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Convoy

 Convoy
type
TVTItem
 Convoy
label
Convoy
 Convoy
page
Convoy
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It's Vanishing Point... with trucks!Convoy is a 1978 action film directed by Sam Peckinpah, based on the 1975 country/western and novelty song "Convoy" by C. W. McCall. In 1978, the National Maximum Speed Law which prohibits speeds exceeding 55 mph is in full force, and the country's truck drivers don't much like it. Martin "Rubber Duck" Penwald (Kris Kristofferson) is one such driver, just going about minding his own business. When he and some friends — Melissa (Ali MacGraw), Pig Pen (Burt Young), Spider Mike (Franklyn Ajaye), and Widow Woman (Madge Sinclair) — run afoul of corrupt Sheriff "Dirty Lyle" Wallace (Ernest Borgnine), a fight breaks out at a truck stop and the bunch are forced to flee in their trucks, the police in pursuit. Heading for the Mexico border, dozens of other truckers join them in their own trucks, until the eponymous convoy emerges, over a mile long. They communicate by means of CB radio. Rubber Duck, heading up the front, is thrust into the status of a folk hero. Will they evade the authorities and make it?Has little if anything to do with Optimus Prime's Japanese name. Has basically no relation to the 2015 roguelike game.
 Convoy
fetched
2024-03-14T00:47:17Z
 Convoy
parsed
2024-03-14T00:47:17Z
 Convoy
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Convoy / int_1235f055
type
Dirty Coward
 Convoy / int_1235f055
comment
Dirty Coward: The Sheriff of Alvarez. He is a brutal racist who uselessly beats inoffensive prisoners, but his first reaction when the truckers come to get Spider Mike out of jail is to try and get out of Dodge. Lyle Wallace remarkably stands his ground.
 Convoy / int_1235f055
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1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
Convoy / int_1235f055
 Convoy / int_1e17a91a
type
Self-Applied Nickname
 Convoy / int_1e17a91a
comment
Self-Applied Nickname: All truckers have one. Bobby a.k.a. Lovemachine is not quite an exception, but everyone else calls him Pig Pen because he hauls pigs.
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_222969af
type
All There in the Script
 Convoy / int_222969af
comment
All There in the Script: Although not clear in the film, Violet the truck stop waitress is actually "Dirty" Lyle Wallace's wife. According to the commentators on the 2016 Special Edition DVD/Blu Ray, it was more implicit in the script and added to the personal tensions between Lyle and Rubber Duck, since RD is very clearly engaged in an affair with Violet. The only hints that remain in the overall film is when RD asks Violet if/when is she going to leave her "old man" (slang for "husband") when she comes back into the truck stop after the fight and lets Lyle out. He then says to her, "We'll talk about this later." Although it can be inferred from this line and the fact that she actually freed him that they are involved (in the same way she's involved with RD), there is no direct implication that they are married. It only exists in the script.
 Convoy / int_222969af
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1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_2a44899
type
Plot Armor
 Convoy / int_2a44899
comment
Plot Armor: Every trucker in the movie apparently comes pre-equipped with this, but especially Widow Woman (until she crashes her truck which wasn't even in the script), Pig Pen, Spider Mike (at least as long as he's in the convoy), and Rubber Duck.
 Convoy / int_2a44899
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1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_2b14367f
type
Bring My Brown Pants
 Convoy / int_2b14367f
comment
Bring My Brown Pants: "We'd appreciate it if you'd bring a new car and a... and a new pair of pants."
 Convoy / int_2b14367f
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
Convoy / int_2b14367f
 Convoy / int_319e4a2f
type
Even Evil Has Standards
 Convoy / int_319e4a2f
comment
Even Evil Has Standards: "Dirty Lyle" Wallace is visibly distressed when he finds Spider Mike bloodied after a beating by the Alvarez police, and solemnly promises to bring back word about Mike's soon-to-be-born son. It's implied that Spider Mike's beating is because he's black, suggesting Lyle, corrupt and vindictive as he is, abhors the racism of the south.
 Convoy / int_319e4a2f
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1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_59907e4f
type
Police Are Useless
 Convoy / int_59907e4f
comment
Police Are Useless: Apart from Sheriff Wallace, who may be a Corrupt Cop, but is very good at his job, most of the police officers that try to stop Rubber Duck's convoy are either incompetent, cowards and/or brutal bigots.
 Convoy / int_59907e4f
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1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_607d4ada
type
Run for the Border
 Convoy / int_607d4ada
comment
Run for the Border: What the truckers are trying to do, after ticking off Lyle at the beginning. The convoy is collateral effect.
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1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_6d28a6fd
type
Hollywood Police Driving Academy
 Convoy / int_6d28a6fd
comment
Hollywood Police Driving Academy: The police officers who give pursuit to the convoy after the brawl in the diner crash their cars while chasing the trucks across a dirt road.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Convoy / int_6d28a6fd
 Convoy / int_6edc54d5
type
Here We Go Again!
 Convoy / int_6edc54d5
comment
Here We Go Again!: The very last scene of a film is a second convoy being formed, heading for Washington, D.C... and with the truck that holds Rubber Duck's (obviously empty) coffin as the leader.
 Convoy / int_6edc54d5
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Convoy / int_6edc54d5
 Convoy / int_744e3311
type
Police Brutality
 Convoy / int_744e3311
comment
Police Brutality: Wallace asks a Sheriff of a little Texas town to arrest Spider Mike, an Afro-American trucker who has left the convoy, to use him as a bait to catch Rubber Duck. The Sheriff brutally beats the poor chap down.
 Convoy / int_744e3311
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
Convoy / int_744e3311
 Convoy / int_7919a45b
type
Duel to the Death
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comment
Duel to the Death: With a truck and a platoon of the Texas National Guard.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_7febc23b
type
Establishing Character Moment
 Convoy / int_7febc23b
comment
Establishing Character Moment: When the State Police show up to assist Lyle, their leader introduces himself with the rather blunt statement "My name is Bob Bookman, sir, and I hate truckers."
 Convoy / int_7febc23b
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_8b606a51
type
There Is No Kill Like Overkill
 Convoy / int_8b606a51
comment
There Is No Kill Like Overkill: At the end Wallace brings with him an entire unit of the Texas National Guard, complete with an M42 Duster armoured vehicle, to confront Rubber Duck and his truck.
 Convoy / int_8b606a51
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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Convoy / int_8b606a51
 Convoy / int_8cb1a369
type
Took a Level in Jerkass
 Convoy / int_8cb1a369
comment
Took a Level in Jerkass: Rubber Duck appears to do this at a few points in the movie.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_9e09fbd7
type
New-Age Retro Hippie
 Convoy / int_9e09fbd7
comment
New-Age Retro Hippie: The Long Haired Friends of Jesus following the Convoy certainly counts.
 Convoy / int_9e09fbd7
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_a7850fbf
type
Only Known by Their Nickname
 Convoy / int_a7850fbf
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Only Known by Their Nickname: We rarely learn any of the main characters' real names.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_a9667a3b
type
Hero Insurance
 Convoy / int_a9667a3b
comment
Hero Insurance: Considering the damage, wrecks, and loss of other things you figure the heroes all have it.
 Convoy / int_a9667a3b
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_aaedd10
type
Given Name Reveal
 Convoy / int_aaedd10
comment
Given Name Reveal: As the convoy approaches the police road block, a federal agent in a helicopter addresses to Rubber Duck by his real name, Martin Penwald. Literally nobody else knew it until then, not Melissa (who has to laugh), not Lyle (who has to laugh even harder, but partly at the agent's pathetic attempt at talking to the Duck), not the audience either because even the Duck's hauling company runs under his nickname.
 Convoy / int_aaedd10
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_ab83cedf
type
Nitro Express
 Convoy / int_ab83cedf
comment
Nitro Express: Used to establish why the cops don't just shoot Rubber Duck's truck and end the film early: the truck is a tanker carrying a full cargo of highly volatile gasoline and if they hit it wrong, then well... they are gonna wish to be very far away and pray there are no bystanders around. In the final act of the film, the cops finally are fed up with Rubber Duck's rebellion and exploit the fact his race to Mexico goes through a narrow and long bridge which will reduce collateral damage to set up a blockade full of guns and open fire. The truck explodes, allowing Rubber Duck to fake his death.
 Convoy / int_ab83cedf
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1.0
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1.0
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Convoy / int_ab83cedf
 Convoy / int_ad1db87c
type
Oh, Crap!
 Convoy / int_ad1db87c
comment
Oh, Crap!: The reaction of Lyle Wallace and of the Sheriff of Alvarez when they realize that eight other truckers has joined Rubber Duck to save Spider Mike. That's over 360 tons of steel barrelling through town towards them.
 Convoy / int_ad1db87c
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Convoy / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Rubber Duck and Lyle Wallace. But all the truckers have their moments.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_b00115aa
type
Noble Fugitive
 Convoy / int_b00115aa
comment
Noble Fugitive: Rubber Duck is mostly a noble person when running from the law, even asks if people need help, stops to see if his crew is okay, and honestly cares for others.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_b9b7191f
type
The Film of the Song
 Convoy / int_b9b7191f
comment
The Film of the Song: Convoy is based on the eponymous C.W. McCall song. McCall actually re-recorded the song with new Darker and Edgier lyrics for the movie, making it a Song of the Film of the Song.
 Convoy / int_b9b7191f
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_bf414570
type
Cunning Like a Fox
 Convoy / int_bf414570
comment
Cunning Like a Fox: Rubber Duck is sly, cunning, and wily in all regards.
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featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_c3ae004a
type
Re-Cut
 Convoy / int_c3ae004a
comment
Re-Cut: Sam Peckinpah's original cut was around 3-1/2 hours long. Since he wasn't involved in post-production, the film was edited by studio staff and editor Garth Craven down to 1 hour and 50 minutes.
 Convoy / int_c3ae004a
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
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 Convoy / int_c83f40d8
type
Bystander Syndrome
 Convoy / int_c83f40d8
comment
Bystander Syndrome: Rubber Duck is really kind of careless about some things and does a great job of showing it by nearly running off with out his compatriots, letting strangers and other truckers follow him, and risking the lives of alot of people by assuming it isn't his problem.
 Convoy / int_c83f40d8
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1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_cc1bd54d
type
Non-Action Guy
 Convoy / int_cc1bd54d
comment
Non-Action Guy: Rubber Duck isn't much of a fighter; and lets his truck, wits, and friends do the work for him.
 Convoy / int_cc1bd54d
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_ce6555f0
type
Lighter and Softer
 Convoy / int_ce6555f0
comment
Lighter and Softer: Than the standard work of Sam Peckinpah. Sure, there are some dark moments like Spider Mike getting the crap kicked out of him by racist cops, but Lyle demonstrates to have standards when he discovers this and Rubber Duck and Mike's fellow truckers pull off a crazy rescue, not to mention than Rubber Duck survives the film, although by faking his death.
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_d9cf40fa
type
Screw This, I'm Outta Here
 Convoy / int_d9cf40fa
comment
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: When the trucks converge on his police station to free Spider Mike, the Sheriff of Alvarez jumps on his patrol car and tries to flee. But he is outdriven by the truckers and crashes into an house.
 Convoy / int_d9cf40fa
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1.0
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 Convoy / int_eb251937
type
Dirty Cop
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comment
Dirty Cop: None other than Dirty Lyle. Lyle hates truckers and sets them up to break the law, busting them when they do, and finally soliciting a bribe to forget the whole thing. And that's not even mentioning the things he does in the course of his rivalry with Rubber Duck.
 Convoy / int_eb251937
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 Convoy / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 Convoy / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
Jerkass: Lyle seems to mostly just want revenge for getting his ass handed to him but he is also a Corrupt Cop who extorts money from people and has power trips off pushing others around.
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 Convoy / int_ed7b2907
type
Folk Hero
 Convoy / int_ed7b2907
comment
Folk Hero: Rubber Duck becomes this by the movie's end.
 Convoy / int_ed7b2907
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 Convoy / int_f0f03464
type
TheSeventies
 Convoy / int_f0f03464
comment
The '70s: With full details like police enforcement (by any means necessary) of the 55 MPH speed limit, mullets, afros, CB radio being king...
 Convoy / int_f0f03464
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 Convoy / int_f142aaf5
type
Diner Brawl
 Convoy / int_f142aaf5
comment
Diner Brawl: What starts the whole mess.
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 Convoy / int_f9876f7e
type
Faking the Dead
 Convoy / int_f9876f7e
comment
Faking the Dead: During the final confrontation with Sheriff Wallace on the bridge over Rio Grande, Rubber Duck deliberately steers his tractor unit over the side of the bridge, plummeting into the churning river, seemingly to his death. Later Melissa finds him attending his own funeral in disguise, where he explains his survival with the line: "You ever seen a duck that couldn't swim?"
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 Convoy / int_fe5e40e2
type
Gondor Calls for Aid
 Convoy / int_fe5e40e2
comment
Gondor Calls for Aid: When Spider Mike is thrown into prison by the Sheriff of Alvarez, Texas, a sympathetic janitor at the jail send a call for help by CB radio. The message is relayed from trucker to trucker until it gets to Rubber Duck.
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Convoy

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Convoy
hasFeature
Attending Your Own Funeral / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Diner Brawl / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Embarrassing First Name / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Given Name Reveal / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Hard Truckin' / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Mid-Development Genre Shift / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Run for the Border / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Simple Solution Won't Work / int_7e109818
 Convoy
hasFeature
Titled After the Song / int_7e109818