Convicts (1991)

In 1902 Texas, 13-year-old Horace goes to work on old Soll's farm to earn enough money to buy a headstone for his father's grave. Unfortunately for Horace, Soll's senility, ill health, and ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Masterson

Writers:

Horton Foote (play), Horton Foote (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Duvall, Lukas Haas, James Earl Jones

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Duvall	...	Soll Gautier
Lukas Haas	...	Horace Robedaux
James Earl Jones	...	Ben Johnson
Starletta DuPois	...	Martha Johnson
Carlin Glynn	...	Asa
Calvin Levels	...	Leroy
Gary Swanson	...	Billy
Mel Winkler	...	Jackson
Lance E. Nichols	...	Sherman Edwards
Bob Edmundson	...	Overseer (as Robert Edmundson)
John McConnell	...	Guard #1
Jerry Biggs	...	Guard #2
Martin F. Schacker	...	Guard #3
Walter Breaux Jr.	...	Singing Convict
Tony Frank	...	Sheriff

Storyline

In 1902 Texas, 13-year-old Horace goes to work on old Soll's farm to earn enough money to buy a headstone for his father's grave. Unfortunately for Horace, Soll's senility, ill health, and obsession with the convict labor he uses to work the farm, make it unlikely that Horace will ever be paid the $12.50 Soll owes him for 6 months work.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | texas | convict | grave | senility | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 December 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Horton Foote's Convicts

Filming Locations:

Home Place Plantation - State Highway 18, Hahnville, Louisiana, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Soll thinks he hears someone in the closet he shoots three times and we see three bullet holes. But when Jackson opens the closet door to investigate, there are four holes.

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Quotes

Ben Johnson: Cane Land it was called once. Cane it'll be again.

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Connections

Followed by Lily Dale (1996)

User Reviews

Our finest actor

Along with Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, Robert Duvall brings to the screen the best film acting of our generation. Unlike the other two, he can shape a "typical" role into something original and unique. Through emotional shadings and nuance, Duvall has created a remarkable gallery of Southern characters, each individualized despite having many surface traits in common. Surely DeNiro and Pacino are highly skilled actors, but the best performances of each resemble one another to a fault. Duvall has made his share of potboilers and worse, yet his most substantial roles have generated performances of singular quality.

One of them is in "Convicts." The others? Don't miss "The Apostle," "Rambling Rose," "Tender Mercies," "Stars Fell on Henrietta," and "Tomorrow."