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:

Although they first met years earlier, actors Ed Harris and Amy Madigan got married after working together on this film.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While the movie is set in 1935, the band at the dance is playing "Faded Love", a Bob Wills song written in 1950.

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:

Referenced in "Twice in a Lifetime: Healing Touch (#1.3)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

In The Garden

A remarkable movie from start to finish.

I watched this movie because from the short synopsis on Sky's information page it sounded as though it would be a good one. Plus Sally Field and John Malkovich are two of my favourite actors.

And it was a good one. Not once throughout the course of the film did I find myself glancing at the clock in boredom. It's a remarkable movie from start to finish, although I must admit - the end scene somewhat confuses me.

The movie in short, a woman (Sally Field) is widowed and will be forced to sell her farm unless she can pay off the debts her husband left. The movie is set in 1935, and the woman takes the advice of a Negro traveller (played by Danny Glover) and sows acres of cotton. She also takes in a blind man (John Malkovich) as a border to make a few extra dollars. The events which follow are extremely well written, and excellently played by the chosen cast. Sally Field is the perfect choice for the role that she plays, as are Danny Glover and John Malkovich, who is ever so believable as a blind man.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to others. If you enjoy heart-warming, touching stories, you'll definitely enjoy this one.