Winter People (1989)

A young widower moves with his daughter into a North Carolina mountain town in 1934. He quickly takes up with a young woman with an illegitimate baby. First he must prove himself to her ... See full summary »

Director:

Ted Kotcheff

Writers:

John Ehle (book), Carol Sobieski (screenplay)

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Kelly McGillis, Lloyd Bridges

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell	...	Wayland Jackson
Kelly McGillis	...	Collie Wright
Lloyd Bridges	...	William Wright
Mitch Ryan	...	Drury Campbell (as Mitchell Ryan)
Jeffrey Meek	...	Cole Campbell
Don Michael Paul	...	Young Wright
Lanny Flaherty	...	Gudger Wright
Eileen Ryan	...	Annie Wright
Amelia Burnette	...	Paula Jackson
David Dwyer	...	Milton Wright
Bill Gribble	...	Skeet Campbell
Wallace Merck	...	Harmon Campbell
Walter Averitt	...	Margaret Campbell (as Walker Averitt)
Dashiell Coleman	...	Jonathan Wright
Barbara Freeman	...	Mavis McGregor

Storyline

A young widower moves with his daughter into a North Carolina mountain town in 1934. He quickly takes up with a young woman with an illegitimate baby. First he must prove himself to her father and her three brothers. He does so first by joining them on a bear hunt and then by designing a clock tower for the small community. Trouble comes when it is revealed that the baby's father is the demented son of a mean clan across the river and they mean to take the child back.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | based on book | independent film

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Taglines:

A passion so strong it kills.

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Genres:

Romance | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 April 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Winter People - Wie ein Blatt im Wind

Filming Locations:

Asheville, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$2,023,282 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Nelson Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first film produced by Castle Rock Entertainment.

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Soundtracks

"Lightning in a Bottle"
Written by Jimmy Webb
Performed by Jennifer Warnes

User Reviews

Strong characters the focus of this exciting drama

Deceptively marketed as a "Deliverance" retread, it has, in fact, more in common with Peter Weir's "Witness" and Richard Pearce's "Heartland". Kurt Russell plays Wayland Jackson, a humble widower who begins a new life with his daughter in North Carolina. When he meets and falls in love with Collie Wright (Kelly McGilis), he must prove his mettle to her father (Lloyd Bridges) and deal with local animosity towards him.

Director Ted Kotcheff, who also made "First Blood", "Uncommon Valor" and the brilliant "Split Image", a scathing look at a religious sect, brings his considerable experience with personal politics to this well made, beautifully acted, snow-bound drama.

The film's last act is where the violence flares and the stage is set for several bloody, taut altercations. The film, however, never loses sight of its personal story and focuses closely on the courage and resilience of good, honest folk.

John Scott's score is hypnotic.