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Movie Review: Wagonmasters

August 4, 2015

This is a super enjoyable 40 minute PBS documentary (not including voluminous and very worthwhile bonus features) celebrating the rise and fall and ongoing club-like passion for the American station wagon.

So well made and absorbing, this documentary features glimpses of restored vintage wagons, woodies, surfer culture, award shows (one in a bowling alley parking lot, of course) and much more.

Cool graphics, vintage ads "The family car" and good interviews are interspersed with quality material from historians and the likes of the president of the American Station Wagon Owner's Association to really bring the love alive for these cars. Whether it be a '53 Mercury Colony Park, a '56 Chevy Bel Aire, a '61 Chrysler New Yorker or a venerable '73 Chevy Impala all the bases and more are covered.

"Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, the wagon" says one enthusiast, emphasizing the cars' link back to more innocent times (the last production run was '96, apparently). Maybe they'll be a comeback, but for many - they never left!

A truly outstanding, delightful documentary film - highly recommended.

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