The film draws inspiration from an incident that occurred on May 2, 1969, incorporating elements reminiscent of the “Bonnie & Clyde” story from three and a half decades prior—specifically, the public’s tendency to sympathize with those evading the law. It's important to note that the actual pursuit lasted only five or six hours, not several days as depicted, meaning there wasn’t time for media coverage to sway public opinion. The kidnapped police officer also didn’t develop a positive relationship with the couple involved. Furthermore, the events unfolded far from the Rio Grande. They began in Sugar Land, Texas—a two-word name—a town southwest of Houston, and proceeded counterclockwise around the city's outskirts. The chase started in Port Arthur, where the patrol car was stolen, and Anahuac, both towns located east of Houston. It then moved to Dayton, northeast of the city, before concluding near Navasota, roughly 75 miles northwest of Houston and 330 miles from Mexico. These alterations can be forgiven because films often amplify real-life events for entertainment purposes. There's a playful tone throughout, which is balanced by a genuine sense of sadness in the final act. Goldie Hawn is charming but seems too slender to convincingly portray the foolish and frustrating female instigator. Ben Johnson delivers a solid performance as the police captain, while William Atherton (the convict husband) and Michael Sacks (the kidnapped patrolman) bear a striking resemblance to one another. Many people recognize this as Spielberg’s first feature film following three television movies, beginning with the acclaimed “Duel” in 1971. The movie had a budget of $3 million and grossed more than double that amount domestically and over four times worldwide. While it was considered a disappointment financially, its relative success paved the way for Spielberg's subsequent hit, "Jaws." In addition to “Bonnie & Clyde” and “Duel,” it follows in the footsteps of “The Getaway,” which came out fifteen months earlier. “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry” arrived two months later and surpassed this film in every aspect. Nevertheless, it influenced future films such as Eastwood’s “The Gauntlet” and both versions of “The Hitcher” (1986/2007). The running time is 1 hour and 50 minutes, and filming took place from December 1972 to March 1973 in Texas, close to the actual locations, including San Antonio and towns east of there—Sugar Land among them. The scene set near the Rio Grande was filmed a few hours’ drive west of those areas, in Del Rio. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB