possession: their car.

Buy tickets on the Violet Crown website here. Watch the trailer below.