The Sugarland Express is a 1974 American crime comedy-drama film directed by Steven Spielberg in his theatrical film directing debut, following the television film Duel (1971). The film follows a woman and her husband as they take a police officer hostage and flee across Texas while they try to get to their child before he is placed in foster care. The event partially took place and the film was partially shot in Sugar Land, Texas. Other scenes were filmed in San Antonio, Live Oak, Floresville, Pleasanton, Converse and Del Rio, Texas.