The Trip to Bountiful (1985)

Carrie Watts is living the twilight of her life trapped in an apartment in 1940's Houston, Texas with a controlling daughter-in-law and a hen-pecked son. Her fondest wish -- just once ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Masterson

Writers:

Horton Foote (screenplay), Horton Foote (play)

Stars:

Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Carrie Watts is living the twilight of her life trapped in an apartment in 1940's Houston, Texas with a controlling daughter-in-law and a hen-pecked son. Her fondest wish -- just once before she dies -- is to revisit Bountiful, the small Texas town of her youth which she still refers to as "home." The trouble is her son, Ludie, is too concerned for her health to allow her to travel alone and her petty daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae, insists they don't have money to squander on bus tickets. This prompts "escape" attempts each month which coincide with the arrival of Mrs. Watts' Social Security check. Then, Mrs. Watts makes a successful escape and last trip home.

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Plot Keywords:

daughter in law | escape | 1940s | apartment | bus | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 January 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

En busca de la plenitud

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Gross:

$7,466,662 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bountiful Film Partners, FilmDallas Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

With this performance, Geraldine Page became the first person to win an Oscar and an Independent Spirit Award for the same film.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Mrs. Carrie Watts: I guess when you've lived longer than your house and your family, then you've lived long enough.

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Connections

Featured in The 58th Annual Academy Awards (1986)

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Soundtracks

"Ray John Murray"
Written, conducted and produced by J.A.C. Redford

User Reviews

Where's the DVD??

Geraldine Page won the Best Actress Oscar for this film in 1985. And it's no wonder why. The movie almost unfolds as a Broadway play. It may seem depressing at first, but that's the gift that Geraldine has in portraying the emotions of an aging Southern mother who yearns to return to the small town she left in Texas many many years before. For whatever reason, this film hits an emotional chord with me because Geraldine Page reminds me so much of my maternal grandmother. If you're into fast paced, action flicks - or comic farces, you won't like this film. But, if you really appreciate character development that slowly unfolds and develops in a film, you should not pass up this one!