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The Straight Story

  • 19991999
  • GG
  • 1h 52m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
90K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,961
674
Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
An old man makes a long journey by lawnmower to mend his relationship with an ill brother.
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDrama
An old man makes a long journey by lawnmower to mend his relationship with an ill brother.An old man makes a long journey by lawnmower to mend his relationship with an ill brother.An old man makes a long journey by lawnmower to mend his relationship with an ill brother.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
90K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,961
674
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • David Lynch
    • Writers
      • John Roach
      • Mary Sweeney
    • Stars
      • Richard Farnsworth
      • Sissy Spacek
      • Jane Galloway Heitz
    Top credits
    • Director
      • David Lynch
    • Writers
      • John Roach
      • Mary Sweeney
    • Stars
      • Richard Farnsworth
      • Sissy Spacek
      • Jane Galloway Heitz
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 478User reviews
    • 160Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 18 wins & 40 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:58
    Trailer

    Photos163

    Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Sissy Spacek and Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth, Joseph A. Carpenter, Ed Grennan, Jack Walsh, and Donald Wiegert in The Straight Story (1999)
    Sissy Spacek and Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Sissy Spacek and Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth and Wiley Harker in The Straight Story (1999)
    Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story (1999)
    David Lynch and Mary Sweeney in The Straight Story (1999)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Farnsworth
    Richard Farnsworth
    • Alvin
    Sissy Spacek
    Sissy Spacek
    • Rose
    Jane Galloway Heitz
    • Dorothy
    Joseph A. Carpenter
    • Bud
    Donald Wiegert
    • Sig
    Tracey Maloney
    • Nurse
    Dan Flannery
    Dan Flannery
    • Doctor Gibbons
    Jennifer Edwards-Hughes
    • Brenda
    Ed Grennan
    • Pete
    Jack Walsh
    • Apple
    Max the Wonder Dog
    • Farm Dog
    Gil Pearson
    • Bus Driver
    Barbara June Patterson
    • Woman on Bus
    Everett McGill
    Everett McGill
    • Tom the John Deere Dealer
    Anastasia Webb
    • Crystal
    Matt Guidry
    • Steve
    Bill McCallum
    Bill McCallum
    • Rat
    Barbara E. Robertson
    Barbara E. Robertson
    • Deer Woman
    • (as Barbara Robertson)
    • Director
      • David Lynch
    • Writers
      • John Roach
      • Mary Sweeney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Richard Farnsworth was terminally ill with bone cancer during the shooting of the film, which had caused the paralysis of his legs as shown in the film. He actually took the role out of admiration for Alvin Straight, and astonished his co-workers with his tenacity during production. Because of the pain of his disease, Farnsworth committed suicide the following year, at the age of 80.
    • Goofs
      Alvin is shown crossing the Mississippi River at Lansing heading westward (into Iowa), instead of eastward into Wisconsin.
    • Quotes

      Alvin: I'd give each one of 'em a stick and, one for each one of 'em, then I'd say, 'You break that.' Course they could real easy. Then I'd say, 'Tie them sticks in a bundle and try to break that.' Course they couldn't. Then I'd say, "That bundle... that's family."

    • Crazy credits
      Walt Disney Pictures Presents: A film by David Lynch
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Instinct/The Loss of Sexual Innocence/Limbo (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      The Most Requested Song
      (From Strange Tales of the Late West)

      Written by Middlejohn & John Neff

      By Arrangement with Maui Zone Records & Tapes

    User reviews478

    Review
    Top review
    Nothing Runs Likes a Deere.
    A beautiful and very emotional "Harry and Tonto"-styled movie experience as Oscar-nominee Richard Farnsworth (playing the real-life Alvin Straight) decides to travel on his old riding John Deere mower from Iowa to Wisconsin to see his ailing brother (Harry Dean Stanton) because his driver's license has been revoked, he doesn't like public transportation and he has no one else to drive him. The two brothers have not been on speaking terms for many years and now the clock is literally ticking on one last chance for them to see one another and hopefully make amends for past mistakes. Sissy Spacek gives one of her finest performances as Farnsworth's slightly mentally retarded daughter and the supporting players are all real and heartfelt caricatures of America's heartland. Outstanding film-maker David Lynch (to me the finest living American director, along with Martin Scorsese) goes totally out-of-character with a 180-degree turn from whacked triumphs like "The Elephant Man", "Blue Velvet", "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me" and "Mulholland Dr.". He quietly and methodically creates a G-rated family film that has deep messages for people of all ages and backgrounds. He paints a picture of America where the old ways of life are still the most important. Farnsworth (who is a total revelation) was in excruciating pain throughout filming due to terminal cancer and terrible arthritis. Notice he stands very little in the movie and he is almost always filmed from the waist up. Sadly this would be his final performance as he committed suicide shortly after his Oscar nod. He did become the oldest nominee ever in the Best Actor category, but really that will become trivial as time passes and his role will be the thing that shines brightly forever. Truly a legacy production for all involved. 5 stars out of 5.
    helpful•128
    16
    • tfrizzell
    • May 12, 2004

    FAQ1

    • Is this based on a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 3, 1999 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Проста історія
    • Filming locations
      • Grotto of the Redemption - 300 N. Broadway, West Bend, Iowa, USA
    • Production companies
      • Asymmetrical Productions
      • Canal+
      • Channel Four Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,203,044
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $92,312
      • Oct 17, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,416,569
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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