Cannery Row (1982)

Director:

David S. Ward

Writers:

William Graham (screenplay)
John Steinbeck (novels)

Release Date:

12 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

You don't have to be crazy to live here...but it helps.

Plot:

A depressed section of Monterey, California, known as Cannery Row from its string of now-empty canning...

Plot Keywords:

Loneliness | Octopus | Snake | Baseball Bat | Brothel

Cast

Nick Nolte	...	Doc
Debra Winger	...	Suzy DeSoto
Audra Lindley	...	Fauna
Frank McRae	...	Hazel
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Mack
Tom Mahoney	...	Hughie
John Malloy	...	Jones
James Keane	...	Eddie
Sunshine Parker	...	The Seer
Santos Morales	...	Joseph / Mary
John Huston	...	Narrator (voice)
Ellen Blake	...	Wisteria
Sharon Ernster	...	Agnes
Kathleen Doyle	...	Violet
Mary Margaret Amato	...	Lola

Also Known As:

John Steinbeck's Cannery Row

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | USA:PG | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Monterey, California, USA

Company:

Chai Productions

Trivia:

Star Nick Nolte told "The Rolling Stone" during production that he was a fan of John Steinbeck's work. He also admitted to having to wear a girdle to flatten his stomach. In the interview, Nolte called the girdle a "Richard Dreyfuss special".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Susie brings the macaroons to Doc, the rattlesnake cage is a few inches below her elbow. In the next shot, the cage is a few inches above her elbow.

Quotes:

Narrator: Mack is the elder and leader of a small group of men who have in common no families, no money and no ambition. Beyond the time to discuss matters of interest but little importance.

Soundtrack:

BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA

Atmospheric, well-acted drama seasoned w/ comic flourishes!

This was a truly excellent interpretation of Steinbeck's work, a well-balanced mix of his book,Cannery Row, and a short story, Sweet Thursday. Much of the dialogue is taken directly from passages in Steinbeck's work and because it is pure Steinbeck, the atmosphere created really gives the viewer a glimpse of the mood of the times. The choice of music fits beautifully. The performances are very believable and even among the actors. Great cinematography. Why this film never was the megahit it should have been is a point of debate among a lot of film buffs, as well as Steinbeck devotees. One answer may lie in the merchandising of the film, originally being pushed as a highly sexual and bawdy romp. Anyone expecting an R-rated, sensational film would have been disappointed and lovers of old-fashioned romantic drama may have been turned off by the possibility of Steinbeck's work being used to sell a B-film. The only negative I can report is that as of this posting, Cannery Row has not yet been released on DVD. So, rent or buy the VHS and avoid the chopped-up TV versions! Happy viewing!