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IMDbPro

Honky Tonk Freeway

  • 19811981
  • PGPG
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
27,877
9,471
Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
A satire of American progression in which a mayor tries to bribe an official to ensure a ramp connects Ticlaw to an up-and-coming intrastate. When his plan fails, the town residents are forced to take matters into their own hands.
Play trailer2:42
1 Video
8 Photos
ActionComedy
A satire of American progression in which a mayor tries to bribe an official to ensure a ramp connects Ticlaw to an up-and-coming intrastate. When his plan fails, the town residents are forc... Read allA satire of American progression in which a mayor tries to bribe an official to ensure a ramp connects Ticlaw to an up-and-coming intrastate. When his plan fails, the town residents are forced to take matters into their own hands.A satire of American progression in which a mayor tries to bribe an official to ensure a ramp connects Ticlaw to an up-and-coming intrastate. When his plan fails, the town residents are forced to take matters into their own hands.
IMDb RATING
5.2/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
27,877
9,471
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • John Schlesinger
    • Writer
      • Edward Clinton
    • Stars
      • David Rasche
      • Paul Jabara
      • Howard Hesseman
    Top credits
    • Director
      • John Schlesinger
    • Writer
      • Edward Clinton
    • Stars
      • David Rasche
      • Paul Jabara
      • Howard Hesseman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Trailer

    Photos8

    Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
    Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
    Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
    Peter Billingsley in Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
    Beverly D'Angelo in Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
    Beverly D'Angelo and Beau Bridges in Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)
    Beverly D'Angelo and Beau Bridges in Honky Tonk Freeway (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Rasche
    David Rasche
    • Eddie White
    Paul Jabara
    Paul Jabara
    • T.J. Tupus
    Howard Hesseman
    Howard Hesseman
    • Snapper
    Teri Garr
    Teri Garr
    • Ericka
    Jenn Thompson
    • Delia
    Peter Billingsley
    Peter Billingsley
    • Little Billy
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Duane Hansen
    Beverly D'Angelo
    Beverly D'Angelo
    • Carmen Odessa Shelby
    Daniel Stern
    Daniel Stern
    • Hitchhiker
    Sandra McCabe
    • Prostitute
    Celia Weston
    Celia Weston
    • Grace
    Deborah Rush
    Deborah Rush
    • Sister Mary Magdalene
    Geraldine Page
    Geraldine Page
    • Sister Mary Clarise
    George Dzundza
    George Dzundza
    • Eugene
    Joe Grifasi
    Joe Grifasi
    • Osvaldo
    Hume Cronyn
    Hume Cronyn
    • Sherm
    Jessica Tandy
    Jessica Tandy
    • Carol
    Frances Lee McCain
    Frances Lee McCain
    • Claire Calo
    • (as Francis Lee McCain)
    • Director
      • John Schlesinger
    • Writer
      • Edward Clinton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The entire town of Mount Dora, Florida, was painted pink for this picture.
    • Goofs
      During the scene where the orphans are being shown the petting zoo, a crew member or the director can be heard giving the cue to "Scream! Scream! Ricky!" as the children become afraid of the white horse they've mistaken for "Ricky the Carnivorous Pony."
    • Quotes

      Duane Hansen: I love you.

      Carmen Odessa Shelby: Oh Duane, you don't even know me. I've slept with over three hundred men.

      Duane Hansen: Everyone has their faults.

      Carmen Odessa Shelby: Three hundred men? In Paducah, Kentucky? Duane, wasn't easy.

      Duane Hansen: It's an accomplishment.

      Carmen Odessa Shelby: No, Duane, it's a problem. It's a real problem. I'm like Ricky the Carnivorous Pony in respect to men.

      Duane Hansen: I love you, I need you, and I wanna make you happy, that's all.

      Carmen Odessa Shelby: Oh, I don't know if that's what I really want out of life.

    • Connections
      Featured in No Small Parts: Anne Ramsey (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Honky Tonk Freeway
      Written by Steve Dorff and Milton Brown

      Performed by Russell Smith

    User reviews22

    Review
    Top review
    A fast, funny and surprising satire of American enterprise.
    HONKY TONK FREEWAY involves a small Florida tourist town named Ticaw and the people who live there, led by William Devane playing the part of the Mayor/Preacher Kirby T. Calo who also operates a hotel and tiny wildlife safari park. The town's major draw is a water-skiing elephant named Bubbles. When the state highway commission builds a freeway adjacent to the town, Devane slips an official 10,000 dollars to assure an off ramp. The off ramp doesn't come so the townsfolk literally paint the town pink to attract visitors. Meanwhile, we are introduced to several characters from various parts of the United States all for one reason or another are heading to Florida. We know they will all end up in Ticaw but finding out why and how is half the fun. There are bank robbers from New York (George Dzundza, Joe Grifasi) who pick up a cocaine dealing hitchhiker (Daniel Stern), a Chicago copy machine repairman and wannabe children's author Duane Hansen (Beau Bridges) who picks up a waitress Carmen Odessa Shelby (Beverly D'Angelo) who is carrying her mother's ashes to Florida, a dentist and his family (Howard Hesseman, Teri Garr, Peter Billingsly) vacationing cross country in their RV, an elderly woman Carol (Jessica Tandy) with a drinking problem and her loving husband Sherm (Hume Cronyn, of course), two nuns (mother superior Geraldine Page, novice nun Deborah Rush), a wannabe country song writer hauling a playful rhino and other wild animals to Ticaw, and more. This is a very funny movie with quirky interesting characters, good actors, a great director (John Schlesinger who helmed Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man and The Falcon and the Snowman) and a mix of slapstick comedy in the tradition of It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and biting satire of American small towns such as Cold Turkey. Think Mayberry meets Picket Fences, or Hal Needham meets Robert Altman. A fun film with where half the fun is to see who's going to show up in the film and what's going to happen next.
    helpful•18
    2
    • SanDiego
    • May 24, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 21, 1981 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Honkytonk Freeway
    • Filming locations
      • 1112 Whittier Blvd, Montebello, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • EMI Films
      • Honky Tonk Freeway Company
      • Kendon Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $24,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,004,742
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $939,423
      • Aug 23, 1981
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,004,742
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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