- Let's just get this out of the way first: the road house in Jean Negulesco's movie Road House would be an absolutely amazing place to visit. Part hunting lodge, part nightclub, and part bowling alley, it really has something for everyone. Of course, one's enjoyment of the road house would depend largely upon the whims of its owner, Jefty Robbins (Richard Widmark). At the film's start, his best friend Pete Morgan (Cornel Wilde) and love interest Lily Stevens (Ida Lupino) are both in his good graces, even if they can't stand each other. By the film's end, Pete and Lily are engaged, but Jefty is chasing them and fellow road house employee Susie Smith (Celeste Holm) through the woods at night with a pistol.
- There's really not much more to the plot of Road House other than the details that both Lily and Susie are in love with Pete while both Pete and Jefty are in love with Lily. Although Susie is gracious enough to let Pete and Lily have their fling, Jefty goes so far as to incriminate Pete in a theft just to keep Pete under his thumb. Although the first third of the film takes its time building up steam (I'm a big Ida Lupino fan, but how many songs do we actually need to hear her sing?), a wide-ranging bar brawl, a nightmarish drunken shooting demonstration, and the aforementioned pursuit through the woods all leave indelible impressions. As much as I would love to visit this road house, I certainly wouldn't want to stay there too long.
