GRIDLOCK (THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAFFIC JAM)

US, 1980, 100 minutes, Colour.
John Beck, Desi Arnaz Jr, Shelley Fabares, Michael Lerner.
Directed by James Frawley.

Gridlock is a particularly American telemovie. In fact, for overseas release it was called The Great American Traffic Jam. It was directed by James Frawley (Kid Blue, The Muppet Movie) who showed his skill for a road film with the humorous disaster spoof, The Big Bus.

The basic situation is that familiar in any large western city. A number of freak road accidents are shown - with humour as well as showing the stupidity of some people on the roads and their selfishness. Road Control is not able to cope with the number of accidents and the re-routing of cars. There is chaos on the roads; there is chaos in the control room.

The way of communicating the humour as well as the frustration and anger of the situation is the telemovie - situation comedy style with a host of popular stars from television shows of the late '70s. John Beck leads the cast as the man, about to go on a holiday with his frustrated and resentful wife, who is called in to resolve the situation. There is the complacent official (Lyle Waggoner) who gets his comeuppance. Meantime on the road there are all kinds of familiar situations - done with quite good style by the band of television stars, led by Desi Arnaz.

The film offers, for the general viewer, a microcosm of the American city - the consequences of the use of cars and the building of freeways; the complexities and simplicities of interrelationships and the American lifestyle.