The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! | |
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Genre | |
Written by | Ben Jones |
Music by | Steve Wariner[1] |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producer | Gy Waldron |
Producers |
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Production location | Los Angeles |
Cinematography | Barry M. Wilson[1] |
Editor | Russell Livingstone |
Running time | 120 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | April 25, 1997 |
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! is a 1997 American made-for-television action-adventure film, reuniting the surviving cast members of the 1979–1985 television series The Dukes of Hazzard, which originally aired on CBS on April 25, 1997. The film was directed by Lewis Teague, written by series creator Gy Waldron, and produced by Ira Marvin and Skip Ward.[1]
The popularity of The Dukes of Hazzard reruns on The Nashville Network led to a rejuvenated interest in the franchise, which resulted in the reunion film. A sequel reunion film, titled, The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood, was released in 2000.
Plot
Hazzard County is having a reunion festival. Uncle Jesse faces a lawsuit filed by Mama Josephine Maxx for access across Duke property to the Hazzard swamp, where she intends to build a theme park. Jesse had refused access in order to preserve the swamp and now residents are angry with Jesse, as the theme park would bring jobs and revenue to Hazzard County.
Cooter Davenport, now a Congressman, arrives to meet Jesse at the Duke farm. Bo Duke, now a professional racer, arrives thereafter, followed by Daisy Duke, who has been at Duke University getting a PhD in ecology after a bitter divorce. Luke Duke, now a smokejumper for the forestry service, arrives at the farm. Everyone is surprised to learn that Sheriff Rosco is now also the county boss after he inherited Boss Hogg's "empire" when he died.
The Dukes get suckered into an overland car race to determine whether or not Maxx gets access to the swamp.
After a bar fight with Maxx's men, the Dukes return to Cooter, who warns them that the General cannot sustain another attack. When Luke begins considering a few dirty tricks of their own, Jesse tells them that they will run the race fairly, and that no causeway can be built to the Hazzard Swamp because the ground will not support such a thing, due to the lack of supporting bedrock.
At the Hazzard Swamp, Daisy and Enos have a picnic and he confesses the only reason he returned to Hazzard was so he could ask her to marry him, which she accepts. Mama Maxx has her men kidnap Daisy after learning that she spotted gallium arsenide ore in the swamp. Maxx will only release Daisy if Bo and Luke lose the race. Daisy convinces Mama Maxx to have her men run errands for her wedding, stating that the lack of wedding preparations will cause unwanted attention. After a passionate request, Maxx agrees to help with the wedding plans herself. Maxx eventually accepts Daisy's request to be her matron of honor.
The race between Kam and the Dukes begins, with Kam driving in Buzz's "Double Zero", the only car to beat the General Lee in an overland car race. The Dukes win, and Luke pulls Ryker out of the trunk and tells Rosco he kidnapped Daisy on Maxx's orders so they would lose the race. Rosco tells Mama Maxx how stupid he believes she is, stating that he conned her into building the theme park. Rosco had obtained a sample of gallium arsenide ore and put it in the swamp so Maxx would find it. He also reveals that the FBI sent him a list of the country's ten most wanted real estate con artists, with Maxx at number one. Rosco reveals that his plan was inspired by a quote in Boss Hogg's memoir that offered advice regarding con artists.
Daisy prevents Rosco from arresting Mama Maxx so she can attend the wedding. Before they are married, a bus pulls up and the driver turns out to be Daisy's ex-husband, L. D., who is lost. After seeing L. D., Daisy realizes she is not ready to get married again. Bubba and Bertha Jo get married instead.
Cast
- Tom Wopat as Luke Duke
- John Schneider as Bo Duke
- Catherine Bach as Daisy Duke
- Denver Pyle as Uncle Jesse
- James Best as Rosco P. Coltrane
- Ben Jones as Cooter Davenport
- Sonny Shroyer as Enos Strate
- Rick Hurst as Cletus
- Don Williams as The Balladeer
- Gary Hudson as Riker
- Cynthia Rothrock as Bertha Jo
- Stella Stevens as Mama Maxx
- Daniel Anderson as Buzz
- Travis McKenna as Bubba
Production
This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2017) |
In February 1996, The Nashville Network (TNN) began airing reruns of The Dukes of Hazzard, which became successful in the ratings.[2][3] By November 1996, there were plans for a reunion special. Schneider said a reunion special had been an idea for years but that prior attempts to create it were unsuccessful.[2] Series creator Gy Waldron wrote the script and served as the film's executive producer.[1] Waldron had written a version of the reunion script as early as 1988, three years after the original series had ended. For the reunion movie, this original pitch was then updated to reflect the passing of time, and to work around the death of Sorrell Booke in 1994.[citation needed]
The film was shot in Los Angeles.
Release
The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! aired on CBS on April 25, 1997.[5][6] The movie was released on Region 1 DVD along with the second reunion film The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood on June 10, 2008.[7] Both films were later released on DVD in Region 4 on June 4, 2014.
Reception
The film's premiere broadcast resulted in CBS' highest Friday rating since the reunion special Dallas: J.R. Returns, which aired the previous year.[6] Todd Everett of Variety called the stunts "terrific" and wrote that Teague and editor Russell Livingstone kept the "convoluted story clear and moving, and pic looks sharp, if not especially costly." Everett also wrote that while the film did not break "any new ground," it "should satisfy fans of the series".[1]
In 2008, Paul Mavis of
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Everett, Todd (April 24, 1997). "Review: 'Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!'". Variety. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ a b Baldwin, Kristen (November 15, 1996). "Old Shows Revived". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ Carter, Bill (December 9, 1996). "Cable is busy resurrecting anything and everything that was once on the networks". The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ "Denver Pyle; Uncle in 'Dukes of Hazzard'". Los Angeles Times. December 28, 1997. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ King, Susan (April 24, 1997). "Some Old Friends Get Together". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ a b Lowry, Brian (April 30, 1997). "Prime-Time TV Rankings". Retrieved July 16, 2017.
CBS is off to a good start too, as its "Dukes of Hazzard" reunion paced the network's highest Friday rating since a similar "Dallas" revival movie six months ago.
- ^ DVDTalk. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
External links
- The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! at IMDb