The Trip to Bountiful

1985

The Trip to Bountiful (1985)

TOMATOMETER

100%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

85%

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Movie Info

Adapted by Horton Foote from his own television play, A Trip to Bountiful is set in 1947 Houston. Forced by circumstances to leave her loathsome son (John Heard) and daughter-in-law (Carlin Glynn), elderly Geraldine Page wants nothing more out of life than to return to her home town of Bountiful. Escaping from her family's clutches, Page boards a bus to Bountiful, where she makes the acquaintance of young Rebecca DeMornay. The two women immediately hit it off, and their trip is a most pleasant one. Eventually, sheriff Richard Bradford, ordered to find Page and bring her back to her family, catches up with the old woman just 12 miles from Bountiful. Feeling sorry for Page, Bradford permits her to complete her sentimental journey, even though he knows full well that Bountiful is now a ghost town of empty ruins and dilapidated shacks. It doesn't matter, though: Page sees Bountiful just as it was when she left it, and for the first time in years she is truly happy and at peace with herself. After several near-misses, Geraldine Page finally won an Academy Award for A Trip to Bountiful (incidentally, the original TV production, which still exists in kinescope form, starred Lillian Gish and Eva Marie Saint).
  • Rating:
    PG
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Peter Masterson
  • Written By:
    Horton Foote
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Nelson Entertainment

Cast

Geraldine Page
as Carrie Watts
John Heard
as Ludie Watts
Carlin Glynn
as Jessie Mae
Rebecca De Mornay
as Thelma
Richard Bradford
as Sheriff
Kevin Cooney
as Roy
Mary Kay Mars
as Rosella
Norman Bennett
as Ticket Man #1
Gil Glasgow
as Stationmaster
Arthur VanWagenen
as Family on the bus
Harvey Lewis
as Bus Ticket Man
Marilee VanWagenen
as Family on the bus
Kirk Sisco
as Ticket Agent
Willie VanWagenen
as Family on the bus
David Tanner
as Billy Davis
Wezz Tildon
as Bus Passenger
Peggy Ann Byers
as Downstairs Neighbor
David Romo
as Mexican Man
Dave Tanner
as Billy Davis
Tony Torn
as Twin
John Torn
as Twin
Alexandra Masterson
as Drugstore Waitress
Don Wyse
as Doctor
James Drake
as Bus Station Derelict
Larry Langley
as News Vendor
Peter C.B. Masterson
as Newspaper Boy
Allison Marich
as Blonde on Bus
Ed Johnston
as Man on Bus
Peter Masterson
as Newspaper Boy
Frances Peterson
as Young Carrie Watts
Dean DeWulf
as Young Ludie Watts
Dean de Wulf
as Young Ludie Watts
Jim Drake
as Bus Station Derelict
Marilee Van Wagenen
as Family Member on Bus
Arthur Van Wagenen
as Family Member on Bus
Willie Van Wagenen
as Family Member on Bus
Andrew Van Wagenen
as Family Member on Bus
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Critic Reviews for The Trip to Bountiful

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (2)

The cast is marvelously filled out with John Heard as Ludie and Carlin Glynn as Jessie Mae As an ensemble it is as fine a cast as one could want.

Oct 22, 2018 | Full Review…
Associated Press
Top Critic

In this small, sharply observed tale from Horton Foote, the great Geraldine Page plays an elderly widow, who longs to go back to her idyllic small-town roots; shapeless, the film is mostly a showcase for its actors.

Dec 31, 2006 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
EmanuelLevy.Com

Revolves around the yearning an elderly woman has to visit the farmstead where she grew up and raised her own family.

Sep 1, 2002 | Full Review…
Spirituality and Practice
View All Critic Reviews (8)

Audience Reviews for The Trip to Bountiful

An enjoyable story about an old bag who decides to leave her unrewarding life to go back to the town where she grew up. The main issue is the fact that the town may no longer exist. Sentimental but sweet.

John Ballantine
John Ballantine

Super Reviewer

½

Geraldine Page is exquisite!

Randy Tippy
Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

Geraldine Page proves why she was one of the preeminent actress of her time in this lovely, poignant film.

jay nixon
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

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