AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks

FeistyUpper If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

ShangLuda Admirable film.

Fatma Suarez The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

videorama-759-859391 Trackdown is another of those well made flicks of the Seventies. The film, though dry in parts, pulls you in with a story, with not such a happy ending, tragic and shocking. The film with it's good intentions, does turn nasty, yet is violently effective, one could say. It's not what you foresee in the early part of this film, especially if judging it, against the country song in the opening. The scenario here has been done, many times, but the nasty turn of incident here, ups the film's merit. We have a bored, young and beautiful girl, (Karen Lamm, who in real life, died quite young, I believe) who's 'spose to be 17. She sets out for Hollywood, leaving her farm and Mumsie behind, who we never see, where we apparently learn from the small informing dialogue, things aren't quite particularly great between the two. Big ox of a brother (Jim Mitcham- Yes Robert's son) returns and sets out to save her. Lamm quickly ends up in a slick sex slavery operation as a high priced call girl, run by a notorious older pimp, Johnny D, who fronts a topless dancer and entertainment agency. An older woman, also in the rackets, and is obviously doing Jonhny D (a younger Ann Archer, at her sexiest) befriends her, while stubborn and determined Mitchum, kicks down doors, and causes a ruckus, trying to find Sis, almost passing her in one scene. What are the chances? He teams up with a young hustler (Chip's Erik Estrada) who was bedding her, while also working with a pretty social worker (Cathy Lee Crosby) who tells the stubborn headed Mitchum, in a heated moment, "The kids run away, cause the parents are such idiots". Mitchum, who's never really been to Hollywood before, as we can gather, later tells Crosby "I've been a hunter all my life. A hunter survives on instinct, and right now my instinct's telling me, it's not good". He couldn't be more right. Sadly, the last thirty minutes of Trackdown is the strongest, starting with that one brutal scene in the bedroom, and in how Mitchum and company use their smarts to gain revenge. Mitchum's character, a man with a plan, you do root for, but too you can't help get angry at him, to how he's ended up in this position, as you don't believe for two secs, he wants to take a step back, and think how this could of been prevented. In this secret context, Mitchum's character is used as an illustration. We need to focus on the problem, for every runaway, so we can prevent kids taking off, with some not so happy fates ensuing. Trackdown isn't the best movie of this kind, but it's a well worth insight into how these sort of things go down, and how the these scumbags operate in a not half bad movie, considering it's era. Trying to Trackdown Trackdown on VHS, etc, well all I can say, is, I wish the best of luck. See what little of Mitchum's face muscles move, or is it, a play down on his character. You decide.

RavenGlamDVDCollector To the reviewer who mentioned she had been searching for it for 25 years, my heartfelt sympathies. I indeed know the feeling. Seven year search to find it on DVD. No luck.I saw it, as a kid, on a Friday night in a theater during the late Seventies. The next night I was back in my seat to see it again. My parents wanted to know why I was going to see the movie again. I just said it was that good, I had to. I couldn't get enough of Karen Lamm. I hated the nasty villains, and as I became a dabbler in the art of writing fiction for my own pleasure, much of my inspiration comes from TRACKDOWN. Of course, in this movie, the young lady doesn't get rescued. I well remember the nightmarish scene, how that guy took off his belt, how she tried to get to the door...But decades have past, and I cannot really submit a decent review. I suppose by today's standards it might look lame on DVD. But I'm begging for a copy of my own. Just now here on IMDb saw the bit by the reviewer stating that there is a release by Warner on DVD, and I will get Takealot on this case again. So, if anybody out there is checking out the worthiness of this one as a movie on cable tonight, or as a video to rent, I only wish I could have been as lucky...I can still hear the words of the trailer. Jim Mitchum, a one-man posse, on the trackdown... There are lots of older movies available on DVD. Why not this one?ADDENDUM, 22 May 2014. After submitting my review, I went into searching mode again, and once more became lucky just after an IMDb visit. Are you guys my lucky charm or what? Anyway, I have this item on order now, and will, all going well, review it more properly in the near future. Not soon, as I prolong the excitement by setting it up for screening on a far-off date. But I do now at least have a hope.My ordered set is a 4 movie special featuring what sounds like a bunch of junk in the worst degree, with TRACKDOWN included. Well, no other option was available for me. Anybody else looking for it, go to Amazon.com and simply select TRACKDOWN.15 June 2014 :) I've seen a truly horrible movie tonight, really, really weak, why it even exists is beyond me, really it is yuck, a buncha barf in a leaking barf bag would be more fun. It was promoted as Scorchy, but was actually Race with Death. why am I all happy then? Cause the reason why I own this junk is because it's part of the quadruple bill featuring TRACKDOWN, and after a ruined evening, I took a sneak peak at the main attraction that I've only seen twice almost 37 years ago... And by just viewing the bit at the beginning I can see I've got something to look forward to. Scheduled for sometime during the next year. Proper review to follow. But, really people, those other three movies on the Action Packed Movie Marathon Vol. 2. Utter dreck! Do buy it though if you're after TRACKDOWN! :)17 July 2014. After experiencing trouble with my Region-free Philips DVD player which I am unable to replace as Philips don't bring their units into this country anymore, I watched this movie while I still can.Lots of things were far different from the way I remembered it. But the movie is every bit watchable. It might be old, but it has stood the test of time remarkably well. Jim Mitchum appears unlikely to be a Hollywood lead actor, but in those action scenes. Wow, just like Chucho felt, you gotta have this guy on your side! Karen Lamm, I am dismayed to have learned she is no longer with us, but thank you, you were an excellent Betsy Calhoun. The street thugs were so real I shudder to think they were cast off the street, reality imitating art...Oddly enough, the meanest character gets away with the worst crime, and the script allows him to. If you like to beat up little girls like Betsy, you are lower than pond scum. You need a ladder to look a snail in the eyes. This bastard should have been in that car in the end scene.Recommended viewing. And I stand by my original estimation, eight stars.

Scott LeBrun Robert Mitchums' eldest son James shows off that trademark Mitchum cool in this mostly routinely written but capably directed little B movie. Whatever it may lack in nuance it makes up for with a pretty solid fun factor. There *is* one sequence that does stand out, and that's a climactic bit of action involving elevators. Otherwise, this is reasonably engaging stuff, written by Paul F. Edwards (based on a story by Ivan Nagy), and directed by Richard T. Heffron ("Futureworld").Mitchum is good in a low key portrayal of Montana rancher Jim Calhoun, who travels to L.A. in search of his kid sister Betsy (lovely and appealing Karen Lamm ("The Unseen")), who's run away. Soon after she arrived in the city, some lowlifes took advantage of her, and she gets mixed up in a world of prostitution and drugs. At first, Jim is forced to deal with one useless person after another who either can't or won't help. But he does get assistance from Chucho (Erik Estrada), who was one of the young punks that targeted her, but experienced a change of heart. And social worker Lynn (Cathy Lee Crosby) also helps out.One good thing about "Trackdown" is that it does move forward quite well, maintaining viewer interest consistently. It's got fine cinematography (by Gene Polito) and a nice music score (by Charles Bernstein) going for it. A decent supporting cast also helps matters; young and beautiful Anne Archer is delightful as Barbara, a call girl who shows sympathy towards Betsy, and Vince Cannon is appropriately scummy as nasty mafioso Johnny Dee. The late, great Ray Sharkey plays the small role of Flash and Tony Burton ("Assault on Precinct 13" '76, the "Rocky" series) can be seen as a transvestite.The character of Jim is worth rooting for, and the story leads towards a final confrontation that packs a good visceral punch. Fans of the action genre will likely see this as an effective diversion.Seven out of 10.

lost-in-limbo It might paint itself as a rough and tumble, by-the-numbers 70s revenge thriller and for most part it's typically generic in its story's progression, but there are some strong themes and capable performances by its cast led by Jim Mitchum and Cathy Lee Crosby. There's a brutal and downbeat side to some scenarios, but never does it becomes overly exploitative despite its angle on forced prostitution and underground violence. The bad guys are scum… truly scum. Where the seedy backdrop of Los Angeles breeds crime and those people take advantage of young naïve runaways looking to hit it big in LA. Some sequences do pack a punch and the script, while not entirely rounded does do enough to evoke some emotional pull when it comes to the overall payback. Sixteen year old Betsy Calhoun flees from her Montana ranch heading to Los Angeles, but her dreams soon become a nightmare when she's kidnapped and sold to a prostitution ring. Her older brother Jim heads to Los Angeles to find her, but finds little help until he meets a social worker and a former gang member who knew of his sister's kidnapping. Jim Mitchum in the lead role is stolid, but fitting with a more psychical performance told through his facials and in doing so making it more effective. You do feel his pain. He shares good chemistry with a head strong Crosby. Half of the film focuses on his search, while the other follows that of Karen Lamm's wholesome turn as Betsy. Watching how she becomes a prostitute, to how she copes with it and the touching relationship she forms with Anne Archer's prostitute character. Some moments do have a disturbing edge. Not unexpected, but they're powerful because there's enough time invested in these characters. So the story moves between different plot arches before all coming together and offering a surprise or so. The film looks bare-bones and on the cheap, but it remains authentic with its on shot locations and gritty action exchanges. Nothing about the direction really ignites itself, but there are set-pieces that craft out an exciting barrage of vicious violence. Like the intense gunfire jousting involving moving lifts was a nice touch. Its plain look might have that made for TV feel, but it doesn't hurt it. At times it can be slow and talky, but its steady handling keeps to its strengths and never over delivers on the old-hat set-up."You know. You're breaking my chops".