The Trip to Bountiful (1985)

Director:

Peter Masterson

Writers:

Horton Foote (play)
Horton Foote (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 January 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Carrie Watts is living the twilight of her life trapped in an apartment in 1940's Houston, Texas with...

Plot Keywords:

Escape | Houston Texas | Bus | 1940s | Self Discovery

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Geraldine Page	...	Mrs. Carrie Watts
John Heard	...	Ludie Watts
Carlin Glynn	...	Jessie Mae
Richard Bradford	...	Sheriff
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Thelma
Kevin Cooney	...	Roy
Norman Bennett	...	First Bus Ticket Man
Harvey Lewis	...	Second Bus Ticket Man
Kirk Sisco	...	Train Ticket Agent
Dave Tanner	...	Billy Davis
Gil Glasgow	...	Stationmaster Gerard
Mary Kay Mars	...	Rosella
Wezz Tildon	...	Bus Passenger
Peggy Ann Byers	...	Downstairs Neighbor
David Romo	...	Mexican Man

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:G | Finland:S | Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Building One, Studios at Las Colinas - 6301 North O'Connor Road, Irving, Texas, USA

Company:

Bountiful Film Partners

Trivia:

The Broadway production of "A Trip To Bountiful" by Horton Foote opened at Henry Miller's Theater on November 3, 1953 running 309 performances and starring Lillian Gish, Gene Lyons, Jo Van Fleet and Eva Marie Saint. Lillian Gish and Eva Marie Saint recreated their roles from the original teleplay broadcast on NBC on March 1, 1953.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: While Mother Watts is at the bus stop you see the bus approach. The head-sign says Montrose, which is just west of downtown Houston. If you look at the terrain, it is sloped not true rolling hills, but still somewhat hilly. Houston is flat as a board. These hills are reminiscent of the Dallas/Irvine area.

Quotes:

Mrs. Carrie Watts: I don't know of anything prettier, than a scissortail flyin' through the sky!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Skydivers (#7.9)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Softly and Tenderly

Magnificent!

I came back to read my original review of "The Trip to Bountiful" after I viewed the film again the other night. I read the other accounts of the movie and I couldn't help by get very emotional reading the words of praise for Geraldine Page's memorable performance.

The night she won the Oscar was big news in New York, where she lived and taught. One news program's crew visited a cafe where Miss Page's students were watching the ceremonies on tv. When F. Murray Abraham opened the envelope and said, "...and the winner is the greatest actress.." her students began to scream and cry BEFORE her name was called. They KNEW who had won, and so did I. I wept right along with them, just as I had done when I, a former actor, realized that very few actors would ever reach her level of artistry.

I watched "Bountiful" over and over in disbelief. Her scenes on the bus with Rebecca de Mornay were wonderful and very touching. I kept wondering HOW did she prepared herself for this?!!! When she rode, with the Sheriff through what was left of Bountiful and uttered, "My God, will you look at Bountiful..." Her walk through the old house and her gaze as she looked at the land, the trees and the birds reminded me of a visit to the old country town of my childhood, reminding me that everywhere I've ever been is still there, perhaps in a different form, but it's still there.

The reason that she got that standing ovation from the Academy Awards audience, is that it was appropriate to honor greatness and that the Oscar was going to an actor that TRULY deserved to win.

In an age that Oscars are won for okay performances, when, in other years, Oscars were truly given to deserving achievements, AND, the competition was much, much stronger.

I cannot recommend this picture more. For any aspiring actor that wants to set a goal standard for greatest, he or she must see this performance.