Sometimes a Great Notion (1970)

Director:

Paul Newman

Writers:

Ken Kesey (novel)
John Gay (writer)

Release Date:

31 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | Adventure

Tagline:

"Never give an inch" was the motto of the Stampers of Oregon. And live it they did!

Plot:

A family of fiercely-independent Oregon loggers struggle to keep the family business alive amidst changing times.

Plot Keywords:

Logger | Strike | Family Relationships | Mouth To Mouth Air Exchange Underwater | Lumberjack

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Paul Newman	...	Hank Stamper
Henry Fonda	...	Henry Stamper
Lee Remick	...	Viv Stamper, Hank's Wife
Michael Sarrazin	...	Leland Stamper
Richard Jaeckel	...	Joe Ben Stamper
Linda Lawson	...	Jan Stamper, Joe Ben's Wife
Cliff Potts	...	Andy Stamper
Sam Gilman	...	John Stamper
Lee de Broux	...	Willard Eggleston
Jim Burk	...	Biggy Newton
Roy Jenson	...	Howie Elwood
Joe Maross	...	Floyd Evenwrite
Roy Poole	...	Jonathan Stamper
Charles Tyner	...	Les Gibbons
Bennie E. Dobbins	...	Bit Part (as Bennie Dobbins)

Also Known As:

Never Give a Inch (USA) (reissue title)
Never Give an Inch (UK)

Runtime:

114 min | Portugal:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Broughton Log Flume, Columbia River Gorge, Washington, USA

Company:

Newman-Foreman Company

Trivia:

Paul Newman broke his ankle rehearsing the "grab-ass motorcycle race" sequence and filming had to be postponed for a few weeks.

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Henry Stamper: I've got contracts to fill, eggs to hatch and cats to kill.

Movie Connections:

References Mirage (1965)

Soundtrack:

All His Children

Stuck under tree in river

The scene in which Paul Newman is trying to keep Richard Jaeckel alive using mouth-to-mouth is one of the most haunting and memorable from that era's films (late 60s/early 70s; for my money, the true golden age of cinema). Here are some others I would compare it to: 1.) Oliver Reed vs. a pack of wolves in "The Trap". Reed's greatness as an actor was overshadowed by his off-screen, alcohol-induced antics, but watch him, outnumbered, terrified and enraged, fighting for his life in this scene - he was never better. 2.) The final slow-motion rodeo scene in J.W. Coop: Final score: Bull 1, Cliff Robertson 0. Still can't figure out how they filmed it - it looks like a snuff film. 3.) The opening 'frying pork chop' sequence from "Electra Glide In Blue". Flabbergasting and brilliant.