Places in the Heart

1984, Drama, 1h 51m

38 Reviews 5,000+ Ratings

What to know

critics consensus

Places in the Heart is a quiet character piece with grand ambitions that it more than fulfills, thanks to absorbing work from writer-director Robert Benton and a tremendous cast. Read critic reviews

You might also like

The Grass Is Greener
I'll Cry Tomorrow
Desire Under the Elms
Elvira Madigan
Tea With Mussolini

Where to watch

Rent/buy from $2.99 Rent/buy from $2.99 Rent/buy from $3.99

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Places in the Heart Photos

View All Photos (14)

Movie Info

In 1935 rural Texas, recently widowed Edna Spaulding (Sally Field) struggles to survive with two small children, a farm to run and very little money in the bank -- not to mention a deadly tornado and the unwelcome presence of the Ku Klux Klan. Edna is aided by her beautician sister, Margaret (Lindsay Crouse) ; a blind boarder, Mr. Will (John Malkovich) ; and a would-be thief, Moze (Danny Glover), who decides to stick around to teach Edna how to plant and harvest cotton.
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Robert Benton
  • Producer:
    Arlene Donovan
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     original
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    TriStar Pictures

Cast & Crew

Sally Field
Edna Spalding
Lindsay Crouse
Margaret Lomax
John Malkovich
Mr. Will
Ed Harris
Wayne Lomax
Amy Madigan
Viola Kelsey
Danny Glover
Moze
Terry O'Quinn
Buddy Kelsey
Bert Remsen
Tee Tot Hightower
Ray Baker
Sheriff Royce Spalding
Robert Benton
Director
Arlene Donovan
Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Places in the Heart

All Critics (38) | Top Critics (13) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (4)
Full Review… Megan Rosenfeld Washington Post Full Review… Derek Malcolm Guardian Full Review… Philip Strick Times (UK) Full Review… Nigel Andrews Financial Times Full Review… Keith Nurse Daily Telegraph (UK) Full Review… Pamela Kessler Washington Post Full Review… Peter Ackroyd The Spectator Full Review… Molly Haskell Vogue Full Review… Suzanne Sander-Lofft Maclean's Magazine Full Review… Rick Chatenever Santa Cruz Sentinel Full Review… Susan Jhirad Sojourner Full Review… Matt Brunson Creative Loafing
View All Critic Reviews (38)

Audience Reviews for Places in the Heart

  • May 02, 2018
    Not without some effective moments but Benton could have excised the tedious subplots and lost nothing. In fact he could have used that extra time to flesh out all three of his main characters.
    Alec B Super Reviewer
  • Jan 29, 2016
    'Places' is OK, but as much as it is supposed to be an uplifting movie about unlikely survival during the Depression, I found it depressing as in the end, it is only by luck and Moze that Edna survives - and next year, with neither Moze or luck on your side, she will lose the farm anyway.
    Red L Super Reviewer
  • Feb 06, 2014
    A well polished pieces but sometimes these bits of drippiness weigh heavily on me. Just have to get me in the right mood to like this one more.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Jun 22, 2011
    Places In The Heart was a good movie but it wasn't as good as I heard.I think the best thing about the movie was Sally Field's character & how she did everything she could to keep a roof over her & her family's head.Other then that, It was just OK
    Brody M Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides