Baja Oklahoma (1988)

Dan Jenkins co-wrote the screenplay based on his novel of the same name about Juanita, a barmaid in Ft. Worth, Texas, who wants to be a country-western songwriter.

Director:

Bobby Roth

Writers:

Dan Jenkins (novel), Dan Jenkins (teleplay)

Stars:

Lesley Ann Warren, Peter Coyote, Swoosie Kurtz

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Juanita Hutchins
Peter Coyote	...	Slick Henderson
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Doris Steadman
Billy Vera	...	Lonnie Slocum
Anthony Zerbe	...	Ole Jeemy Williams
William Forsythe	...	Tommy Earl Browner
Willie Nelson	...	Himself
Julia Roberts	...	Candy Hutchins
Bruce Abbott	...	Dove Christian
Carmen Argenziano	...	Roy Simmons
Paul Bartel	...	Minister
Jordan Charney	...	Beecher Perry
Carole Davis	...	Tina Busher (as Carole Raphaelle Davis)
Linda Dona	...	Martha Healy
Rhonda Dotson	...	Kathy

Storyline

Dan Jenkins co-wrote the screenplay based on his novel of the same name about Juanita, a barmaid in Ft. Worth, Texas, who wants to be a country-western songwriter.

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Plot Keywords:

texas | songwriter | barmaid | f rated | star | 

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Taglines:

A honky-tonk romance with a heart of pure gold.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Paixão da Sua Vida

Filming Locations:

Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Pictures, Home Box Office (HBO), Rastar Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

[a construction worker whistles at Juanita]
Juanita Hutchens: Thank you! Thank you very much!

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Soundtracks

Baja Oklahoma
Written by Willie Nelson and Dan Jenkins
Performed by Lesley Ann Warren

User Reviews

A Country Charmer Penned by Dan Jenkins...

Baja Oklahoma is a wonderful HBO Original Film that is remembered primarily as an early Julia Roberts vehicle, but deserves much more than that! Written by 'Semi-Tough' scribe Dan Jenkins, the film crackles with great one-liners, inspired casting, and a 'Cinderella' storyline that's hard to beat.

Lesley Ann Warren (who's never been feistier or more beautiful) is Juanita, a good-hearted Texas woman with a string of bad relationships, an 18-year old daughter (Roberts) running off to Aspen with a dope-pushing boyfriend, a dead-end job waitressing at a bar, and dreams of being a songwriter. Her best friend/fellow waitress, Doris (the fabulous Swoozie Kurtz) cheats on her husband regularly, rationalizing her infidelities ("I ain't havin' relationships, I'm gettin' laid!") and depending on her to back up her alibis; her bar patrons (including singer Billy Vera and the terrific William Forsythe) are an undependable but very likable collection of oddballs.

When Juanita's high school flame (Peter Coyote) returns to town for his father's funeral, her life begins to turn around. Both have been burned but still remain optimistic, and he believes in her talent. All she needs is some good advice (provided by Vera), a little management (offered by local deejay Anthony Zerbe, who's a hoot), some inspiration (from Coyote, of course!), and a little luck, and her dreams just might come true!

Filled with classic country tunes, appearances by Emmylou Harris, John Mayall, and Willie Nelson, and a terrific title tune by Jenkins and Nelson, this is a 'feel-good' movie that may just bring a tear to your eye by the finale. It's that good!

So if you watch this simply to see Julia Roberts, prepare to be enchanted by another 'Pretty Woman'!