Hijack Highway

Description

Dark roads, a storm at night and Jean Gabin are the primary ingredients in “Hijack Highway”, a classic French noir gem. It’s the story of a trucker who’s mistakenly accused of a crime and is hounded by a web of pursuers. Gabin once again confirms his status as one of the pillars of French cinema with a moody and moving performance. And it introduces Jeanne Moreau, arguably one of France’s greatest actresses, to the screen. After a spending the night with his girlfriend Alice (Jeanne Moreau), trucker Jean (Jean Gabin) encounters a dead body on the road home. He reports the incident to the police who suspect that Jean was responsible for the death and his new truck is impounded. To make matters worse, the man’s widow accuses Jean of having robbed her husband of a large amount of money that he was carrying. And then there’s that gang of sinister crooks who also are harassing him. Jean is a victim of circumstance and forces beyond his control are closing in on him. But Alice gives him a measure of comfort and stability. With her as his emotional base, he manages to rouse his trucker friends to turn the tables against the gangsters who are pursuing him. The startling ending predates Spielberg’s “Duel” by about 20 years. DVD EXTRAS “A Bum Deal” and “The Right Choice” - Two theatre advertisements for cigarettes featuring French film stars Michel Simon (in makeup from “Bodou Saved From Drowning”) and Fernandel. “Four Bags Full” - theatrical trailer featuring Jean Gabin, Bouvril and Louis De Funes. “Siamo Donne” - theatrical trailer featuring Ingrid Bergman, Anna Magnani and Alida Valli.