Bound for Glory (1976)

The early life of Woody Guthrie as a vagabond folk singer.

Director:

Hal Ashby

Writers:

Robert Getchell (screenplay), Woody Guthrie (autobiography)

Stars:

David Carradine, Ronny Cox, Melinda Dillon

Won 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Carradine	...	Woody Guthrie
Ronny Cox	...	Ozark Bule
Melinda Dillon	...	Mary - Woody's Wife / Memphis Sue
Gail Strickland	...	Pauline
John Lehne	...	Locke - Radio Station Manager
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Slim Snedeger - Hobo on Train
Randy Quaid	...	Luther Johnson - Migrant Worker
Elizabeth Macey	...	Liz - Johnson's Wife
Susan Vaill	...	Gwen Guthrie
Sarah Vaill	...	Gwen Guthrie
Alexandra Mock	...	Sue Guthrie
Kimberly Mock	...	Sue Guthrie
Miriam Byrd-Nethery	...	Sick Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene (as Miriam Byrd Nethery)
Jane Lambert	...	Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene
Jan Burrell	...	Other Woman - Water-Swallowing Scene

Storyline

This film is an excellent biography of Woody Guthrie, one of America's greatest folk singers. He left his dust-devastated Texas home in the 1930s to find work, and discovered the suffering and strength of America's working class.

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Plot Keywords:

pampa texas | texas panhandle | damsel in distress | route 66 | new mexico | 

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Taglines:

Woody Guthrie. his music has become as much a part of America as its mountains, its rivers, its forests and its people. His life has touched all our lives. This is his story.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hal Ashby offered Jack Nicholson the lead role, but he turned it down, saying that he didn't see himself as Woody Guthrie. He suggested Bob Dylan for the part.

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Goofs

The movie shows a scene with signs marking the California-Arizona border, where there is a checkpoint set up to turn people away unless they can show $50 in cash. The entire California-Arizona border consists of the Colorado River. The scene is shot in the middle of the desert with no river in sight. However, since the river runs at a lower elevation than the surrounding terrain, it is entirely possible to be within a quarter-mile of the river and not see it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Hank - Man in Gas Station: ['California Water Tastes Like Cherry Wine' plays in the background'] What's the matter?
Carl - Man in Gas Station: Hey, Wood.
Woody Guthrie: Yeah.
Old Man Jenkins - Gas Station Owner: Cherry wine.
Old Man Jenkins - Gas Station Owner: [Jenkins turns off the record player] Goddamit, Woody. I got half a notion to pull up stakes and hit the road for California.
Carl - Man in Gas Station: I been thinking about down the Gulf of Mexico... or the Rio Grande valley. Just somewheres I can grow some fruit, peaches. Them Indian blood peaches with that red meat.
Old Man Jenkins - Gas Station Owner: Shit fire, Carl! Why down there? In California you just plop a seed into the ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Privilege of Rank: Making Chain of Command (2014)

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Soundtracks

Union Maid
Written by Woody Guthrie

User Reviews

Better than good: Important

BOUND FOR GLORY compassionately portrays that Woody Guthrie's gift to mankind was about being at life's mercy, deliberately staying on a par with everyday people -- not just understanding and speaking for them, but being them and speaking for himself.

BOUND FOR GLORY had the courage to abstain from the bigger-than-life formula for Hollywood success, and never hurried its pace to placate a predictably impatient audience. The scenes, and David Carradine morphing into Woody Guthrie, took whatever time was needed to ripen into the enriching story of inherent human value, undeniable personal dignity, and the insidious soul-starving quality of greed that this masterpiece movie tells.

Ronny Cox, Melinda Dillon, Gail Strickland, Randy Quaid, and David Carradine all delivered academy award worthy performances. No saints, no heroes, no cavalry to the rescue; just actors tenderly disappearing into heart capturing characters who are disturbingly vulnerable, familiar, ordinary, and profound.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

March 1977 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Esta tierra es mi tierra

Filming Locations:

Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bound for Glory

Technical Specs

Runtime:

147 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1