Urban Cowboy (1980)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

James Bridges

Writers:

Aaron Latham (story)
James Bridges (writer) ...

Release Date:

6 June 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Hard Hat Days And Honky-Tonk Nights.

Plot:

John Travolta stars as a young man from the country who learns about life and love in a Houston bar.

Plot Keywords:

Contest | Funeral | Wedding | Convicted Felon | Houston Texas

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 19	2:00 PM	CMTV
Sun. July 19	8:00 PM	CMTV

Cast

John Travolta	...	Bud
Debra Winger	...	Sissy
Scott Glenn	...	Wes
Madolyn Smith Osborne	...	Pam (as Madolyn Smith)
Barry Corbin	...	Uncle Bob
Brooke Alderson	...	Aunt Corene
Cooper Huckabee	...	Marshall
James Gammon	...	Steve Strange
Mickey Gilley	...	Himself
Johnny Lee	...	Himself
Bonnie Raitt	...	Herself
Charlie Daniels	...	Himself (as Charlie Daniels Band)
Taz Di Gregorio	...	Himself (as Charlie Daniels Band)
Charlie Hayward	...	Himself (as Charlie Daniels Band)
Betty Murphy	...	Bud's Mom

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1980) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The scene where Wes chews up and swallows the worm after drinking the bottle of tequila was not scripted, but a joke done for the dailies.

Goofs:

Continuity: There is a scene where Sissy and Wes are in his trailer and Wes is still in bed asleep. In the shot, he is laying on his back with the fan blowing on him. In another camera angle, his feet hang off the bed with his toes facing the floor, therefore sleeping on his stomach.

Quotes:

Sissy: My legs are sweatin', momma.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Knights of Prosperity: Operation: Deliver the Case (#1.4)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Nine Tonight

How Can You Not Like This Movie???

First let me say I am not from the south but I am an American. I don't love Country music but I can stomach it. I would never wear a cowboy hat but I wear hats. I don't live in a trailer but I do eat tuna salad and own a home. What does that have to do with this comment? A lot if you are one of those people who say only "country" people love this movie. This movie is loosely based on the "They loved and lost" premise. James Bridges directs an American love story as real as it gets. In an era of Jerry Springer and "Lets put it out there" mentality, this film rings truer than ever.

Bud is "coming of age" and embarks on a life of his own with a little help from his aunt and uncle so he moves to the big city with them. Bud finds himself drawn into the local honky tonk world for the only escape a blue collar man can afford. He quickly meets Sissy who is from a similar background and the two have a whirlwind romance filled with painful ups and downs.

(*This plot takes so many turns that one has to just sit for a few minutes before they get hooked. Marriage is a focus here that is often missed. Early in the film they marry and we view the transition from being single to married. The film highlights some of the modern struggles a woman has when she marries an old fashioned man. It also brings into view the male ego with women and competition.)

Bud is challenged and is excited when Micky's puts in an electronic bull. Sissy gets ideas of having fun on it too but is quickly reminded that she is married and need to start "acting like it." The emotion between the two characters is raw and expressive and the plot continues from there especially when they (NOTE THIS IS GIVING SOME OF THE STORYLINE AWAY) split and Sissy falls for an ex con with a penchant for abuse and cruelty. She soon realizes that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

How anyone can compare Bud to Vinnie Barbirino is shocking to me. John Travolta gave an exceptional performance that was worthy recognition. He was believable and real. The scene where he shaves his beard and you first see him at the bar..still gives me goosebumps. Mind you I am not a huge Travolta fan, but come on, I see why Sissy was kicking of her boots so early in the film. Deb Winger was so real that you found yourself sympathizing with her as she pens a note of emotions to Bud, after sneaking in to clean his house during their break up.

The supporting cast was incredible. Wes played by Scott Glenn gave a first rate performance that made you hate him and curse him as he abused Sissy. Madolyn Smith-Osborne, as Buds Mistress/girlfriend was so authentic that large chested girls across the U.S. prayed to wake up flat chested to wear the clothes she donned in the film. My biggest kudos's go to Barry Corbin and Brooke Anderson as Bud's aunt and uncle. They seemed like someone's aunt and uncle somewhere in Texas and however small their role, they made the film so much bigger and lifelike. Two memorable scenes were the Dolly Parton contest and the unforgettable scene where Bud and his aunt stand outside after one of the characters death. The dialog between them is touching.

If you can watch this for what it is, a true American love story. Then I recommend that you take it for what it is...a film before it's time that gave us voyeurism into a world unlike our own but real enough for our enjoyment and entertainment. If this world sounds similar to yours then you will enjoy it so much more. Lastly, the music however dated, is sure to send you back in time if you are over 30 years of age.