Urban Cowboy (1980)

Bud is a young man from the country who learns about life and love in a Houston bar.

Director:

James Bridges

Writers:

Aaron Latham (story "The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy"), James Bridges (screenplay)

Stars:

John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Travolta	...	Bud
Debra Winger	...	Sissy
Scott Glenn	...	Wes
Madolyn Smith Osborne	...	Pam (as Madolyn Smith)
Barry Corbin	...	Uncle Bob
Brooke Alderson	...	Aunt Corene
Cooper Huckabee	...	Marshall
James Gammon	...	Steve Strange
Mickey Gilley	...	Mickey Gilley
Johnny Lee	...	Johnny Lee
Bonnie Raitt	...	Bonnie Raitt
The Charlie Daniels Band	...	The Charlie Daniels Band
Betty Murphy	...	Bud's Mom
Ed Geldart	...	Bud's Dad
Leah Geldart	...	Bud's Sister

Storyline

Bud Davis is a country boy who moves to the city to visit his uncle and his family. He starts hanging out at Gilley's, the popular nightclub owned by Mickey Gilley himself. He takes a job at the oil refinery where his uncle works, hoping to save enough money to buy some land. He also meets a cowgirl named Sissy, they dance together, fall in love and suddenly get married. And then their marriage is shattered when Bud sees Sissy allegedly seeing con man Wes, who teaches her how to ride the mechanical bull... and plans to rob Gilley's. When a bull-riding contest at Gilley's is announced, Bud decides to sign up. Can he win the contest and save his marriage to Sissy?

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Plot Keywords:

nightclub | bar fight | cowboy | country music | domestic violence | 

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Taglines:

Hard hat days and honky-tonk nights.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 June 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Urban Cowboy

Filming Locations:

2213 Westside Drive, Deer Park, Texas, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$53,300,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Robert Evans Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Travolta had a mechanical bull installed in his house two months before production began. He became so good that he was allowed to dismiss the stunt double and do the takes himself.

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Goofs

Scene with Wes drinking tequila with Sissy - he states "la vida luna" - "the crazy life." "La vida luna" translates to: "the moon life." He should have said "la vida loca."

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Quotes

Sissy: I brought ya some coffee.
Bud: Get me a beer.
Sissy: Bud, if they smell beer on your breath at work -
Bud: JUST GET ME A BEER!
Sissy: Yessir.

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Alternate Versions

The conversation that Bud has with Uncle Bob right before Bud shaves off his beard was cut for the VHS release.

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Connections

Referenced in DVD-R Hell: Animalympics (2012)

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Soundtracks

Don't It Make Ya Wanna Dance
Written by Rusty Wier
Performed by Bonnie Raitt
Prophecy Publishing Inc./Bug House (ASCAP)

User Reviews

For the Redneck in all of us

This is a highly underrated movie. It has a decent plot, exceptional acting by John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn, and supporting cast, and toe tapping pop country music throughout. Although the emphasis on mechanical bull riding is a little silly, the main characters are plausible in their motivations, their jealosies, and in the end, their abiding love for each other. The popularity of the movie to a wide section of America is proof that it is more than just a movie appealing "country" or "redneck" types. There's something about Debra Winger - her change of moods, her expressiveness, her vulnerability - where you just can't take your eyes off her when she is on camera. And the movie is downright fun with the Charlie Daniels Band, Travolta's Texas 2 step dancing scenes, and mechanical bull riding contests. There's no deep message to this movie, but it has a certain simple honesty about it, and it'll entertain you for its 2-hour duration.