The Straight Story
Encyclopedia
The Straight Story is a 1999 film directed by David Lynch
. The film was edited and produced by Mary Sweeney
, Lynch's longtime partner and co-worker. She co-wrote the script with John E. Roach
.
The Straight Story is based on the true story of Alvin Straight
's journey across Iowa
and Wisconsin
on a lawnmower. Alvin, (played by Richard Farnsworth
)
is an elderly World War II
veteran who lives with his daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek
), a kind woman with a mental disability. When he hears that his estranged brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton
) has suffered a stroke, Alvin makes up his mind to go visit him and hopefully make amends before he dies. But because Alvin's legs and eyes are too impaired for him to receive a driving license, he hitches a trailer to his recently purchased thirty year-old John Deere
110 Lawn tractor and sets off on the 240-mile journey from Laurens, Iowa
to Mount Zion, Wisconsin
.
The film follows the story of Alvin's six-week journey across rural America, the people he meets, his impact on their lives, and theirs on his. It has been called a modern odyssey of a man dealing with his own mortality and mistakes and the lasting bonds of family.
Alvin's first attempt fails: he doesn't get far before experiencing difficulty starting the motor and is forced to flag down a passing bus. Alvin arranges for his mower to be transported on a flatbed truck in order for it to be repaired. At the John Deere
store, he purchases a replacement from a salesman (Everett McGill
) who is generous but describes Alvin as being reputed a smart man, 'until now.'
Alvin continues on his quest. He passes a female hitchhiker who later approaches his campfire and says that she could not get a ride. In conversation, Alvin astutely notices that she is pregnant (although this is not extremely physically obvious). He reveals more information about his daughter: one night somebody was watching Rose's children and there was a fire and one of her sons got badly burned; the state then decided that Rose was not competent to look after her children and took them away from her. Alvin tells the hitchhiker about the importance of family by describing a bundle of sticks
that is hard to break. The next day Alvin emerges from the trailer to find that his hitchhiker friend has left him a bundle of sticks tied together. He continues with his journey.
Alvin enjoys watching a rainstorm from the shelter of an abandoned farmhouse. The next scene shows Alvin as a huge group of RAGBRAI
cyclists race past him. He later arrives at the cyclists' camp and he is greeted with applause. He speaks with them about growing old. When he is asked about the worst part of being old, he replies 'remembering when you was young.'
The next day, Alvin is troubled by the massive truck
s passing him. He then interacts with a woman who has hit a deer, and is being driven to distraction by the fact that she continually hits deer while commuting. She drives away, and Alvin cooks and eats the deer.
In the next scene, Alvin's brakes fail as he travels down a hill: he struggles to maintain control and finally manages to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Some townspeople help get Alvin's mower and trailer off the road. The mower has transmission problems.
Alvin borrows a cordless phone from a homeowner - refusing an invitation to come indoors - and calls Rose to ask her to send his Social Security
check. He then leaves money on the doorstep to pay for his long-distance telephone call. Alvin is offered a car drive to Lyle's, but prefers to travel his own way. An elderly war veteran takes him into town for a drink and Alvin tells a story about how he is haunted by a memory of accidentally shooting one of his comrades.
Alvin's tractor is fixed and he is presented with an exorbitant bill by the mechanics, who are twins. Alvin successfully negotiates the price down, and explains his mission, which he calls 'a hard swallow to [my] pride', but 'A brother is a brother.' The mechanic twins seem to relate to this.
Later, Alvin camps in a cemetery and chats with a priest. The priest recognizes Lyle's name and is aware of his stroke. The priest says that Lyle did not mention that he had a brother. Alvin replies that 'neither one of us has had a brother for quite some time.' Alvin wants to make peace and is emphatic that whatever happened ten years ago does not matter anymore.
The next obstacle that Alvin must overcome is engine trouble. He stops in the middle of the road, unsure of how to proceed. A tractor driving by then stops and helps Alvin finish the final leg of his journey.
Lyle's house is dilapidated. Using his two canes, Alvin makes his way to the door. He calls for his brother. At first Lyle does not appear and Alvin expresses relief when he does. The two brothers make contact, one with a walker and one with two canes. Lyle invites Alvin to sit down. Lyle looks at Alvin's mower-tractor contraption and asks if Alvin has ridden that thing just to see him. Lyle is moved. The two men sit and look at the stars, as they had done as children.
Unlike his prior films (or any that would follow), The Straight Story was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures
after a successful debut at Cannes, was given a G rating by the MPAA, and is the only Lynch film for which Lynch himself did not have a hand in the screenplay (although it was co-written by his recurring associate, Mary Sweeney). As with many of Lynch's films, there are no chapter markers on one of the DVD releases, because Lynch wants his films to be watched as a whole.
Richard Farnsworth was terminally ill with bone cancer during the shooting of the film, which had caused the paralysis of his legs as shown in the film. He actually took the role out of admiration for Alvin Straight, and astonished his co-workers with his tenacity during production. Because of the pain of his disease, Farnsworth committed suicide the following year, at the age of 80.
.
The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or
at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
. Freddie Francis
was nominated for the Golden Frog
. Richard Farnsworth earned an Academy Award
nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Alvin Straight, the oldest person ever to be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
. The film was edited and produced by Mary Sweeney
Mary Sweeney
Mary Sweeney is an American film editor and producer best known for collaborating with the avant-garde American film director, David Lynch...
, Lynch's longtime partner and co-worker. She co-wrote the script with John E. Roach
John E. Roach
John Roach is an award-winning television and film producer and screenwriter.He is president of JRP, an Emmy Award-winning video production and film production company based in Madison, Wisconsin....
.
The Straight Story is based on the true story of Alvin Straight
Alvin Straight
Alvin Ray Straight was a resident of Laurens, Iowa. He gained fame for traveling on a 1966 John Deere riding lawn mower to visit his 80-year-old brother Henry in Blue River, Wisconsin who had recently had a stroke. At a top speed of , the journey took six weeks. The trip took place in the summer...
's journey across Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
on a lawnmower. Alvin, (played by Richard Farnsworth
Richard Farnsworth
Richard W. Farnsworth was an American actor and stuntman. His film career began in 1937; however, he achieved his greatest success for his performances in The Grey Fox and The Straight Story , for which he received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.- Early life :Farnsworth was born...
)
is an elderly World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran who lives with his daughter Rose (Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She came to international prominence for her for role as Carrie White in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination...
), a kind woman with a mental disability. When he hears that his estranged brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton is an American actor, musician, and singer. Stanton's career has spanned over fifty years, which has seen him star in such films as Paris, Texas, Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, Alien, Repo Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, Wild at Heart, The Green Mile and The Pledge...
) has suffered a stroke, Alvin makes up his mind to go visit him and hopefully make amends before he dies. But because Alvin's legs and eyes are too impaired for him to receive a driving license, he hitches a trailer to his recently purchased thirty year-old John Deere
John Deere
John Deere was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world...
110 Lawn tractor and sets off on the 240-mile journey from Laurens, Iowa
Laurens, Iowa
Laurens is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,476 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Laurens is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
to Mount Zion, Wisconsin
Mount Zion, Wisconsin
Mount Zion is an unincorporated community located in the town of Scott, Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States. Mount Zion is located on U.S. Route 61 east-southeast of Bell Center.-Mount Zion in popular culture:...
.
The film follows the story of Alvin's six-week journey across rural America, the people he meets, his impact on their lives, and theirs on his. It has been called a modern odyssey of a man dealing with his own mortality and mistakes and the lasting bonds of family.
Plot
Alvin Straight has not shown up to his regular bar meeting with his friends. He is eventually found lying on his floor at home, although he insists that he "just needs a bit of help getting up". His daughter Rose takes her reluctant father to see a doctor, who advises Alvin that he will have to use a walker. Alvin refuses, and does not tell Rose. Alvin then learns that his brother Lyle has suffered a stroke. Longing to visit him, but unable to drive, Alvin gradually develops a plan to travel to Mount Zion on his lawn-mower, to the consternation of his family and friends.Alvin's first attempt fails: he doesn't get far before experiencing difficulty starting the motor and is forced to flag down a passing bus. Alvin arranges for his mower to be transported on a flatbed truck in order for it to be repaired. At the John Deere
John Deere
John Deere was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world...
store, he purchases a replacement from a salesman (Everett McGill
Everett McGill
Everett McGill is an American actor, best known for mostly playing villains in films like Licence to Kill, Silver Bullet, Dune, Yanks and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.-Life and career:...
) who is generous but describes Alvin as being reputed a smart man, 'until now.'
Alvin continues on his quest. He passes a female hitchhiker who later approaches his campfire and says that she could not get a ride. In conversation, Alvin astutely notices that she is pregnant (although this is not extremely physically obvious). He reveals more information about his daughter: one night somebody was watching Rose's children and there was a fire and one of her sons got badly burned; the state then decided that Rose was not competent to look after her children and took them away from her. Alvin tells the hitchhiker about the importance of family by describing a bundle of sticks
Fasces
Fasces are a bundle of wooden sticks with an axe blade emerging from the center, which is an image that traditionally symbolizes summary power and jurisdiction, and/or "strength through unity"...
that is hard to break. The next day Alvin emerges from the trailer to find that his hitchhiker friend has left him a bundle of sticks tied together. He continues with his journey.
Alvin enjoys watching a rainstorm from the shelter of an abandoned farmhouse. The next scene shows Alvin as a huge group of RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI is an acronym for Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. It is a non-competitive bicycle ride across Iowa that draws recreational riders from across the United States and overseas. They ride from a community on Iowa's western border to a community on Iowa's eastern border,...
cyclists race past him. He later arrives at the cyclists' camp and he is greeted with applause. He speaks with them about growing old. When he is asked about the worst part of being old, he replies 'remembering when you was young.'
The next day, Alvin is troubled by the massive truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s passing him. He then interacts with a woman who has hit a deer, and is being driven to distraction by the fact that she continually hits deer while commuting. She drives away, and Alvin cooks and eats the deer.
In the next scene, Alvin's brakes fail as he travels down a hill: he struggles to maintain control and finally manages to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. Some townspeople help get Alvin's mower and trailer off the road. The mower has transmission problems.
Alvin borrows a cordless phone from a homeowner - refusing an invitation to come indoors - and calls Rose to ask her to send his Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
check. He then leaves money on the doorstep to pay for his long-distance telephone call. Alvin is offered a car drive to Lyle's, but prefers to travel his own way. An elderly war veteran takes him into town for a drink and Alvin tells a story about how he is haunted by a memory of accidentally shooting one of his comrades.
Alvin's tractor is fixed and he is presented with an exorbitant bill by the mechanics, who are twins. Alvin successfully negotiates the price down, and explains his mission, which he calls 'a hard swallow to [my] pride', but 'A brother is a brother.' The mechanic twins seem to relate to this.
Later, Alvin camps in a cemetery and chats with a priest. The priest recognizes Lyle's name and is aware of his stroke. The priest says that Lyle did not mention that he had a brother. Alvin replies that 'neither one of us has had a brother for quite some time.' Alvin wants to make peace and is emphatic that whatever happened ten years ago does not matter anymore.
The next obstacle that Alvin must overcome is engine trouble. He stops in the middle of the road, unsure of how to proceed. A tractor driving by then stops and helps Alvin finish the final leg of his journey.
Lyle's house is dilapidated. Using his two canes, Alvin makes his way to the door. He calls for his brother. At first Lyle does not appear and Alvin expresses relief when he does. The two brothers make contact, one with a walker and one with two canes. Lyle invites Alvin to sit down. Lyle looks at Alvin's mower-tractor contraption and asks if Alvin has ridden that thing just to see him. Lyle is moved. The two men sit and look at the stars, as they had done as children.
Cast
- Richard FarnsworthRichard FarnsworthRichard W. Farnsworth was an American actor and stuntman. His film career began in 1937; however, he achieved his greatest success for his performances in The Grey Fox and The Straight Story , for which he received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.- Early life :Farnsworth was born...
as Alvin StraightAlvin StraightAlvin Ray Straight was a resident of Laurens, Iowa. He gained fame for traveling on a 1966 John Deere riding lawn mower to visit his 80-year-old brother Henry in Blue River, Wisconsin who had recently had a stroke. At a top speed of , the journey took six weeks. The trip took place in the summer... - Sissy SpacekSissy SpacekSissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She came to international prominence for her for role as Carrie White in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination...
as Rose Straight - Jane Galloway Heitz as Dorothy
- Joseph Carpenter as Bud
- Donald Wiegert as Sig
- Ed GrennanEd GrennanEd Grennan was a staff announcer with WNBQ and WMAQ-TV in Chicago, Illinois.Grennan started his radio career in 1944 with the Armed Forces Radio Network while in Guam. After some stints downstate and in Michigan, he returned to Chicago to work at several stations including WGN, WAIT and WBBM-FM...
as Pete - Jack Walsh as Apple
- James Cada as Danny Riordan
- Wiley HarkerWiley HarkerJames "Wiley" Harker , was an american character actor who portrayed Crane Tolliver in the soap opera General Hospital in 1983. He also played Justice Harold Webb in First Monday in October .-External links:*...
as Verlyn Heller - Kevin FarleyKevin FarleyKevin Peter Farley is an American actor, production designer, singer, dancer, occasional composer and aspiring stand-up comic.-Early life:...
as Harald Olsen - John P. FarleyJohn P. FarleyJohn Patrick Farley is an American actor and comedian.Farley was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Mary Anne , a housewife, and Thomas "Tom" Farley, Sr., who owned an oil company. He was raised in an Irish Catholic family. He is the youngest brother of actors Chris Farley and Kevin Farley...
as Thorvald Olsen - Anastasia Webb as Crystal
- Barbara E. Robertson as Deer Woman
- John Lordan as Priest
- Everett McGillEverett McGillEverett McGill is an American actor, best known for mostly playing villains in films like Licence to Kill, Silver Bullet, Dune, Yanks and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory.-Life and career:...
as Tom - Harry Dean StantonHarry Dean StantonHarry Dean Stanton is an American actor, musician, and singer. Stanton's career has spanned over fifty years, which has seen him star in such films as Paris, Texas, Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, Alien, Repo Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, Wild at Heart, The Green Mile and The Pledge...
as Lyle Straight
Soundtrack
All music composed and conducted by Angelo Badalamenti.- "Laurens, Iowa"
- "Rose's Theme"
- "Laurens Walking"
- "Sprinkler"
- "Alvin's Theme"
- "Final Miles"
- "Country Waltz"
- "Rose's Theme (Variation)"
- "Country Theme"
- "Crystal"
- "Nostalgia"
- "Farmland Tour"
- "Montage"
Production
The Straight Story was independently shot along the actual route taken by Alvin Straight, and all scenes were shot in chronological order.Unlike his prior films (or any that would follow), The Straight Story was distributed by Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
after a successful debut at Cannes, was given a G rating by the MPAA, and is the only Lynch film for which Lynch himself did not have a hand in the screenplay (although it was co-written by his recurring associate, Mary Sweeney). As with many of Lynch's films, there are no chapter markers on one of the DVD releases, because Lynch wants his films to be watched as a whole.
Richard Farnsworth was terminally ill with bone cancer during the shooting of the film, which had caused the paralysis of his legs as shown in the film. He actually took the role out of admiration for Alvin Straight, and astonished his co-workers with his tenacity during production. Because of the pain of his disease, Farnsworth committed suicide the following year, at the age of 80.
Reception
The Straight Story was generally praised, with critics lauding Lynch's uncharacteristic subject matter. Years after its premiere it held a 95% fresh rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Awards and nominations
The Straight Story was the recipient of twelve awards and twenty-nine nominations.The film was nominated for the Palme d'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
1999 Cannes Film Festival
The 52nd Cannes Film Festival was held on May 12-23, 1999. The Palme d'Or went to the French-Belgian film Rosetta by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.-Jury:* David Cronenberg * André Téchiné * Barbara Hendricks...
. Freddie Francis
Freddie Francis
Frederick William Francis BSC was an English cinematographer and film director.He achieved his greatest successes as a cinematographer, including winning two Academy Awards, for Sons and Lovers and Glory...
was nominated for the Golden Frog
Camerimage
The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography CAMERIMAGE is a festival dedicated to cinematography and its creators cinematographers.The first seven events were held in Toruń, Poland. The next ten events were held in Łódź...
. Richard Farnsworth earned an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
nomination for Best Actor for his portrayal of Alvin Straight, the oldest person ever to be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.