Cannery Row (1982)

A depressed section of Monterey, California, known as Cannery Row from its string of now-empty canning plants is the backdrop for an offbeat romantic comedy about a pair of mismatched ... See full summary »

Director:

David S. Ward

Writers:

John Steinbeck (novels), David S. Ward (written for the screen by),

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Debra Winger, Audra Lindley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

A depressed section of Monterey, California, known as Cannery Row from its string of now-empty canning plants is the backdrop for an offbeat romantic comedy about a pair of mismatched lovers. Doc is a lonely marine biologist (and former baseball star) who supplies specimens for science labs and classrooms. Suzy is a scrappy drifter who can't even succeed as a prostitute because of her abrasive manner. When the two get together, it's fireworks, though not the romantic kind. Not to worry, everything is in the hands of Cannery Row's resident guardian angels, Mack and the boys, a band of drunken derelicts whose hearts are in the right place, even though their brains are not.

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Plot Keywords:

loneliness | octopus | snake | baseball bat | brothel | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Steinbeck's Cannery Row

Filming Locations:

Monterey, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chai Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was based on not one but two John Steinbeck novels, the picture taking bulk of its story and its title from Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" and some elements from its sequel, "Sweet Thursday". The idea to use two Steinbeck books had been the concept behind the novelization of the musical "Pipe Dream".

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Goofs

During the "sick or a busted arm" scene in the Golden Poppy between Suzy and Hazel, the number of ketchup bottles with and without caps changes between shots.

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Quotes

Hazel: I love Doc! He was a character witness for me, and I ain't got no character.

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Connections

Featured in The Making of 'Cannery Row' (1982)

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Soundtracks

"BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA"
by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc
Performed by Bob Crosby and the Bobcats
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

So what do the critics know?

Critics panned this film, yet still gave it fairly good marks. Nick Nolte & Debra Winger are fine, and John Huston is perfectly splendid with his narration. Kudos to all involved, and a special thank you for the frog hunt scene! Hilarious!!! I did not read the story by Steinbeck, so I don't really care if it followed it exactly. By itself, it is excellent entertainment. The Miller-Movie formula awards it a 9.