Places in the Heart (1984)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Robert Benton

Writer:

Robert Benton (written by)

Release Date:

21 September 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The story of a woman fighting for her children, for her land, for the greatest dream there is...the future.

Plot:

In 1930's Southern US, a widow and her family try to run their cotton farm with the help of a disparate group of friends.

Plot Keywords:

Farm | Blind | Sheriff | Texas | 1930s

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Sally Field	...	Edna Spalding
Lindsay Crouse	...	Margaret Lomax
Ed Harris	...	Wayne Lomax
Amy Madigan	...	Viola Kelsey
John Malkovich	...	Mr. Will
Danny Glover	...	Moze
Yankton Hatten	...	Frank Spalding
Gennie James	...	Possum Spalding
Lane Smith	...	Albert Denby
Terry O'Quinn	...	Buddy Kelsey
Bert Remsen	...	Tee Tot Hightower
Ray Baker	...	Sheriff Royce Spalding
Jay Patterson	...	W.E. Simmons
Toni Hudson	...	Ermine
De'voreaux White	...	Wylie (as Devoreaux White)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | West Germany:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Ellis County, Texas, USA

Company:

Delphi II Productions

Trivia:

The director and screenwriter, Robert Benton, set the film in his birthplace of Waxahachie, Texas in 1935, three years after he was born there.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The story is suppose to take place in 1935. Depression glass is used throughout the film. Most of it is correct, such as the Madrid pattern in amber used in the opening shot, which was made by Federal Glass Company of Columbus, Ohio between 1933-1939. However, in a kitchen scene on top of the stove there is a pair of Waterford pattern salt and pepper shakers. This pattern was made by Hocking Glass Company (now called Anchor Hocking) between 1938-1944. How could Sally Field have something in the kitchen 3 years prior to it being made?

Quotes:

[first lines]
Edna Spalding: [seeing her daughter's doll at the dinner table] Possum, put that up now.
Royce Spalding: Our Heavenly Father, bless this meal and all those who are about to receive it. Make us thankful for Your generous bounty, and Your unceasing love. Please remind us, in these hard times, to be grateful for what we have been given, and not to ask for what we can not have. And make us mindful of those less fortunate among us, as we sit at this table with all of Thy bounty. Amen.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

In The Garden

I went back and remembered

This is a great film. I remembered just how it was when I was growing up. Every scene is magnificant. This is how Texas was during this era. Edna Spaulding could have been one of my relatives. Sally Field does not act Edna Spaulding, she is Edna Spaulding.