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Five Easy Pieces

  • 1970
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,640
393
Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Home Video Trailer from Columbia Tristar
Play trailer2:38
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Drama

A dropout from upper-class America picks up work along the way on oil rigs when his life isn't spent in a squalid succession of bars, motels, and other points of interest.A dropout from upper-class America picks up work along the way on oil rigs when his life isn't spent in a squalid succession of bars, motels, and other points of interest.A dropout from upper-class America picks up work along the way on oil rigs when his life isn't spent in a squalid succession of bars, motels, and other points of interest.

  • Director
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Writers
    • Carole Eastman
    • Bob Rafelson
  • Stars
    • Jack Nicholson
    • Karen Black
    • Billy Green Bush
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    39K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,640
    393
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writers
      • Carole Eastman
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Stars
      • Jack Nicholson
      • Karen Black
      • Billy Green Bush
    • 251User reviews
    • 111Critic reviews
    • 85Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 10 wins & 21 nominations total

    Videos2

    Five Easy Pieces
    Trailer 2:38
    Watch Five Easy Pieces
    Five Easy Pieces: I Can't See The Pins
    Clip 1:52
    Watch Five Easy Pieces: I Can't See The Pins

    Photos132

    Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Jack Nicholson and Billy Green Bush in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    "Five Easy Pieces" Jack Nicholson 1970 Columbia
    Jack Nicholson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Jack Nicholson and Bob Rafelson in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, and Fannie Flagg in Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Jack Nicholson and Karen Black at an event for Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    Karen Black at an event for Five Easy Pieces (1970)
    "Five Easy Pieces" Karen Black and Jack Nicholson at the premiere September 11, 1970
    Five Easy Pieces (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Nicholson
    Jack Nicholson
    • Robert Eroica Dupea
    Karen Black
    Karen Black
    • Rayette Dipesto
    Billy Green Bush
    Billy Green Bush
    • Elton
    • (as Billy 'Green' Bush)
    Fannie Flagg
    Fannie Flagg
    • Stoney
    Sally Struthers
    Sally Struthers
    • Betty
    • (as Sally Ann Struthers)
    Marlena MacGuire
    • Twinky
    • (as Marlena Macguire)
    Richard Stahl
    Richard Stahl
    • Recording Engineer
    Lois Smith
    Lois Smith
    • Partita Dupea
    Helena Kallianiotes
    • Palm Apodaca
    Toni Basil
    Toni Basil
    • Terry Grouse
    Lorna Thayer
    Lorna Thayer
    • Waitress
    Susan Anspach
    Susan Anspach
    • Catherine Van Oost
    Ralph Waite
    Ralph Waite
    • Carl Fidelio Dupea
    William Challee
    William Challee
    • Nicholas Dupea
    John P. Ryan
    John P. Ryan
    • Spicer
    • (as John Ryan)
    Irene Dailey
    Irene Dailey
    • Samia Glavia
    Garrett Cassell
    • Junkie
    • (uncredited)
    Clay Greenbush
    Clay Greenbush
    • Baby
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Bob Rafelson
    • Writers
      • Carole Eastman
      • Bob Rafelson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "Five Easy Pieces" refers to a book of piano lessons for beginners.
    • Goofs
      When Bobby plays the piano for Catherine about three quarters through the movie, the music in front of him is clearly not what he is playing (Chopin's "Prelude in E Minor"). On one hand, this emphasizes his improvisational nature and rejection of the life prescribed to him by his class, but it also shows his musical prowess and memory. He reveals that the song was memorized when he later says "I picked the easiest piece I could think of".
    • Quotes

      Bobby: I'd like a plain omelette, no potatoes, tomatoes instead, a cup of coffee and wheat toast.

      Waitress: [points at his menu] No substitutions.

      Bobby: What do you mean? You don't have any tomatoes?

      Waitress: Only what's on the menu. You can have a number two, a plain omelette, it comes with cottage fries and rolls.

      Bobby: Yeah, I know what it comes with, but it's not what I want.

      Waitress: Well, I'll come back when you make up your mind

      Bobby: Wait a minute, I have made up my mind. I'd like a plain omelette, no potatoes on the plate, a cup of coffee and a side order of wheat toast.

      Waitress: I'm sorry, we don't have any side orders of toast. I'll give you an English muffin or a coffee roll.

      Bobby: What do you mean you don't make side orders of toast? You make sandwiches, don't you?

      Waitress: Would you like to talk to the manager?

      Palm Apodaca: Hey, mac...

      Bobby: Shut up.

      [to the waitress]

      Bobby: You've got bread and a toaster of some kind?

      Waitress: I don't make the rules.

      Bobby: OK, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. I'd like an omelette, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce, and a cup of coffee.

      Waitress: A number two, a chicken salad sand. Hold the butter, the lettuce, and the mayonnaise, and a cup of coffee. Anything else?

      Bobby: Yeah, now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a cheque for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.

      Waitress: You want me to hold the chicken, huh?

      Bobby: I want you to hold it between your knees.

      [Palm Apodaca sniggers]

      Waitress: [points at a sign behind her] You see that sign, sir? Yes, you'll all have to leave! I'm not taking any more of your smartness and sarcasm!

      Bobby: You see this sign?

      [he sweeps all the glasses off the table onto the floor]

    • Connections
      Featured in America at the Movies (1976)
    • Soundtracks
      Stand by Your Man
      Written by Billy Sherrill (as B. Sherril) & Tammy Wynette (as T. Wynette)

      Performed by Tammy Wynette

      [Played over the opening titles]

    User reviews251

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Story of a man who rejects anyone who loves him for no reason
    Karen Black is great in this film and well-deserving of The Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She steals the film from her moody and brooding co-star, Jack Nicholson. Put it this way: subtract Black from the film and you don't have a film worth watching. The story would have been better if the film had told us why Nicholson rejected his family and his musical gifts. Why does he hate everyone that loves him? He doesn't love himself. Why? Why should we sympathize with this man? He has a great girlfriend, a rich family that cares for him, and tremendous natural gifts to play the piano. The last scene in the movie is one of the most pathetic scenes ever filmed. Someone needs to slap Jack and tell him to wake up!! Please!!!
    helpful•9
    2
    • badman-2
    • Dec 21, 1998

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    FAQ10

    • What is "Five Easy Pieces" about?
    • Is "Five Easy Pieces" based on a book?
    • What does the title mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 12, 1970 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Пет лаких комада
    • Filming locations
      • Denny's Restaurant - 3652 Glenwood Drive, Eugene, Oregon, USA(Diner scene)
    • Production companies
      • BBS Productions
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Five Easy Pieces Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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