Cannery Row (1982)

Monterey, California in the 1940's. Cannery Row - the section of town where the now closed fish canneries are located - is inhabited primarily by the down and out, although many would not ... See full summary »

Director:

David S. Ward

Writers:

John Steinbeck (novels), David S. Ward (written for the screen by)

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Debra Winger, Audra Lindley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Nolte	...	Doc
Debra Winger	...	Suzy DeSoto
Audra Lindley	...	Fauna Flood
Frank McRae	...	Hazel
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Mack
Tom Mahoney	...	Hughie
John Malloy	...	Jones
James Keane	...	Eddie
Sunshine Parker	...	The Seer
Santos Morales	...	Joseph and Mary
John Huston	...	Narrator (voice)
Ellen Blake	...	Wisteria
Sharon Ernster	...	Agnes
Kathleen Doyle	...	Violet
Mary Margaret Amato	...	Lola

Storyline

Monterey, California in the 1940's. Cannery Row - the section of town where the now closed fish canneries are located - is inhabited primarily by the down and out, although many would not move away even if they could. Probably the most upstanding citizen in the area is Doc, a marine biologist who earns a living primarily by collecting and selling marine specimens for research. He is a lost soul who is looking for his place in life. He is running away from his past, one where he is trying to make amends for what he considers a past wrong. But his current life isn't totally satisfying either. He believes that his recent collection of eight baby octopi will help him define that future in conducting research on their behavior. However, he is finding that research is not as easy as he had hoped, and that he is still feeling restless. Into the area comes drifter Suzy DeSoto. She too is a lost soul. With few job skills, she gets a job as what she calls a floozy in the local whorehouse, ...

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Plot Keywords:

waterfront | 1940s | marine biologist | bordello | female drifter | 

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Taglines:

You don't have to be crazy to live here...but it helps.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 February 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Steinbeck's Cannery Row

Filming Locations:

Monterey, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,500,000, 15 February 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$5,301,539

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chai Productions,Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While the film portrays Monterey Bay as a quiet, romantic beach, the unique microclimate of the area is actually quite chilly. Water temperatures are usually in the 50's and can drop into the 40's during the summer. The beach is persistently windy with breezes from 10 mph and up year-round. Beach campfires are popular among locals and tourists alike, but only with jackets, blankets, and hats.

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Goofs

When Susie brings the macaroons to Doc, the rattlesnake cage is a few inches below her elbow. In the next shot, the cage is a few inches above her elbow.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: [voice over] Cannery Row has never been like anywhere else. For one thing, its people are different. When the town died off, most of them failed to notice. Some say nobody would live here if they didn't have to, but there are some, like The Seer, who wouldn't live anywhere else, even if they could. Of all the people on Cannery Row, Doc is probably the best known. He makes as good a living as he needs by collecting marine animals and selling them to colleges and museums. Over the ...

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Connections

Featured in The Making of 'Cannery Row' (1982)

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Soundtracks

BIG NOISE FROM WINNETKA
Music by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc
Lyrics by Gil Rodin and Bob Crosby
Performed by Bob Crosby and the Bobcats
Courtesy of MCA Records

User Reviews

Critics, BAH HUMBUG!!!!!

I find it easy to believe that many critics panned this movie, after all as William Peter Blatty once said about critics: "They neither reap, nor sow, nor harvest. They are malignant lilies of the field." For the most part, they are smart a--es who like to be cute and only have praise for "important films". Those of us who actually buy tickets prefer good movies and this was one.

For those who disliked this wonderful (and I truly mean filled with wonder) movie because it was different from the book (or books) I can only say a book is a book, a movie is a movie. It was delightful from beginning to end filled with likable characters. I remember when I first saw it, looking at the Cannery Row denizens with a feeling of envy. They had nothing, but somehow knew how to live.

Typically I only comment when I can make the following statement, which I now make unhesitatingly:

If you have a heart, it will be touched.