IMDb >
Sometimes a Great Notion (1970)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsSometimes a Great Notion (1970) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Release Date:
31 December 1970 (USA)
more
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars.
more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Actor Maross Dies
(From WENN. 11 November 2009, 8:11 AM, PST)
The 26th Olympia Film Festival
(From MoviesOnline. 16 October 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)
(From WENN. 11 November 2009, 8:11 AM, PST)
The 26th Olympia Film Festival
(From MoviesOnline. 16 October 2009, 8:00 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Always A Great Movie
more (18 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| 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) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
114 min | Portugal:108 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Paul Newman broke his ankle rehearsing the "grab-ass motorcycle race" sequence and filming had to be postponed for a few weeks.
more
Quotes:
Movie Connections:
References The Ballad of Josie (1967)
more
Soundtrack:
All His Children
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (18 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Sometimes a Great Notion (1970) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| October Sky | Bridge to Terabithia | The Tougher They Come | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Stand by Me |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

This is one of my favorite movies. It has excellent acting, a great story (by the late great Ken Kesey), and some very intense scenes. I found that Paul Newman's direction was very well done. This is a movie for fans of great character development.
First, Paul Newman, as usual, did an outstanding job. This is my favorite character. He was able to pull off this very icey dominance, even over his own father. He plays his character like he is Hank Stamper. Paul Newman always does a great job in his movies, but I think this one I especially like because he isn't as likeable as Cool Hand Luke or Fast Eddie (which are two other favorite characters and movies of mine).
Then there is Henry Fonda, who plays the eldest Stamper, Henry. He was a very interesting character, and Henry Fonda did a great job at playing him. He and Hank both head the family, and he and Paul Newman have a fractured relationship that is sort of crass, but still fun to see them on-screen together.
Then there is Michael Sarrazin, who plays the outcast Leeland Stamper. He is probably the best character. While all the other Stampers have leather skin and huge scars from wood chips, he has big bushy hair and is not a big barrel chested logger. Hank and Henry treat him like crap almost the whole movie, because he doesn't belong. Leeland just came back from the city, and he came back for the sole purpose of getting even with Hank.
And Finally, there is Lee Remick, who plays Hank's shut out wife Viv. She is probably the most complex character, simply because she only lets on what she thinks of her situation in little bits. She and Hank used to be wild lovers, but Hank is working so hard because of the logger's strike, he pretty much shuts her out, and so she begins to drift away from Hank.
My only problem with this movie is that they didn't have the big rights of passage fight between Hank and Leeland. In the book Leeland fought Hank after everything bad happened to the Stampers, as a way to show Hank that he isn't in control. I think that was the biggest part in the novel, and they left it out. But aside from that, I loved this movie.
Check this movie, or the book out for that matter, if you enjoy strong character development, many tragic events, and stories that take place in the backwoods of Oregon. 9/10