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The thing that saves this movie from sentimentality is that the heroine is a little ornery. She's not just a sweet and gentle little old lady. She's a big old lady, with a streak of stubbornness. And just because she's right doesn't mean she's always all that nice. When "The Trip to Bountiful" tells us that she wants to leave her miserable life in the city and pay one last visit to her childhood country home, somehow we know that the movie won't be over when she hears the birds singing in the trees.

The movie stars the redoubtable Geraldine Page as Mrs. Watts, a country woman who has come to live in a cramped city apartment with her son and daughter-in-law. The apartment isn't big enough for two women.

They're always on each other's nerves.

The wife, Jessie Mae ( Carlin Glynn ), doesn't like Mrs. Watts singing her hymns around the house. Mrs. Watts' strategy is more subtle: She tries to appear long-suffering, a martyr, and she is much given to throwing herself on the couch and pulling a comforter over her head to muffle her sobs.

Both these women have a pretty good case against each other, but it's Mrs. Watts we sympathize with. She hates life in the city, she knows it's choking her to death, and she wants to pay one final visit to Bountiful, the little town where she was born. So she goes to the train station, but the milk train doesn't stop in Bountiful anymore. So she goes to the bus station and buys a ticket to the nearest large town. This is in Texas in 1947. Because her son and daughter-in-law have gone to the train station to head her off (she has tried to escape before), she makes her getaway.

The whole middle section of the movie is the best, as she meets another traveler on the bus, a young woman named Thelma ( Rebecca De Mornay ). They sit next to each other during the long, drowsy trip, and they exchange memories and confidences. Thelma is, in a way, only an excuse to give Mrs. Watts someone to talk to, so that we can eavesdrop. Yet De Mornay makes the character so interesting, so young and open-faced, that the relationship between these two women becomes the heart of the movie.

Even the ending itself doesn't quite live up to it.

"The Trip to Bountiful" has a quiet, understated feel for the small towns of its time. The little rural bus station, with its clerk drowsing under a lonely lamp bulb, looks just right, and so do the midnight streets outside. And when the sheriff arrives, alerted to look for a runaway old lady, it's perfect the way he and the ticket agent size up the situation and let Mrs. Watts have her last look at her childhood home.

Then her family arrives: her son Ludie ( John Heard ) and his wife Jessie Mae. Ludie really has his work cut out with these two women.

Both of them live at a time when many women lived their lives through their men, and there is not enough room inside Ludie's simple, desperate soul for both of them. Yet there is a moment of poetry as Mrs. Watts sits on the porch of the old farmhouse and talks about how she almost expected to see her own parents come walking through the door, just as if all those years had never passed, just as if her own lifetime was a dream, and she was a young girl again.

"The Trip to Bountiful" was written by Horton Foote , who based it on his own stage play. This is Foote's second recent slice of life from Texas; " Tender Mercies ," the wonderful movie starring Robert Duvall as an alcoholic country singer, also was written by him. You can see that "Bountiful" was based on a play - it falls fairly obviously into three acts - but the rhythms and dialogue come out of unstudied real life.

And Geraldine Page inhabits the central role with authority and vinegar. The movie surprises us: It's not really about conflict between the generations, but about the impossibility of really understanding that you are even a member of an older generation, that decades have gone by.

Geraldine Page, who somehow always manages to have a hint of girlishness in all of her performances, who always seems to be up to something roguish and not ever quite ready to cave in to age, finds just the right notes in the final scenes to tell her son something he might never be able to understand: Someday he will be old, too, and he won't be able to believe it, either.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

The Trip To Bountiful (1986)

105 minutes

Geraldine Page as Mrs. Watts

John Heard as Ludie Watts

Richard Bradford as Sheriff

Rebecca De Mornay as Thelma

Carlin Glynn as Jessie Mae

Directed by

• Peter Masterson
• J.A.C. Redford

Produced by

• Sterling Vanwagenen
• Horton Foote From

From A Screenplay by

Photographed by.

• Fred Murphy

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The Trip to Bountiful

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Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Michael Wilson

Cicely Tyson

Carrie Watts

Vanessa Williams

Jessie Mae Watts

Blair Underwood

Ludie Watts

Keke Palmer

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The Trip to Bountiful - Full Cast & Crew

• 2 hr 0 mins
• Watchlist Where to Watch

An elderly woman embarks on a bus trip back to her hometown of Bountiful, Texas, against the wishes of her overprotective son and domineering daughter-in-law.

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Executive producer, production designer, cinematographer, production company.

The Trip to Bountiful

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Brief Synopsis

Cast & crew, peter masterson, geraldine page, rebecca de mornay, carlin glynn, richard bradford, photos & videos, technical specs.

A elderly woman is determined to escape her son's cramped suburban home and return to the small town where she was born and raised.

Kevin Cooney

Norman bennett, harvey lewis, dave tanner, gil glasgow, mary kay mars, wezz tildon, peggy ann byers, alexandra masterson, marilee van wagenen, arthur van wagenen, willie van wagenen, hugh van wagenen, andrew van wagenen, james drake, larry langley, allison marich, ed johnston, frances peterson, dean dewulf, deborah vowler, dennis bishop, frederic chopin, stephen m chudej, anthony ciccolini, cynthia clawson, deborah dejulia, joe dishner, connie w dolph, tom fleischman, horton foote, robert guerrero, derek r. hill, david jeppson, norman kasow, dave keagler, paul m kelly, beth kircher, philip lamb, steve mceveety, francie mehdenhall, fred murphy, john patrick pritchett, j.a.c. redford, michael schilz, phil shirey, neil spisak, zane l steadman, sterling van wagenen, stephen lynn walker, moses weitzman, george yaneff.

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Best Actress

Award nominations, best adapted screenplay.

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Winter December 1, 1985

Released in United States on Video August 1987

Released in United States 1986

Released in United States January 1991

Shown at Munich Film Festival June 25-July 3, 1986.

Began shooting May 6, 1985.

Released in United States December 1985

Released in United States 1986 (Shown at Munich Film Festival June 25-July 3, 1986.)

Released in United States January 1991 (Shown at Sundance Film Festival Park City, Utah January 17-27, 1991.)

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Cast of The Trip to Bountiful

Geraldine Page portrays the lead character, Mrs. Carrie Watts, an elderly woman yearning to visit her childhood home one last time.

John Heard takes on the role of Ludie Watts, the caring son of Mrs. Watts, who struggles to balance his responsibilities and desires.

Carlin Glynn plays Jessie Mae, Ludie's wife who clashes with Mrs. Watts during their journey to Bountiful.

Richard Bradford portrays the Sheriff, a local law enforcement officer who encounters the travelers during their trip.

Rebecca De Mornay takes on the role of Thelma, a fellow traveler who crosses paths with Mrs. Watts.

Kevin Cooney portrays Roy, a character whose interactions with Mrs. Watts add depth to the story.

Harvey Lewis appears as the Second Bus Ticket Man, a minor character who aids Mrs. Watts on her journey.

Gil Glasgow plays Stationmaster Gerard, a supporting role that adds to the narrative of the film.

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The full cast of The Trip to Bountiful

Here you will find an overview of the cast of the movie The Trip to Bountiful from the year 1985, including all the actors, actresses and the director. When you click on the name of an actor, actress or director from the movie The Trip to Bountiful-cast you can watch more movies and/or series by him or her. Click here for more infomation about the movie.

We have made an overview that includes: actors , directors , the production team , the camera team , writers and other crew members .

Peter Masterson

Horton Foote

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Geraldine Page

Rebecca De Mornay

Carlin Glynn

Richard Bradford

Kevin Cooney

Harvey Lewis

Gil Glasgow

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Neil Spisak

Fred Murphy

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Produced by, released by, the trip to bountiful (1985), directed by peter masterson.

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The Trip to Bountiful — Cast & Crew

Michael wilson.

Cicely Tyson

Vanessa Williams

Blair Underwood

Keke Palmer

Arthur French

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The trip to bountiful.

Directed by Peter Masterson

Carrie Watts is living the twilight of her life trapped in an apartment in 1940s Houston, Texas with a controlling daughter-in-law and a hen-pecked son. Her fondest wish – just once before she dies – is to revisit Bountiful, the small Texas town of her youth which she still refers to as "home."

Geraldine Page John Heard Carlin Glynn Richard Bradford Rebecca De Mornay Kevin Cooney Harvey Lewis Gil Glasgow

Director Director

Peter Masterson

Producer Producer

Horton Foote

Writer Writer

Editor editor, cinematography cinematography.

Fred Murphy

Production Design Production Design

Neil Spisak

Composer Composer

J.A.C. Redford

Bountiful Film Partners FilmDallas Pictures

Releases by Date

20 dec 1985, releases by country.

• Theatrical PG

108 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Sam Meltzer ★★★½ 10

The Trip to Bountiful is a delightful little film. Watching the story of this old woman was both sweet and entertaining. The movie holds onto its pacing the entire time which lets the viewer know what they are in for. It never really drags, if a bit slow, and the way the story plays out is really lovely. The script has some really touching dialogue, and is surprisingly quite well written. Geraldine page is the real star here, who gives us a performance with some luminous and convincing acting. She was basically born to play this role, and it was a great choice to end her career on this one. Her character is layered and we actually get to know quite a bit about her. Watch this little indie movie if you have the chance it’s great!

Review by sirrah993 ★★★ 4

One of the most obscure films in recent years (tied with Jessica Lange’s ‘Oscar-winning’ performance in Blue Sky back in ‘94) where a leading lady won the Oscar for Best Actress, The Trip to Bountiful is a film aimed for the elderly demographic. In other words, the film may not be all that interesting nor engaging, especially for a modern audience. You need to have patience and be committed into watching this film, because nothing really exciting happens. 

But that’s not to say there’s nothing in the film, for there are some nice thematic underpinnings about nostalgia and acceptance of death. Overall, it’s a nice little film about a woman’s journey to her dead hometown to say one last goodbye as…

Review by Taylor Leverage ★★ 2

Geraldine Page plays a sweet, charming old woman to the hilt, but overall The Trip to Bountiful is pure nostalgia bait. It's not even nostalgia for any particular time, just a lot of general musings about The Old Days®. The Old Days have no explicit features, all the pesky realities and problems of the past don't exist when you're thinking back; kids raised in the 1980s don't think back about Iran-Contra, they might think about frizzy hair, colorful puffy jackets, or the parade in Ferris Bueller. The Old Days are different for everyone, which makes them awfully easy to package for consumption, and everyone has a sweet old grandma like Page's Mrs. Watts, or they knew a sweet old lady…

Review by pirateneckbeard ★★ 1

So Nostalgia was considered a mental illness until the 20th century and I don't take that stance to that extreme I do feel I have to catch myself from dwelling to much in the past cause ones life and time is a river which flows before you and you get the enjoyment you put into it but that be said I get it when you feel stuck and rudderless sometimes there is nothing like a change of location especially to one where you had good memories. I think Geraldine Paige(Carrie Watts) played this role to a tee giving an honest natural delivery worthy of her Oscar and John Heard(Ludie Watts) as the son has a great delivery about trying to…

Review by chavel ★★ 2

There’s a trip alright but it still has the trappings of a yammering play, this one by Horton Foote. Geraldine Page won the 1985 Best Actress Oscar for putting up a storm as a 1940’s elderly woman who hops on a bus so she can revisit her childhood home, but you really wish she had just won for 1978’s “Interiors.” An apartment building, a bus station, a bus, other non-scenic pitstops—this has a stagey feel written all over it. The actors do all they can to thrash indignantly and exalt “meaning” out of the wordy dialogue, and as a result, some of the scenes are awful. In The Trip to Bountiful , we finally reach Bountiful, Texas but once there, that place is nothin’ special to us. Nothing genuinely iconic to be found. A low-end 2-stars movie.

Review by Jake Alda Coffey ★★★★

A very simple but enjoyable film. Geraldine Page gives a wonderful performance that earned her an Oscar Win.

Review by Jackson ★★★★★ 7

Geraldine Page... Happy Birthday u TREASURE, your Birthday should be a National Holiday, cause your performances are nothing short of genius, and PERFECTION!! And I know a lot of people would’ve given the Oscar to Whoopi for Color Purple, but I’m sorry u deserved it so much more, you restore hope in me with this performance, and I thank you for the wonderful, wonderful, POWERFUL roles you gave us in your lifetime. This will go down as nothing less then your BEST performance, and a raw gift of talent to be bestowed upon us... THANK U

🔙 Cactus Flower 🔜Run

Review by Christof ★★★ 2

Geraldine Page is terrific in her Oscar vehicle. I just wish the film had anything going on for it other than her performance.

Review by kmeaston ★★½

Basically an updated episode of Playhouse 90 , featuring a career-capping performance by Geraldine Page.

Review by Krommedijk ★★★★

After the lazy and very disappointing new Jurassic Park film I really needed something in which human warmth, the past of a person, hope, love and expectations are central. The Trip to Bountiful is such a film.

The film takes us to 1947. The widowed Mrs. Watts (Page) lives with her son (Heard) and daughter-in-law (Glynn) in a modest house in Houston. Mrs Watts and her daughter-in-law don't get along very well and fight quite a lot, leaving the son in the middle of them. Mrs. Watts constantly dreams of her native village Bountiful, a quiet place that, in her imagination, has assumed the proportions of a paradise. One day she decides to escape, as she sees it. She takes…

Review by Euan Harris ★★★½

A quaint little road trip film, tinged with a melancholy nostalgia for simpler times. Geraldine Page gives a moving Oscar winning performance as Mrs. Watts, an ageing widow in the 1940s, teetering on the edge of senile but still full of gumption and unwavering hope. Her only desire is to once again visit her childhood hometown before she dies, and throws caution to the wind to make one final trip deep into the forgotten heartland of rural Texas. Along the way she has a series of truly delightful encounters with kindhearted strangers, highlighting her endearing warmth and spirit, as well as the poignant regrets and desires that define her life. Everything is kept pretty simple; it's just straightforward conversations for…

Review by Zā ★★

An absolute snoozefest. Don't get me wrong, some ideas were getting me sentimental, but wow this is like Oscar Bait 101 with being based on a play and starring a great actress who has yet to win an Oscar. No disrespect to Geraldine Page, but I don't think this was Oscar worthy. I don't think it was even nomination worthy. It was a good performance, don't get me wrong. I just didn't feel like she elevated anything or went above and beyond with this performance. It's a quaint film, but not something that says or shows enough with its runtime.

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• Cast & crew
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The Trip to Bountiful

A woman has to live with a daughter in law who hates her and a son who does not dare take her side. While the unhappy family lives in a Houston apartment, Carrie Watts dreams of returning to... Read all A woman has to live with a daughter in law who hates her and a son who does not dare take her side. While the unhappy family lives in a Houston apartment, Carrie Watts dreams of returning to Bountiful, where she was raised. A woman has to live with a daughter in law who hates her and a son who does not dare take her side. While the unhappy family lives in a Houston apartment, Carrie Watts dreams of returning to Bountiful, where she was raised.

• Vincent J. Donehue
• Horton Foote
• Lillian Gish
• Eileen Heckart
• Dennis Cross
• 4 User reviews

• Carrie Watts

• Jessie Mae Watts
• Ticket man (railroad station)

• Ticket Man (Bus Station)

• Ludie Watts

• Ticket man (second bus station)

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Trivia The success of the "Trip To Bountiful" telecast led its writer Horton Foote to expand his original script for a Broadway production headlined by Lillian Gish . Will Hare , Frank Overton and Eva Marie Saint also reprised their telecast roles onstage. Eileen Heckart already playing Broadway in William Inge 's '''Picnic'', Jessie Mae was played onstage by Jo Van Fleet (whose performance would earn a Tony Award). Also Gene Lyons played Ludie onstage replacing the telecast's John Beal (after Beal and director Fred Coe disputed whether Ludi should be toupeed). Opening at Henry Miller's Theater on November 1953 the staged version was a high profile flop with a one month run comprising 39 performances. Foote would attribute his play's Broadway failure to 20,000,000 people having already seen ''Trip to Bountiful'' on television.
• Connections Featured in Eva Marie Saint: Live from the TCM Classic Film Festival (2014)

User reviews 4

• Mar 22, 2001
• March 1, 1953 (United States)
• United States
• Showcase Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour
• Black and White

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