Led by a psychopathic killer, a vicious gang of armed robbers terrorizes Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, robbing banks and payrolls and murdering anyone who might identify them.Led by a psychopathic killer, a vicious gang of armed robbers terrorizes Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, robbing banks and payrolls and murdering anyone who might identify them.Led by a psychopathic killer, a vicious gang of armed robbers terrorizes Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, robbing banks and payrolls and murdering anyone who might identify them.
- Self - Maryland Governor
- (as The Honorable William P. Lane Jr.)
- Self - Virginia Governor
- (as The Honorable John S. Battle)
- Self - North Carolina Governor
- (as Governor W. Kerr Scott)
- Lee Fontaine
- (as Gaby Andre)
- Cop with Machine Gun
- (uncredited)
- Bank Teller
- (uncredited)
- News Clerk
- (uncredited)
- Bank Customer
- (uncredited)
- Elevator Boy
- (uncredited)
- Police Officer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film's title, "Highway 301" (which is never mentioned in the film) refers to a U.S. highway that connects Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, where the Tri-State Gang committed their crimes. According to TCM's Eddie Muller, the gang, led by Walter Legenza (played by Steve Cochran), embarked on their robbery and murder rampage "running roughshod through Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, though Pennsylvania is not mentioned in the movie.
- GoofsAfter the bank robbery, a police officer finds the getaway car and calls it in to his headquarters by radio, using the call sign "KMA 367". The robbery takes place in North Carolina, but the "KMA 367" call sign--assigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)--is for the Los Angeles (CA) Police Dept. Call signs beginning with "K" are issued to departments on the West Coast, not the East Coast; East Coast departments are issued call signs beginning with "W".
- Quotes
Detective Sergeant Truscott: [voice over] This is Winston-Salem, North Carolina, drowsing in the mid-afternoon sun of early spring, not knowing it had been chosen as the scene for the next exploit of the arrogant mob we know as "The Tri-State Gang". These men operated openly, wearing no masks, boldly flaunting the law. To escape detection, they simply killed anyone who might possibly get in their way.
- Crazy creditsThe cast and credits are given at the end of the movie.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Macon County Movie Club: Noir Night (2021)
- SoundtracksYou Go to My Head
Music by J. Fred Coots
Lyrics by HavenGillespie
Played early on in a bar scene
The Government, Law Enforcement and J. Edgar Hoover were Infiltrating Every Aspect of American Life (sound familiar Today), Dictating Mores and Clean Living (for the Proletariat that is but not for that Hypocrite Hoover). The HUAC Hubris is On the Horizon.
So the Film Opens with Big Brother State Governors Reading Cue Cards about the Folly of Crime and it Doesn't Pay and All of That. Then Director Andrew Stone Seems to be Saying OK now that's Out of the Way, and Let's Loose with Some Gritty Up Close and Personal Violence. In Fact One Such Shooting of a Female Gang Moll is Point Blank and that is Dialoged About Afterwards and No One can Figure Out How She Survived.
The Movie Clips Along at a Rapid Pace and there is Much Suspense and Action with a Finale that has a Guns Blazing Car Chase that Ends with a Speeding Train that is Quite Startling. Steve Cochran Steals the Show as the Gang Leader and gets Good Support from Everyone Else.
Overall, an Above Average and Forgotten Crime Noir that is Stylish, Brutal, and Nasty. It is a LIttle Known Movie that is Highly Recommended.
- LeonLouisRicci
- Dec 6, 2014
- How long is Highway 301?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- The Big Stickup
- Filming locations
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA(Opening Downtown Bank Robbery)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $530,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1