Candy Mountain (1988)

A struggling musician sets out to find the legendary guitar maker Elmore Silk, with whom he hopes to strike a deal to make himself rich and famous.

Directors:

Robert Frank, Rudy Wurlitzer

Writer:

Rudy Wurlitzer

Stars:

Kevin J. O'Connor, Eric Mitchell, Mary Joy

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Julius
Eric Mitchell	...	Gunther
Mary Joy	...	Couple
Bob Joy	...	Couple
Joe Strummer	...	Mario
Arto Lindsay	...	Alston
Mary Margaret O'Hara	...	Darlene
David Johansen	...	Keith Burns
David Margulies	...	Lawyer
Tony 'Machine' Krasinski	...	Musician
Susan Kirschner	...	Suzie
Dee De Antonio	...	Lou Sultan
Jose Soto	...	Musician's Son
Bob Maroff	...	Gas-station Attendant
Rockets Redglare	...	Van Driver

Storyline

A struggling musician sets out to find the legendary guitar maker Elmore Silk, with whom he hopes to strike a deal to make himself rich and famous.

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Plot Keywords:

guitar maker | road trip | recluse | independent film

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Switzerland Canada France

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ain't No Candy Mountain

Filming Locations:

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Films A2, Les Films Plain Chant, Les Films Vision 4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Needs glue.

I've seen a few no-budget films before, but "Candy Mountain" really takes the cake. It feels like it was filmed on weekends and vacations with friends and relatives, and no one was paid anything. That might not be entirely true, but it's the impression I got. I watched the movie for Tom Waits, who doesn't have a big part, but is entertaining. Kevin J. O'Connor is good as Julius. All the various cameos are amusing, surely more so if you have a personal familiarity with the actors/musicians. It's a distinctly Canadian story, even though it hints at originating in the states.

The director, Robert Frank, leaves one with the distinct impression that he doesn't know how to make a compelling movie. It's well-intentioned enough, but lethargic as hell. When Julius wakes up to drag himself through another long day, you start to feel about the same as the viewer. If the photography was better, or maybe the silences had more depth and power, it wouldn't seem so sloppy. The pace is maddeningly slow. I got... a bit out of it, I guess. But it's really just not that great. At best, it convinces you that it's real. As for anything beyond that, well, never mind.