Grand Theft Parsons (2003)

There are times when it's right and proper to simply bury the dead. This is not one of those times... Gram Parsons was one of the most influential musicians of his time; a bitter, brilliant... See full summary »

Director:

David Caffrey

Writers:

Jeremy Drysdale (story), David Caffrey (story)

Stars:

Johnny Knoxville, Christina Applegate, Marley Shelton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jamie McShane	...	Radio Announcer
Johnny Knoxville	...	Phil Kaufman
Danielle Sapia	...	Girl at Joshua Tree Inn
Gabriel Macht	...	Gram Parsons
Robert Alan Beuth	...	Reporter
Sara Arrington	...	Crying Girl
Scott Adsit	...	Music Expert
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Nurse
David Caffrey	...	TV Interviewer
Alexa Sheehan	...	Nurse 2 (as Alexa Motley)
Wesley Mann	...	Doctor
Marley Shelton	...	Susie
Christina Applegate	...	Barbara
Jim Cody Williams	...	Truck Driver
Kay E. Kuter	...	Undertaker

Storyline

There are times when it's right and proper to simply bury the dead. This is not one of those times... Gram Parsons was one of the most influential musicians of his time; a bitter, brilliant, genius who knew Elvis, tripped with the Stones and fatally overdosed on morphine and tequila in 1973. And from his dying came a story. A story from deep within folklore; a story of friendship, honour and adventure; a story so extraordinary that if it didn't really happen, no one would believe it. Two men, a hearse, a dead rock star, five gallons of petrol, and a promise. And the most extraordinary chase of modern times.

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Plot Keywords:

musician | hearse | singer | manager | guitar | 

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Taglines:

A cracking movie featuring a rocker, a hippie, a corpse and a hearse.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for drug references and some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

A nagy hullarablás

Filming Locations:

Cabazon, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Swipe Films, Morty-Stevie G Productions, Helkon SK

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The round cloth badge sewn onto the left shoulder of Johnny Knoxville's denim jacket is that of the Harley-Davidson Riders of Gt. Britain motorcycle club.

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Goofs

When Kaufman is lighting the corpse on fire the hippy turns away and returns to the car and is seen with his hand leaning on the car. Next shot shows the hippy still walking towards the car.

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Quotes

Larry Oster-Berg: So what'cha doing here?
Larry Oster-Berg: We're, uh, meeting someone off a flight.
Uniform Cop: You're meeting someone off of a flight?
Larry Oster-Berg: Yes.
Uniform Cop: In a hearse?
Larry Oster-Berg: Yes. It's a, surprise.
Uniform Cop: Which part's the surprise, um, the fact that you're in a bright yellow hearse? The fact that you look like something out of a horror film? Or, the fact, that you're a half mile away from the terminal and they're gonna have to walk across two runways to reach you?
Larry Oster-Berg: The first part.

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Crazy Credits

Cannes Promo Reel Screened on Apple iBooks

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Soundtracks

Flying High
Words and Music by Country Joe McDonald (as Joe McDonald)
Performed by Country Joe and the Fish (as Country Joe & The Fish)
Licensed from and used by permission of Vanguard Records, A Welk Music Group Company
(P) Vanguard Records, a Welk Music Group Company
© 1967 Joyful Wisdom Music, BMI

User Reviews

An affectionate tribute - Gram fans will be happy

As a Gram Parsons fan of many years I was eagerly awaiting the appearance of this movie. Finally, having read brief snippets about it on-line and in magazines over the last year, I finally got the chance to see it at the Dublin International Film Festival in Feb 2004.

This is not a straight bio-pic of Gram's life, nor does it attempt to be. It is a good-natured, affectionate comedy road-movie that is based on the recollections of Phil Kaufman, who was Gram's 'executive nanny' in the last couple of years of his life and who made the strange pact with GP that is the focus of this film.

Phil Kaufman is played by Johnny Knoxville in his first lead role. Strange choice, you may think? Well, I was sceptical too, but Knoxville turns in quite a competent performance, effectively conveying the close bond that existed between Kaufman and Gram. But his companion in the coffin-thieving escapade steals the show - a hippy going through drug withdrawal, played with a subtle comic touch by Michael Shannon. Some of the characters in the film are fictional, not least the father figure of 'Stanley Parsons' and the Christina Applegate character 'Barbara'. This doesn't detract from the overall impact though. In order to simplify things, the writer and director decided not to incorporate the complicated Parsons family history into the film (few people seeing this movie will be aware of the existence of GP's step-father and his biological father). So the character we see is really Gram's biological father brought back to life, in order to witness the wonderful achievements that his son had made through creating his music.

And what about that music in the film? Well, I had shivers running up my spine when the full force of tracks such as 'Return Of The Grievous Angel' and '$1,000 Wedding' came over the sound system in the theatre. And there was almost a tear in me eye as the coffin went up in flames as 'A Song For You' played. A wonderful moment.

Hopefully people who have never heard of Gram Parsons and his music will go to see this movie because Johnny Knoxville is in it, or simply because it's a fine, lovingly crafted low-budget comedy drama. And they may well come out converts to GP's fantastic music. As for us Gram fans, well it's a must see

• touching, funny, poignant and a suitably fitting tribute.