Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)

A recently widowed woman is on the road with her precocious young son, determined to make a new life for herself as a singer.

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writer:

Robert Getchell

Stars:

Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Mia Bendixsen

Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mia Bendixsen	...	Alice - Age 8
Ellen Burstyn	...	Alice Hyatt
Alfred Lutter III	...	Tommy (as Alfred Lutter)
Billy Green Bush	...	Donald
Lelia Goldoni	...	Bea
Ola Moore	...	Old Woman
Harry Northup	...	Joe & Jim's Bartender
Marty Brinton	...	Lenny (as Martin Brinton)
Dean Casper	...	Chicken
Murray Moston	...	Jacobs
Harvey Keitel	...	Ben
Lane Bradbury	...	Rita
Diane Ladd	...	Flo
Vic Tayback	...	Mel
Valerie Curtin	...	Vera

Storyline

Despite admitting that she was scared of him in her never-ending quest to please him, thirty-five year old housewife and mother Alice Hyatt is devastated when her husband Donald is killed in an on the job traffic accident. With few job skills except that as a singer, Alice, along with her precocious eleven year old son Tommy, decides to move from their current home in Socorro, New Mexico to her home town of Monterrey, California, the only place she has ever felt happy. She plans on getting singing gigs along the way to earn money to get back to Monterrey by the end of the summer and the start of Tommy's school year. Alice's quest for a job at each stop leaves Tommy often to fend for himself, which may make Tommy even more precocious. His behavior is fostered by Alice, as their relationship is often more as trouble-making friends than mother and son. Alice's plans often do not end up as she envisions, especially as she is forced to take a waitressing job at Mel and Ruby's Diner in ...

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Plot Keywords:

arizona | diner | waitress | self discovery | single mother | 

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Taglines:

Alice is 35. Her son is 12. Together they're running away from home.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 May 1975 (France)

Also Known As:

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Filming Locations:

Monterey Village, 6126 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$17,600,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While he was finishing work on the film, Martin Scorsese was also working on his documentary Italianamerican (1974) about his parents. Observers noted that the relationship between Scorsese and his mother in that film echoed the give-and-take between Alice and Tommy in this one.

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Goofs

When the alarm clock goes off, Alice knocks it to the second shelf (at around 1h 35 mins). Alice goes back to sleep and some short time later, without either her or Tommy having moved in the bed, the alarm clock has returned to the top shelf of the nightstand.

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Quotes

Tommy: Mom, are we in Arizona yet?
Alice: If you ask me that one more time, I'm gonna beat you to death. Just sit back there and relax and enjoy life, huh?
Tommy: Life is short.
Alice: So are you.

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Crazy Credits

introducing Alfred Lutter as Tommy

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Connections

Featured in The Directors: The Films of Martin Scorsese (2000)

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Soundtracks

Wildwood Flower
Traditional
Arranged by Daniel Franklin (as Danny Franklin)

User Reviews

Ellen Burstyn blew me away with her outstanding performance

The beginning of the movie starts off with a bang. Martin Scorsese sees to that with his brilliant directing ability. I laughed out loud within the first minute. Even the opening credits and song were perfect for the intro. Harvey Keitel was great in his performance as well. He played his character to a T. But Ellen Burstyn completely takes the cake as far as performances go in this wonderfully realistic film. I want to rush and see every movie she's ever been in!!