Street Survivors – An other look at Lynyrd Skynyrd
Movie review on 6.25.2020
Movie Review:
Review by: Dan Brodersen
Unrated Magazine was offered an advanced screening of the upcoming movie STREET SURVIVORS: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash, written and directed by Jared Cohn.
The film offers only a brief account of the band’s earlier history, and focuses on the day of the fateful 1977 plane crash in Mississippi. Detailing the terrifying several minutes of the panic and distress on board leading up to the crash, the dramatic scene is eerily reminiscent of the graphic crash scene of 2012’s movie “Flight”.
The audience is given a firsthand account of what it was like to have been on board the doomed flight.
Headed from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Convair CV-240 passenger aircraft went down in a privately owned wooded lot near Gillsburg, Mississippi. Contributed to faulty gauges and poor pilot judgment, the aircraft ran out of fuel and glided downward into thick, dense tree tops. Six of the twenty six persons on board lost their lives.
The band lost three members, lead singer and main songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and his sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines.
The bands assistant road manager, Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilot and co-pilot Walter Wiley McCreary and John Gray, respectively, was also among the six killed in the tragedy. Drummer Artimus Pyle, along with 19 others, miraculously survived the crash.
With severe injuries, but able to console survivors and eventually literally run for help, Pyle offers detailed accounts of the terrifying ordeal, including his heroic attempt to find help amidst the rugged, thick terrain.
Ultimately, he was able to locate an occupied house and to alert first responders as to the planes whereabouts to help treat the surviving and helpless remaining passengers. The film continues on with the impending legal issues relating to the bands label and the aircraft’s insurance adjusters and certain issues pertaining to DEA officials and crash investigators.
Kudos to Artimus Pyle, who dug deep in discussing the tragedy that killed his friends and band mates while the films actors did a tremendous job showcasing the rock star life and the events leading up to the crash. The actors successfully portray period correct 1970’s vibe and take you into the life of being rock stars in that era.
Lуnуrd Ѕkуnуrd wаѕ formed in Jacksonville, FL with the mеmbеrѕ: Gаrу Rоѕѕіngtоn, Rоnnіе Vаn Zаnt, Воb Вurnѕ, Аllеn Соllіnѕ, аnd Lаrrу Јunѕtrоm.
The band went through various line-up changes and at the height of their fame during the 1970’as they had many hit songs including “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”. Known for their “Southern Rock” flair, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Unrated gives the film TWO THUMBS UP.
A must-see film for all to see and especially Skynyrd fans around the world. The film is available on June 30, 2020, on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital from Cleopatra Entertainment.
