Country (1984)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Richard Pearce

Writer:

William D. Wittliff (writer)

Release Date:

29 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

In this country, when the land is your life...you fight for your life

Plot:

Gilbert Ivy and his wife Jewell are farmers. They seem to be working against the odds, producing no financial surplus...

Plot Keywords:

Farmer | Loan | Small Community | Rural | Family Farm

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Jessica Lange	...	Jewell Ivy
Sam Shepard	...	Gil Ivy
Wilford Brimley	...	Otis
Matt Clark	...	Tom McMullen
Theresa Graham	...	Marlene Ivy
Levi L. Knebel	...	Carlisle Ivy
Jim Haynie	...	Arlon Brewer
Sandra Seacat	...	Louise Brewer
Alex Harvey	...	Fordyce, FHA Man
Stephanie-Stacy Poyner	...	Missy Ivy
Jim Ostercamp	...	Cowboy
Robert L. Somers	...	Grain Elevator Operator (as Robert Somers)
Frank Noel	...	Semi Driver (as Frank Noel Jr.)
Rev. Warren Duit	...	Preacher
Conrad Doan	...	Auctioneer

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:11 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Black Hawk County, Iowa, USA

Company:

Far West

Trivia:

First release produced by Touchstone Pictures.

Good representation of rural America.

"Country" was filmed in 3 miles north and 1 mile west of Dunkerton, IA. A deserted farmstead was selected for the film because it was a surprise that Iowa had modern farm homes. I lived 8 miles from the farm used on a farm of my own. I knew at least 8 of the extras in the movie, so I'm fairly confident of my facts. A number of the farmers in the movie were in fact retired farmers. Reagonomics was the cause of nearly of the the farmers problems. The FHA and bank had encouraged farmers to expand their farm operations. Shortly after they had made huge financial commitments grain and livestock prices dropped drastically. Neither the FHA or banks were overly sympathetic to their plights. The relationship of the Ivy family is very believable and touching, as is Jewels attempt to rally support from among the neighbor farmers. The auction has a basis in history referred to as the "nickel" auctions. During the 30's as farmers were foreclosed on the neighbors would bid a nickel on a piece of equipment and when winning the bid return it to the farmer as a gift. It was their way to support those that supported them. Oh, by the way the guy yelling who gets the money is my dad, and he and his dad went to these nickel auctions. If I can answer and further question about the area etc., contact me at, [e-mail] Tag it Country questions.