The Last American Hero (also known as Hard Driver) is a DeLuxe Color 1973 in Panavision sports drama film based on the true story of American NASCAR driver Junior Johnson. Directed by Lamont Johnson, it stars Jeff Bridges as Junior Jackson, the character based on Johnson.
The film is based on Tom Wolfe's story, "The Last American Hero", which is included in his 1965 debut collection of essays, The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby. The film was favorably reviewed by Pauline Kael in The New Yorker, even though The New Yorker had a long-standing feud with Wolfe.
The film's theme song, "I Got a Name", sung by Jim Croce, became a best-selling single.Synopsis
Junior Jackson (Junior Johnson) (by Jeff Bridges), a stock-car stays one step ahead of reform school until his father (Art Lund) is thrown in prison for moonshining. Seeing the error of his ways, Jackson begins to concentrate his driving skills, hoping to become a professional stock car racer to raise money to get his father released from jail.
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