I am so glad the terrific Richard Farnsworth got to star in a movie in 1982 that was so suited to his strengths. A fellow spends most of his life in jail for robbing stagecoaches. Finally released he tries to go straight while living with his sister, but eventually the lure of his old life makes trains look awfully appealing now that stagecoaches have disappeared.
Just a terrific film. A mostly unknown cast just makes it better. And it looks good, doesn't it?
Todd Mason will have the links later today.
13 comments:
Patti - It does look good. Sounds like an interesting character. Thanks for sharing.
It was charming. Farnsworth had the perfect role and made the most of it without needing to overact.
Jeff M.
A good film that I had forgotten about. Great choice, Patti.
Definitely a guy who made a notable late career for himself, Farnsworth...
I just remember this one and the one where he toured on a lawn mower I think. Have to go look it up.
I like this guy. Never seen this film though.
THE STRAIGHT STORY. Chuck Esola has said that he's literally afraid to see what a G-rated David Lynch movie might be like.
Also, a good supporting role in THE GETAWAY. Among other work!
THE STRAIGHT STORY is one of my all time favorites. You'd never know it was a Lynch movie except for maybe the Badalamenti score. Wasn't Farnsworth a stuntman in his youth?
Yes, Farnsworth was a stunt man, mostly in westerns.
He got an Oscar nomination for THE STRAIGHT STORY as well as a Supporting Actor nomination for the 1979 COMES A HORSEMAN. He also played Matthew Cuthbert in the 1985 Canadian miniseries of ANNE OF GREEN GABLES.
Jeff M.
That Farnsworth riding lawnmower one trumped a similar story, Abilene, filmed by my friend Joe Camp (the Benji films). It starred Ernest Borgnine as a grouchy old coot who wasn't allowed to drive his truck, in what surely was an Academy Award performance, but it was barely released because of the competition. I have a VCR tape of it, and play it once in a while with joy, watching Borgnine as a master.
That seems to happen every once in a while. Two movies (or books) deal with the same subject and one gets short shrift.
Richard Farnsworth is wonderul in this film - my favourite film of his along with THE NATURAL - great choice Patti.
Interesting film that I have not heard one. But I know a little about Richard Farnsworth.
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