THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL (1985) C widescreen 105m dir: Peter Masterson

w/Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Richard Bradford, Rebecca De Mornay, Kevin Cooney, Norman Bennett, Harvey Lewis, Kirk Sisco, David Tanner

From The Movie Guide: "A luminous performance by Geraldine Page and one of the most touching pictures of the decade. The year is 1947; the place, Houston, Texas. Mrs. Watts (Page) is an elderly woman given to humming hymns and living the remaining years of her life with her wimp son, Ludie (John Heard) and his shrewish wife, Jessie Mae (Carlin Glynn), in a cramped apartment. Mrs. Watts's heart is weak, she has spells, and she can't get along with Jessie Mae at all. She has but one fervent desire left in her life: she wants to return to Bountiful, the small Texas town where she was born and grew up. The memories of the tranquility of Bountiful haunt her constantly as a reminder of a better time and life. When the stress gets too much for her, Mrs. Watts hides her pension check from Ludie and Jessie Mae and plans her escape. The movie is wonderfully made, and the first-time direction by stage director Peter Masterson is extraordinary. No guns, no violence, no nudity --- just a caring story that will wet the driest eye and warm the coldest heart. Every single role is perfectly cast and perfectly played, and Horton Foote's script is a marvel of economy."

THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL won an Oscar for Best Actress (Page) and was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (Foote, based on his play).