Paris Trout (1991)

In a small Georgia town in the 1950s, bigoted store owner Paris Trout kills a young black girl when his brother refuses to pay his debts.

Director:

Stephen Gyllenhaal

Writers:

Peter Dexter (novel), Peter Dexter (screenplay)

Stars:

Dennis Hopper, Barbara Hershey, Ed Harris

Nominated for 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Hopper	...	Paris Trout
Barbara Hershey	...	Hanna Trout
Ed Harris	...	Harry Seagraves
Ray McKinnon	...	Carl Bonner
Tina Lifford	...	Mary Sayers
Darnita Henry	...	Rosie Sayers
Eric Ware	...	Henry Ray Sayers
RonReaco Lee	...	Chester Sayers
Gary Bullock	...	Buster Devonne
Sharlene Ross	...	Mother Trout's Nurse
Jim Peck	...	Estes Singletary
Dan Biggers	...	Mayor Harn
Ernest Dixon	...	Truck Driver
Wallace Wilkinson	...	Dr. Brewer (as Wallace Wilkenson)
Ron Leggett	...	Glass Man (as Ronn Leggett)

Storyline

Paris Trout is a vile Southern bigot. He owns a store and is a loanshark. He often sues people, and so his lawyer, Harry Seagraves, eventually meets Paris' wife Hannah. A former schoolteacher, she made the mistake of her life when she married Paris, who brutalizes her. Soon Paris goes beyond the overgenerous bounds of what a man in his position can get away with even in the segregated South, leading to a spiral of perverse insanity.

---

Plot Keywords:

character name as title | two word title | store | lawyer | family relationships | 

---

Taglines:

A brutal murder in a small town. A triangle of passion, power and rage.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sensuality, and for brief language.

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ed Harris and Barbara Hershey previously appeared in The Right Stuff (1983).

---

Quotes

Mary Sayers: No sir. I told the truth about it. You can make it look any which way now. But I told how it happened.
Harry Seagraves: Yes, well, um. With all due respect, Ms. Sayers. That's what we called the jury for. To decide.
Mary Sayers: No sir. They don't decide what happened. That's already been done. All they decide is if they gonna do something about it.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Dennis Hopper/Rich Hall/Joan Embery (1991)

User Reviews

Above the law Bigot

Paris Trout is an excellent movie, Dennis Hopper delivers and outstanding portrayal of a sick, demented man who really can't see the evil of his ways. He treats everyone with contempt and is just a truly nasty character. You wonder how he winds up marrying his wife and why his lawyer would continue to try and get this man out of every legal predicament he gets into. Barabara Hershey plays his sweet, innocent wife and does an excellent job of pulling off the portrayal. Ed Harris portrays his lawyer. Much of the film's power derives from Hopper's uncompromising performance in the title role, as an unapologetically bigoted loan shark who holds himself to be above the law in a small Southern town. I recently bought the movie on DVD to watch again, I had not watched the movie since the early 90's and it's still as powerful today as it was then. A friend of mine recommended the movie to my wife and I and it's one of the few dramas that I can really watch and hold my attention. Worth the price to own!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bütün Hayatı Suçtu

Filming Locations:

Decatur, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Palace Pictures, Viacom

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1