Since I could not find a youtube video link to Moviedrome presenter Mark Cousins introduction to cult director Alex Cox’s 1991 crime drama Highway Patrolman (El Patrullero), readers will have to rely on Cousins intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was March 8, 1998 (read here). Now isn’t this an interesting Moviedrome pick? Cousins is introducing viewers to a film directed by the former host of the aforementioned program, which in this case happens to be it’s director Alex Cox. Not much to add here except that I agree 100 percent with Cousins thoughts on this excellent film. If any of you readers are interested, here is a list of my favorite Alex Cox films (read here). Also, check out the season 5 episode of Moviedrome that featured then host Cox introducing his great 1987 film Walker, that I recapped here.
Here is a youtube video link to the Kino Lorber 2018 re-release trailer
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s own intro to the film
British film critic Mark Kermode interviewed Alex Cox twice back in 2016 – watch the youtube video links here and here
While we are it, Kermode also interviewed Mark Cousins that same year – watch the youtube video link here
Also, here is a youtube video link to Kermode’s commentary on Highway Patrolman as his BFI Player choice of the week
cinematiccoffee 
A film directed by the legend that is Alex Cox. I haven’t seen Highway Patrolman but it looks good. It looks like a Mexican version of Electra Glide In Blue only without motorcycles.
Alex is a great director. He directed three great films. Repo Man, Sid and Nancy and Walker.
Although Walker got him blacklisted in Hollywood and it was more difficult for him to direct films after that but he persevered and did manage to direct more films and he also hosted Moviedrome then which gave him a job and a salary.
I also haven’t seen Straight To Hell but it has a colourful cast of famous musicians and actors.
The other films Alex directed are Death and the Compass, The Winner, Three Businessmen, Revenger’s Tragic, Searchers 2.0, Repo Chick, Bill the Galactic Hero and Tombstone Rashomon. These were indie films which the last two being increasingly lower budget. I haven’t seen these films.
The Winner was an American film with a big name cast and a sizeable budget. Looks like he was trying to return to Hollywood films with that but it was apparently re-edited against his wishes and he disowned the film.
Alex was also the original director of Let Him Have It and Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas but he was fired from both those films. He was fired from Let Him Have It as he wanted to shoot that film in black and white and in the style of a sixties British kitchen sink drama but the producers weren’t for that. Alex did cast Christopher Eccleston in that film in his breakthrough role. It shows Alex has a good eye for new talent. He cast Gary Oldman and Christopher Eccleston in their breakthrough roles when they were both unknowns. Alex also has a co-screenwriting credit on Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas despite being fired from it.
This must be the ultimate edition of Moviedrome with Mark introducing a film directed by Alex. Highway Patrolman is another film I hadn’t heard of, but given Steve mentioned it in the same breath as Electra Glide in Blue, color me interested!
I never got to see Highway Patrolman, but I am a fan of Cox in general, so would probably enjoy it.
Best wishes, Pete.
I think you will love the film Pete 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Paul, as I told Pete, I think you will love the film 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Hey Steve 🙂 It is interesting that you compare Highway Patrolman to Electra Glide in Blue because that was my first comparison as well 🙂
Alex has certainly directed great films and Highway Patrolman ranks alongside Repo Man, Sid and Nancy and Walker as his greatest works 🙂
Walker ranks as my number one favorite Alex Cox film 🙂 I do not know If I am the first to imply this, but Walker comes off feeling like the kind of film you get had it been a collaboration between Richard Lester and Sam Peckinpah 🙂 Thank goodness that Alex Cox got a job hosting Moviedrome and speaking of Cox, did you read that more recent book he wrote (close to 5 years ago) about the 1960’s cult British television series The Prisoner? 🙂 You probably did of course, but If you have not, the title is called “I Am (Not) A Number: Decoding the Prisoner” – Here is an amazon link below (and this link is for it’s UK affiliate since that is where you live) 🙂
I have seen those other Cox films you mention – with the exception of Bill the Galactic Hero and Tombstone Rashomon – and they were all good 🙂 I was also aware about how The Winner was taken away from him.
Speaking of both Bill the Galactic Hero and Tombstone Rashomon, you could actually watch both of them on Vimeo.com 🙂
Also, speaking of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, youtuber DisRegarding Henry did a video about Cox’s initial involvement in the project from five years back
Here is a youtube video link to part 1 below
Here is a youtube video link to part 2 below
Whereas Terry Gilliam (as you know) ended up directing Fear and Loathing, I do know (as you do) that Peter Medak ended up directing Let Him Have It 🙂 It would have been interesting to see the latter show in black-and-white similar to those 1960’s British kitchen sink dramas 🙂 Glad to hear though that the casting of Christopher Eccleston in the lead was Cox’s idea 🙂 I also knew your trivia about Gary Oldman and Cox’s Fear and Loathing’s co-screenwriting credit 🙂
In other matters, I am halfway done on my Je t’aime moi non plus review 🙂 As to when it will finally be ready post, that is still To be announced from me to you 🙂 I am also going to watch Blood Ties soon 🙂
I haven’t read Alex’s book on The Prisoner but I do have his book Introduction To Film. A Director’s Perspective and it’s a great book which I recommend. I also have his book on Kennedy and Oswald called The President and the Provocateur which is also a great book.
I believe Alex’s version of events on Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. He was the director of the film up until it went to Universal then it was over for him as there was no love lost between Alex and Universal and they had produced but hated Walker and then scuppered the release of Walker. He then quit the film and Universal also would’ve wanted him replaced as director. Alex obviously didn’t want his version of Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas to be a studio film.