Ironweed (1987)

A schizophrenic drifter spends Halloween in his home town after returning there for the first time in decades.

Director:

Hector Babenco

Writers:

William Kennedy (novel), William Kennedy (screenplay)

Stars:

Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Nicholson	...	Francis Phelan
Meryl Streep	...	Helen Archer
Carroll Baker	...	Annie Phelan
Michael O'Keefe	...	Billy Phelan
Diane Venora	...	Margaret 'Peg' Phelan
Fred Gwynne	...	Oscar Reo
Margaret Whitton	...	Katrina Dougherty
Tom Waits	...	Rudy
Jake Dengel	...	Pee Wee
Nathan Lane	...	Harold Allen
James Gammon	...	Reverend Chester
Will Zahrn	...	Rowdy Dick
Laura Esterman	...	Nora Lawlor
Joe Grifasi	...	Jack
Hy Anzell	...	Rosskam

Storyline

Albany, New York, Halloween, 1938. Francis Phelan and Helen Archer are bums, back in their birth city. She was a singer on the radio, he a major league pitcher. Death surrounds them: she's sick, a pal has cancer, he digs graves at the cemetery and visits the grave of his infant son whom he dropped; visions of his past haunt him, including ghosts of two men he killed. That night, out drinking, Helen tries to sing at a bar. Next day, Fran visits his wife and children and meets a grandson. He could stay, but decides it's not for him. Helen gets their things out of storage and finds a hotel. Amidst their mistakes and dereliction, the film explores their code of fairness and loyalty.

---

Plot Keywords:

albany new york | bar | singer | drifter | ghost | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tallo de hierro

Filming Locations:

Lark Street and Clinton Ave, Albany, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$7,393,346 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Keith Barish Productions, TAFT Entertainment Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

143 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frank Whaley plays Jack Nicholson's character as a young man. In Hoffa, Whaley plays the hit man who murders Nicholson's character, teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa.

---

Goofs

As noted, this film takes place in 1938; but a billboard is seen advertising the Marx Brothers film "At the Circus" which is a 1939 release.

---

Quotes

Francis Phelan: By God, Helen, that's as good as it gets. You were born to be a star.

---

Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theatre 3000: Time Chasers (1997)

---

Soundtracks

"He's Me Pal"
Performed by Meryl Streep

User Reviews

A touchstone for the baby-boom generation

As a boomer myself, this movie made me recall my uncles from my mother's side of the family -- men from the wrong side of the tracks who were scarred by the Depression. I anticipate that others in my age group will share my sense of deja vu.

The story is sad, yet in these heartless modern times, when families eat their prepackaged dinners in separate rooms, watching TV or surfing the Web, the viewer feels nostalgia even for the Depression because experiences were shared deeply with others.

This film is about loss -- loss of family and of love -- and about the hard times that made these heartbreaks even more wrenching. The Depression has been portrayed more accurately here than in any movie in my memory.

The writing is exemplary, as is the set design and camera work. But it's the the performances that shine brightest. Not only those of Nicholson and Streep, from whom you expect greatness (this movie was shot before Nicholson started playing himself). Watch for stunning vignettes by Tom Waits, who can act far better than he can sing, and a show-stopper by the fine character actor Jake Dengel.

In our postliterate time, when attempts at drama come off more like caricatures, and people's ability to relate to each other is only Blackberry-deep, the experience of watching a film about the human experience as it used to be is one to be treasured.