"engaging piece of Americana"
In 1933 three men linked by their work as ice deliverymen
agree to travel together accompanied by their families on
Route 66 to California. Elmer Kinnard takes his adult
daughter Margie though he detests her. Alvin Putnam, his
wife Grace and their blind adult son Rusty are in another
vehicle. Rounding out the party is Foley Luker, his new
bride Sugar and his two teens from his first wife Jody and
Mona. On the road they meet Brady Hoyt taking his five
year old orphaned niece Anna Marie to her aunt to live. The road may be filled with hope, but it is a tedious and
dangerous trek. Elmer is nasty to Marge and not much
better with anyone else. Alvin is kind to all and his
wife "adopts" Anna Marie as hers on the trip. Foley sees
only Sugar and not how cruel she is to his children.
Brady helps everyone, but struggles with doing the right
thing for Anna Marie, the survivor of a family tragedy.
As romance blooms between Mona and Rusty and between Brady
and Marge, some will die on the trip while others will
choose an alternate lifestyle than the Golden State
fantasy when a new dream beckons. The sequel to MOTHER ROAD, HOPE'S HIGHWAY is an engaging
piece of Americana before the Interstate system. The
members of the
ensemble cast each has a distinct personality though Elmer
and Sugar are too negative with no redeeming quality
between them; the rest of the road show characters display
caring warm personalities with flaws and doubts that make
them human. Once again Dorothy Garlock proves no one
knows the Depression Era road rules like she does. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted December 8, 2003
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