Five Easy Pieces (1970)

Director:

Bob Rafelson

Writers:

Carole Eastman (screenplay)
Carole Eastman (story)
(more)

Release Date:

12 September 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He Rode The Fast Lane On The Road To Nowhere.

Plot:

A drop-out from upper-class America picks up work along the way on oil-rigs when his life isn't spent in a squalid succession of bars, motels, and other points of interest.

Plot Keywords:

Pianist | Bowling | Diner | Truck | Waitress

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	Robert Eroica Dupea
Karen Black	...	Rayette Dipesto
Billy Green Bush	...	Elton (as Billy 'Green' Bush)
Fannie Flagg	...	Stoney
Sally Struthers	...	Betty (as Sally Ann Struthers)
Marlena MacGuire	...	Twinky (as Marlena Macguire)
Richard Stahl	...	Recording Engineer
Lois Smith	...	Partita Dupea
Helena Kallianiotes	...	Palm Apodaca
Toni Basil	...	Terry Grouse
Lorna Thayer	...	Waitress
Susan Anspach	...	Catherine Van Oost
Ralph Waite	...	Carl Fidelio Dupea
William Challee	...	Nicholas Dupea
John P. Ryan	...	Spicer (as John Ryan)
Irene Dailey	...	Samia Glavia
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clay Greenbush	...	Baby (uncredited)

Directed by
Bob Rafelson

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Carole Eastman		screenplay (as Adrien Joyce)
Carole Eastman		story (as Adrien Joyce)
Bob Rafelson		story

Produced by
Bob Rafelson	....	producer
Bert Schneider	....	executive producer
Harold Schneider	....	associate producer
Richard Wechsler	....	producer

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(director of photography) (as Laszlo Kovacs)

Film Editing by
Christopher Holmes
Gerald Shepard

Casting by
Fred Roos

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sheldon Schrager	....	assistant director
Bill Green	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Toby Carr Rafelson	....	interior designer (as Toby Rafelson)
Walter Starkey	....	prop master

Sound Department
Charles T. Knight	....	sound mixer (as Charles Knight)
James Nelson	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richmond L. Aguilar	....	gaffer (as Richard Aguilar)
Bill Curtis	....	best boy
Howard Hagadorn	....	dolly grip
George Hill	....	key grip
Bernie Abramson	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bucky Rous	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Peter Denenberg	....	assistant editor (as Pete Denenberg)
Harold Hazen	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Pearl Kaufman	....	musician: piano

Transportation Department
Alfred Schultz	....	transportation captain (as Al Schultz)

Other crew
Kent Remington	....	location representative
Marilyn Schlossberg	....	production coordinator
Terry Terrill	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• BBS Productions
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Raybert Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1976) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia Film (1970) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1978) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1970) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• Nordisk Film (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Edit-Rite  sound effects
• Producers' Sound Service  re-recording (as Producer's Sound Service Inc.)
• Audio Tran  sound

Also Known As:

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | New Zealand:R16 | USA:R | UK:15 | UK:AA (original rating) | Sweden:11 | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Chemainus, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

BBS Productions

Trivia:

The song played by Dupea on the piano in the back of the truck driving down the road is Chopin's "Fantaisie" in F.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ray bowls a strike, but in the next shot when she turns to face the other bowlers, the pins behind her are standing.

Quotes:

Bobby:You keep on talking about the good life, Elton, 'cause it makes me puke.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Siskel & Ebert 500th Anniversary Special (1989) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Prelude No. 4 in E minor, Op. 28

When There's a Fire In Your Heart

This incredible movie would have to be one of Jack Nicholson and the totally underrated Karen Black's finest hours (and a half!). This would probably be my favourite movie of all time and though you might find it initially depressing you too will find many instances of black humour with repeated viewings. Everybody and their dog always raves about the chicken salad sandwich diner scene and the dialogue between the main character and his invalid father but for my money the money shot is when Bobby first tells Rayette he has to visit his family ALONE and as he tries to leave without her (which wouldve ended up being the most humane thing he does in the film!!) he finds his car wont start at the crucial moment and he completely loses it in his car cursing a lotta four letter words under his breath. I wont go into the details of what this film is about but its thoroughly entertaining and works on many levels. Fans of this sort of drama should check out WHEN YOU COMIN BACK, RED RYDER as well for superb character breakdowns also. If you thought the main character in Michael Leigh's NAKED was a miserable lost soul on a road to nowhere you aint seen nothing yet til you check out Jack in this!! A complete masterpiece from beginning to end. Great soundtrack with Tammy Wynette by the way and Karen Black shows off her awesome vocal style as well......