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IMDbPro

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

  • 19911991
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
797
YOUR RATING
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:00
1 Video
30 Photos
ComedyDramaMystery
A tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminu... Read allA tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminutive crook-back named Lymon. He suggests they open a café in the downstairs of her large h... Read allA tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminutive crook-back named Lymon. He suggests they open a café in the downstairs of her large house. Marvin Macy gets out of prison and returns to town; turns out he was married to Amel... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
797
YOUR RATING
    • Simon Callow
    • Edward Albee(play)
    • Michael Hirst(screenplay)
    • Carson McCullers(novel)
  • Stars
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • Keith Carradine
    • Cork Hubbert
    • Simon Callow
    • Edward Albee(play)
    • Michael Hirst(screenplay)
    • Carson McCullers(novel)
  • Stars
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • Keith Carradine
    • Cork Hubbert
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    Ballad of the Sad Cafe
    Trailer 1:00
    Watch Ballad of the Sad Cafe

    Photos30

    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    Roseland (1977)
    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    Vanessa Redgrave and Keith Carradine in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    Vanessa Redgrave in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    Vanessa Redgrave in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
    Vanessa Redgrave in The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Miss Amelia
    Keith Carradine
    Keith Carradine
    • Marvin Macy
    Cork Hubbert
    Cork Hubbert
    • Cousin Lymon
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Rev. Willin
    Austin Pendleton
    Austin Pendleton
    • Lawyer Taylor
    Beth Dixon
    • Mary Hale
    Lanny Flaherty
    Lanny Flaherty
    • Merlie Ryan
    Mert Hatfield
    Mert Hatfield
    • Stumpy McPhail
    Earl Hindman
    Earl Hindman
    • Henry Macy
    Anne Pitoniak
    • Mrs. McPhail
    Frederick Johnson
    • Jeff
    Lauri Raymond
    • Sadie Ricketts
    Joe Stevens
    Joe Stevens
    • Henry Ford Crimp
    • (as Joe Stephens)
    Keith Wommack
    • Tom Rainey
    Kevin Wommack
    Kevin Wommack
    • George Rainey
    Laura Burns
    • Molly Kelly
    Megan Bowman
    • Townspeople
    Fred Brumfield
    • Townspeople
      • Simon Callow
      • Edward Albee(play)
      • Michael Hirst(screenplay)
      • Carson McCullers(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The original Broadway production of "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" by Edward Albee opened at the Martin Beck Theater in New York on 30th October 1963 and ran for 123 performances until the play closed on 15th February 1964.
    • Goofs
      Several times earlier in the film, we are shown how the only way to arrive at Miss Amelia's secret still is by wading - neck-deep - through a muddy swamp. Yet late in the film when Marvin Macy and Cousin Lymon are shown at Miss Amelia's still, their clothes are clean and dry.
    • Quotes

      Mary Hale: Marvin changed himself. That time he loved Miss Amelia. Well, it seemed like he changed completely -- he was -- he was good to me, and to Henry... You remember that, doncha'?

      Rev. Willin: I remember that.

      Mary Hale: Why'd she throw him out? Why'd she marry him and then throw him out? Why?

      Rev. Willin: I don't know. All I know is... that it takes two people to be in love. It takes the... lover... and the beloved. But these two, they come from... diff'rent countries. And sometimes, the... the belove is the cause for all the, all the stored-up love that's lain in the heart of the lover for such... a looong time, and every lover knows that... deep... deep in his soul, he knows that his love is a lonely and solitary thing --

      [sad chuckle]

      Rev. Willin: -- and the funny thing is, the object of that love... can be anybody, and it just don't... matter one whit.

      [shakes head]

      Rev. Willin: That's why I guess most of us, we'd rather be... the lover than to be loved, I mean, because the state of bein'... beloved is... is intolerable. See an' then, after a while... the beloved gets to hate the lover, because the lover's always trying to strip, strip, strip baaare... the beloved. See, that's because the... the lover... 'e craves that love -- even though he knows that that love can only cause 'im pain.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Backdraft/Truly Madly Deeply/Madonna: Truth or Dare/The Ballad of the Sad Cafe/A Rage in Harlem (1991)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Better on stage
    Having seen the "definitive" stage version of this, featuring Colleen Dewhurst and Michael Dunn, I wasn't hopeful for this film holding a candle to it. I came away feeling that this particular piece does not translate to film. Vanessa Redgrave is a wonderful actress and seeing her beautiful, expressive face with no makeup and her hair cut short is quite startling, but effective. I found myself focusing on her big blue eyes most of the time, as they told the mood of her character throughout. I doubt they could've found anyone better for the role. It's simply that the entire production didn't quite gel. It truly works better in the theatre. I'm still not entirely decided on whether I completely disliked it.
    helpful•2
    0
    • flomert34
    • Sep 27, 2010

    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 1991 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Merchant Ivory Productions (United States)
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Austin, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Channel Four Films
      • Merchant Ivory Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 41 minutes

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