Wise Blood (1979)

A Southerner--young, poor, ambitious but uneducated--determines to become something in the world. He decides that the best way to do that is to become a preacher and start up his own church.

Director:

John Huston (as Jhon Huston)

Writers:

Flannery O'Connor (novel), Benedict Fitzgerald (screenplay)

Stars:

Brad Dourif, John Huston, Dan Shor

5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Brad Dourif	...	Hazel Motes
John Huston	...	Grandfather (as Jhon Huston)
Dan Shor	...	Enoch Emory
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Asa Hawks
Amy Wright	...	Sabbath Lily
Mary Nell Santacroce	...	Landlady
Ned Beatty	...	Hoover Shoates
William Hickey	...	Preacher
J.L. Parker	...	Karl
Marvin Sapp	...	Raymond
Richard Earle	...	Jakob Winslow
Herb Kossover	...	Jacob Wood
Betty Lou Groover	...	Leora Watts
John Tyndall	...	Loki Martinson
Gillaaron Houck	...	Stranger #1

Storyline

US Army war veteran Hazel Motes may not be a believing Christian, somehow observations like the state of a run-down country church, meeting the ridiculous frauds on the streets and memories inspire him to take up, after initially fierce refusal, the part of a traveling preacher when a cab driver insists he looks like one in his new hat. He starts his own new Church of Truth, without the crucified Jesus, his first disciple being an 18-year old simpleton with a 'prophetic gift'...

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Plot Keywords:

church | preacher | disciple | gorilla suit | southern literature | 

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Taglines:

An American Masterpiece!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 February 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Huston's Wise Blood

Filming Locations:

Confederate Monument, Cotton Ave and 2nd Street, Macon, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anthea Film,Ithaca

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Co-screenwriter Benedict Fitzgerald reports that many of the small roles were played by non-professional locals from the Macon, GA, area, including the prostitute (a real-life prostitute) and the sheriff (the real-life sheriff of Macon).

[source: interview with Benedict Fitzgerald in Criterion DVD special features]

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Goofs

Toward the beginning of the movie when Hazel is in the cemetery behind his abandoned home, the headstone of Jerusha Ashfeld Motes spells 'angle' instead of 'angel' ("Gone to become an angle")

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Quotes

Hazel: This car is just beginning its life, a lightning bolt couldn't stop it.

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Crazy Credits

Director John Huston is credited in all the titles as "Jhon Huston". Producer Michael Fitzgerald later explained that, wanting to have a child-like look to the credits, they had an actual child write the names. The child misspelled Huston's first name, but they liked it and kept it, as a metaphor for the artificial, off-kilter tone of the story.

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Connections

Referenced in City Lights: Episode dated 10 October 1979 (1979)

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Soundtracks

Simple Gifts
(uncredited)
Shaker hymn written & composed by Joseph Brackett

User Reviews

wise blood

Brad Dourif's performance as Hazel Motes is one of the finest I have ever seen. His talent is only matched by the brilliant direction of John Huston and the writing of Flannery O'Connor. Also Harry Dean Stanton and Amy Write are perfect together as the Father, Daughter team. It is sad, really, that films of this caliber aren't being produced anymore. Excellent acting. excellent writing. excellent direction. excellent soundtrack, and art direction. I applaud John Huston and the producers for doing the right thing here, and making a film that captured the feelings and the soul of a writer, O'Conner, and didn't give into basic, commercial self - interest.There was a time when FILMS meant something to people. We don't need another "Chucky get's Lucky" film; what we need are compelling films for people like Brad Dourif and the like minded talent in his company to have a chance to work in.