A Small Town in Texas

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A Small Town in Texas is a 1976 action movie directed by Jack Starrett. It stars Bo Hopkins, Susan George, and Timothy Bottoms. The film was shot in Wimberley and Lockhart, Texas.

Plot
Daniel “Poke” Jackson has just finished a five-year prison sentence for marijuana possession and returns to his Texas hometown. Sheriff Duke Calley, who convicted him, keeps a close eye on Poke. Poke plans to leave for California but first visits his old girlfriend, Mary Lee Carter, and their son Kevin. Duke warns him off, and Poke learns that Duke and Mary Lee are now together, but he still sees Mary Lee.

Meanwhile, county political boss C.J. Crane arranges for Duke to guard congressman-elect Jesus Mendez at a barbecue. After Mendez speaks, a man in a police uniform shoots him. Duke kills the shooter and hides an envelope he took from the scene; later the envelope is found empty, so everyone assumes Poke witnessed the killing and took the money inside.

Poke shows his friend Boogie the $25,000 he found in the envelope. When Duke’s deputy Lenny comes to arrest Poke, Boogie stalls him and Poke escapes on a motorcycle, starting a deadly chase. Two deputies are killed, and Poke becomes wanted for murder. He hides with junk dealer Cloetus, and Boogie later dies, naming Duke as his attacker.

Poke, Mary Lee, and Kevin hide in Cloetus’s truck and then flee to Mary Lee’s house in a stolen police car. After another chase, Poke is captured but tells Lenny about Duke’s role in the murder. Duke recovers the money and beats Poke, but Lenny stops him long enough for Poke to escape.

Crane tells Duke to get the money back or lose his job. Poke and his family seek help from Bull Parker, a former bootlegger who helps them escape in a truck designed to dodge the police. After a roadblock, Bull dies trying to help them, but Poke keeps going. In the final confrontation, Duke chases them on a mountain road, but Duke’s vehicle goes off a cliff and he dies. Poke then decides to return to town to clear his name.

Reception
The movie received mixed reviews. Roger Ebert gave it two-and-a-half stars, calling it an OK film with exciting chase scenes. Vincent Canby of The New York Times described it as a silly melodrama about rural life. Variety noted lots of car chase action but called it a cheap B-picture. Gene Siskel gave it one-and-a-half stars, while Kevin Thomas criticized its violence but acknowledged the director’s potential.