Stars and Bars (1988)

A British art expert travels across America in order to purchase a rare Renoir painting in the South but comes across some crazy characters in the process.

Director:

Pat O'Connor

Writers:

William Boyd (novel), William Boyd (screenplay)

Stars:

Daniel Day-Lewis, Harry Dean Stanton, Kent Broadhurst

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Day-Lewis	...	Henderson Dores (as Daniel Day Lewis)
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Loomis Gage
Kent Broadhurst	...	Ben Sereno
Maury Chaykin	...	Freeborn Gage
Matthew Cowles	...	Beckman Gage
Joan Cusack	...	Irene Stein
Keith David	...	Eugene Teagarden
Spalding Gray	...	Reverend T.J. Cardew
Glenne Headly	...	Cora Gage
Laurie Metcalf	...	Melissa
Bill Moor	...	Edgar Beeby
Deirdre O'Connell	...	Shanda Gage
Will Patton	...	Duane Gage
Martha Plimpton	...	Bryant
Rockets Redglare	...	Peter Gint

Storyline

Young Englishman Henderson Dores (Daniel Day-Lewis), yearning to give up his genteel British ways and be a bold and brash American, gets his chance when his New York firm sends him south to acquire a Renoir painting from Loomis Gage (Harry Dean Stanton), the eccentric head of an unusual family.

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Plot Keywords:

public nudity | male full frontal nudity | male pubic hair | pubic hair | male rear nudity | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

A rejected score was composed by Elmer Bernstein

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Connections

Featured in Nostalgia Critic: Should We Stop Method Acting? (2020)

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Soundtracks

Indian Love Call
(uncredited)
Music by Rudolf Friml
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and Otto A. Harbach

User Reviews

Depending on your expectations, you'll either hate it or love it.

This is one of those rare films that seems to divide into only two groups: You will only be able to love or hate this movie. However, I think the previous reviews leave out an essential element to determining which camp you fall into: whether you are interested in the actors (based on previous roles) or the film.

The best way to give you some idea of what to expect is the usual vehicle: comparison with other films. If you loved Martin Scorcese's film, After Hours or enjoyed Something Wild (with Melanie Griffith and Jeff Daniels) or were even guiltily amused by Who's That Girl (Madonna and Griffin Dunne), then you will probably like this movie. Stars and Bars uses a similar formula of "straight laced, uptight man" being taken for a wild adventure by "free-spirited, sexy woman".

Obviously, this would put someone like Daniel Day-Lewis into the right role (a tightly wound serious man), but in a very different universe from films like "My Left Foot" and "The Age of Innocence". If you are hoping for another period piece or serious art, this film is not for you. Luckily, I happen to like films that range from Wim Wenders to the latest Adam Sandler vehicle. :)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stars and Bars

Filming Locations:

Clarkesville, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Stars and Bars Limited

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color