Honeydripper (2007)

1950. Rural Alabama. Cotton harvest. It's a make-or-break weekend for the Honeydripper Lounge and its owner, piano player Tyrone "Pine Top" Purvis. Deep in debt to the liquor man, the ... See full summary »

Director:

John Sayles

Writer:

John Sayles

Stars:

Danny Glover, LisaGay Hamilton, Yaya DaCosta

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Glover	...	Tyrone Purvis
LisaGay Hamilton	...	Delilah
Yaya DaCosta	...	China Doll
Charles S. Dutton	...	Maceo
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Slick
Gary Clark Jr.	...	Sonny
Mable John	...	Bertha Mae
Stacy Keach	...	Sheriff Pugh
Nagee Clay	...	Scratch
Absalom Adams	...	Lonnie
Arthur Lee Williams	...	Metalmouth Sims
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Stokely
Davenia McFadden	...	Nadine
Daryl Edwards	...	Shack Thomas
Sean Patrick Thomas	...	Dex

Storyline

1950. Rural Alabama. Cotton harvest. It's a make-or-break weekend for the Honeydripper Lounge and its owner, piano player Tyrone "Pine Top" Purvis. Deep in debt to the liquor man, the chicken man, and the landlord, Tyrone is desperate to lure the young cotton pickers and local Army base recruits into his juke joint, away from Touissant's, the rival joint across the way. His plan to hire a guitar legend go awry and Tyrone is forced to take drastic action in a final scheme to save the club.

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Plot Keywords:

alabama | 1950s | jim crow | written and directed by cast member | scene before opening credits | 

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Taglines:

This better be some Saturday night!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Music | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief violence and some suggestive material

Did You Know?

Trivia

The principal shooting location was less than fifty yards from Hank Williams' boyhood home.

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Goofs

Danny Glover is wearing invisible teeth braces throughout.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Bucket List/The Orphanage/The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep/There Will Be Blood/Honeydripper/Persepolis (2008)

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Soundtracks

Things 'bout Coming My Way
Written by J. Mayo Williams & Estelle Johnson
Published by Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Performed by Mable John (as Dr. Mable John)

User Reviews

Great music, reasonable story.

Set in 1950s Alabama around the time of the birth of rock 'n' roll, focusing on a music venue and its manager. The backdrop is the racist America South.

At the heart of the story lies the proprietor, Tyrone, of the Honeydripper Lounge. He is in debt and needs to raise money fast. He plans to put on a gig with a brilliant black guitarist. Behind his battle to run a successful club lies the conflict between religion and rock 'n' roll, God and the devil, with a convenient compromise by the end of the film.

Predictable at times with some obvious set pieces but a fun film with great music.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 May 2008 (UK)

Also Known As:

Honeydripper - Do Blues ao Rock

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,863, 30 December 2007

Gross USA:

$267,880

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$544,925

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anarchist's Convention Films, Honeydripper Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1