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 by)

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?

---

Plot Keywords:

thin attractive woman | hillbilly | white trash | hick | trashy | 

---

Taglines:

Hard hat days and honky-tonk nights.

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

This picture was the movie that John Travolta did instead after turning down the lead role in Paul Schrader's American Gigolo (1980).

---

Goofs

Bud's truck does not have a Texas Inspection Certificate sticker on its driver's side windshield - a strictly enforced requirement for all Texas-registered passenger vehicles and light trucks since 1950.

---

Quotes

Bud: What happened to your face?
Sissy: Got hit.
Bud: [referring to Wes Hightower] He hit you?
Bud: [beat] I am going to KILL that son of a BITCH!
[storms off]

---

Alternate Versions

The version that NBC ran in 1983 had about 12 minutes of out-take put back, to expand the film for a three-hour time slot.

---

Connections

Spoofed in The New Guy (2002)

---

Soundtracks

Cotton-Eyed Joe
Traditional
Performed by Bayou City Beats

User Reviews

What a sound track !

The music in this movie is worth renting alone. You also get John Travolta and Debra Winger in a wonderful story about bull riding, beer, and finding true love in Texas. The two kiss scenes with John and Debra are classics. The first one on the dance floor makes you want to get up and dance. The final kiss scene completes the film with a happy ending. Even if you're not a "hick" check out this film.

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:

$46,918,287

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$46,918,287

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Robert Evans Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1