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Bound for Glory (1976)

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Average Rating: 7.3/10
Reviews Counted: 16
Fresh: 14 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 1,167

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Movie Info

Adapted by Robert Getchell from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, Hal Ashby's biopic portrays a few pivotal years in the life of the celebrated folk singer and social activist. In the Depression 1930s, Midwesterner Guthrie (David Carradine) plays music locally but cannot make enough as a sign painter to support his wife (Melinda Dillon) and children. With only his paintbrushes, Woody joins the migration westward from the Dust Bowl to supposedly greener California pastures via boxcar and

PG, 2 hr. 26 min.

Drama

Directed By: Hal Ashby

In Theaters: Dec 5, 1976 Wide

On DVD: Feb 29, 2000

United Artists

Bound for Glory Trailer & Photos

Cast

David Carradine
Woody Guthrie
Ronny Cox
Ozark Bule
Melinda Dillon
Mary Guthrie
Gail Strickland
Pauline
John Lehne
Locke
Ji-Tu Cumbuka
Slim Snedeger
Randy Quaid
Luther Johnson
Elizabeth Macey
Liz Johnson
Allan Miller
Agent
Ted Gehring
Connors
Lee Mc Laughlin
Heavy Chandler
M. Emmet Walsh
James Hong
Mary Kay Place

Critic Reviews for Bound for Glory

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (2) | DVD (2)

Bound for Glory is outstanding biographical cinema, not only of the late Woody Guthrie but also of the 1930s Depression era which served to disillusion, inspire and radicalize him and millions of other Americans.

October 31, 2007 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

A moving, brilliantly photographed picture that portrays the legendary eccentric folksinger Woody Guthrie in a trip across Depression-era America.

October 31, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

Though made with an eye for the Bicentennial, this biopic of folk singer and union organizer Woody Guthrie didn't make any attempt to speak to contemporary viewers, which might explain its box-office failure.

May 5, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

An overlong, sentimental and lifeless biopic of Woody Guthrie.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Time Out

Hope you like folk music, because there isn't much variety to be found among his music. Neither is there much variety in the scenery.

February 8, 2004 Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com

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Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

A remarkably touching and humane film about Woody Guthrie

January 18, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

The major strengths of the movie are Haskell Wexler's cinematography and the score (both of which deservedly picked up Oscars): they create a sense of time and place perfectly in accord with the story.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

Elegant, shamefully forgotten celebration of one of America's true patriots.

August 4, 2002 Comment

Jonathan R. Perry

Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

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Audience Reviews for Bound for Glory

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Great performance by David Carradine but some of the domestic stuff plays a bit like a made for TV movie to me. Hey look! Annother bare-bones DVD realease from MGM! I shouldn't complain, at least the transfer was decent which is way better than the usual from these clowns.

June 30, 2007

Bob Stinson

Super Reviewer

I could watch David Carradine and Ronny Cox sing duets all day, especially when it is being filmed by Haskell Wexler. The film looks beautiful and is more about Guthrie's music and its roots (almost a pre-cursor to Haynes' Bob Dylan bio-pic). The problem is that the movie rambles too much and ends too quickly, wrapping

January 21, 2011