One of uber-blond bombshell, Robert Redford's earlier films, while infrequently documented remains a boisterous, frequently sweet natured, surprisingly intimate dramedy about two disparate motorcycle misfits, Little Fauss (Michael J. Pollard) and devilishly handsome serial womanizer, Big Halsy (Robert Redford) who slowly form an uneasy partnership to race, Little Fauss's fleet, expertly-tuned bike. The grossly self-absorbed rapscallion, Halsy has selfishly contrived to use the ingenuous and trusting, Fauss's bike and racing licence number, due to his current suspension for numerous boozy transgressions, and, sadly, the introverted, homely Little Fauss forgoes his own undemonstratively expressed ambitions as a single racer, browbeaten by, Big Halsy's relentless charisma and no less beguiling rhetoric, his cumbersome ego, vanity and a seemingly limitless facility for fabricating vividly colourful myths about his own dubious racing prowess that far outweighs his actual, all too modest talents on the track!
'Little Fauss & Big Halsy' is not only a breezily wonderful, sun-hazed view of early 70s dust bowl California, and the wholesomely greasy, high octane, hyper adrenalized risk-laden life of poor, itinerant dirt riders, but the delightfully awkward pairing of perma-twitchy, Michael J. Pollard and magisterial matinée macho, Redford was quite an inspired bit of casting; their vastly contrasting personalities, world views, philosophies and acting styles made for a ceaselessly fascinating pair of ill-matched racers! While Little Fauss and Halsy Knox's sporting alliance never quite gels, even as their working partnership becomes ever more volatile, you can still see genuine flashes of appreciation for the others unique, wholly contradictory talents.
Off the chaotic track and away from Halsy's noisome grandstanding there's an earnest humanity beneath all the broad, alpha male theatrics, especially endearing are, Little Fauss's delightfully earthy, kind-hearted parents whose genuine love and almost smothering affection for the shy, expert racer is, for me, the warmly pulsing heart of this utterly disarming film. Perhaps, no award-laden classic of vintage Americana, but still rather beautiful in its singular fashion. While Redford's striking star quality is undeniable, you can't help but feel this is ultimately about the softly-spoken Little and his hard-earned moment in the sun! Sidney J. Furie's unassuming, 'Little Fauss & Big Halsy' is a well-made, fundamentally light-hearted, nicely observed character piece with some zestily memorable performances from a fine supporting cast, Noah Beery Jr. Is a sheer delight as blustering 'Pop' Fauss, playful Lucille Benson oozes palpable maternal warmth as 'Mom' Fauss, with a young and lissome, Lauren Hutton positively crackling as a witheringly sexy, William S. Burroughs reading kook! And the righteously choice, sawdust kickin', boot stompin' score by the Man in Black is certainly no less enticing!
'Little Fauss & Big Halsy' is not only a breezily wonderful, sun-hazed view of early 70s dust bowl California, and the wholesomely greasy, high octane, hyper adrenalized risk-laden life of poor, itinerant dirt riders, but the delightfully awkward pairing of perma-twitchy, Michael J. Pollard and magisterial matinée macho, Redford was quite an inspired bit of casting; their vastly contrasting personalities, world views, philosophies and acting styles made for a ceaselessly fascinating pair of ill-matched racers! While Little Fauss and Halsy Knox's sporting alliance never quite gels, even as their working partnership becomes ever more volatile, you can still see genuine flashes of appreciation for the others unique, wholly contradictory talents.
Off the chaotic track and away from Halsy's noisome grandstanding there's an earnest humanity beneath all the broad, alpha male theatrics, especially endearing are, Little Fauss's delightfully earthy, kind-hearted parents whose genuine love and almost smothering affection for the shy, expert racer is, for me, the warmly pulsing heart of this utterly disarming film. Perhaps, no award-laden classic of vintage Americana, but still rather beautiful in its singular fashion. While Redford's striking star quality is undeniable, you can't help but feel this is ultimately about the softly-spoken Little and his hard-earned moment in the sun! Sidney J. Furie's unassuming, 'Little Fauss & Big Halsy' is a well-made, fundamentally light-hearted, nicely observed character piece with some zestily memorable performances from a fine supporting cast, Noah Beery Jr. Is a sheer delight as blustering 'Pop' Fauss, playful Lucille Benson oozes palpable maternal warmth as 'Mom' Fauss, with a young and lissome, Lauren Hutton positively crackling as a witheringly sexy, William S. Burroughs reading kook! And the righteously choice, sawdust kickin', boot stompin' score by the Man in Black is certainly no less enticing!