Sometimes a Great Notion (1970)

Director:

Paul Newman

Writers:

Ken Kesey (novel)
John Gay (writer)

Release Date:

31 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | Adventure

Tagline:

"Never give an inch" was the motto of the Stampers of Oregon. And live it they did!

Plot:

A family of fiercely-independent Oregon loggers struggle to keep the family business alive amidst changing times.

Plot Keywords:

Logger | Strike | Mouth To Mouth Air Exchange Underwater | Lumberjack | Family Relationships

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Hank Stamper
Henry Fonda	...	Henry Stamper
Lee Remick	...	Viv Stamper, Hank's Wife
Michael Sarrazin	...	Leland Stamper
Richard Jaeckel	...	Joe Ben Stamper
Linda Lawson	...	Jan Stamper, Joe Ben's Wife
Cliff Potts	...	Andy Stamper
Sam Gilman	...	John Stamper
Lee de Broux	...	Willard Eggleston
Jim Burk	...	Biggy Newton
Roy Jenson	...	Howie Elwood
Joe Maross	...	Floyd Evenwrite
Roy Poole	...	Jonathan Stamper
Charles Tyner	...	Les Gibbons
Bennie E. Dobbins	...	Bit Part (as Bennie Dobbins)

Also Known As:

Never Give a Inch (USA) (reissue title)
Never Give an Inch (UK)

Runtime:

114 min | Portugal:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Broughton Log Flume, Columbia River Gorge, Washington, USA

Company:

Newman-Foreman Company

Trivia:

Paul Newman broke his ankle rehearsing the "grab-ass motorcycle race" sequence and filming had to be postponed for a few weeks.

Quotes:

Andy Stamper: [about sliding down a very big hill] The first step's a bitch!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 44th Annual Academy Awards (1972) (TV)

Soundtrack:

All His Children

Good performances, especially from Fonda and Jaeckel.

Sometimes a Great Notion is a fine film with good performances, based upon Ken Kesey's best selling novel, almost each actor in the film exactly knows how to play the character. Paul Newman (who also directed) stars as Hank the head of a logging company in Oregon, he refuses to quit working despite town protests, even when it comes to seeing his half brother (Michael Sarrazin) come to town and threatens to take Hank's wife (Lee Remick) away from him. Henry Fonda has most of the comical lines in the films, he did an amazing job as the crusty and mean, but also light spirited father of the family. On the other hand, Richard Jaeckel (who was Oscar nominated) does a perfect job at playing the simple and dim witted Joe Ben. Even when he is pinned by a tree in a river and drowns to death, despite Hank's repeated attempts to save him, he still puts a lot of dark comical meaning into death. Highly recommended for memorable performances and fans of Paul Newman.