Urban Cowboy (1980)

Director:

James Bridges

Writers:

Aaron Latham (story)
James Bridges (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 June 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Hard Hat Days And Honky-Tonk Nights.

Plot:

John Travolta stars as a young man from the country who learns about life and love in a Houston bar.

Plot Keywords:

Contest | Funeral | Wedding | Convicted Felon | Houston Texas

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Bud
Debra Winger	...	Sissy
Scott Glenn	...	Wes
Madolyn Smith Osborne	...	Pam (as Madolyn Smith)
Barry Corbin	...	Uncle Bob
Brooke Alderson	...	Aunt Corene
Cooper Huckabee	...	Marshall
James Gammon	...	Steve Strange
Mickey Gilley	...	Himself
Johnny Lee	...	Himself
Bonnie Raitt	...	Herself
Charlie Daniels	...	Himself (as Charlie Daniels Band)
Taz Di Gregorio	...	Himself (as Charlie Daniels Band)
Charlie Hayward	...	Himself (as Charlie Daniels Band)
Betty Murphy	...	Bud's Mom
Ed Geldart	...	Bud's Dad
Leah Geldart	...	Bud's Sister
Keith Clemons	...	Bud's Brother
Howard Norman	...	Bud's Brother
Sheryl Briedel	...	Lou Sue
Sean Lawler	...	Willie
Gator Conley	...	Gator
Minnie Elerick	...	Minnie
David Ogle	...	Killer
Bret Williams	...	Wayne
Tamara Matuesian	...	Gilley Background Vocalist
Becky Conway	...	Gilley Background Vocalist
Sherwood Cryer	...	Sherwood Cryer
Jerry Hall	...	Sexy Sister
Cyndy Hall	...	Sexy Sister
Lucky Mosley	...	Plant Supervisor
Zetta Raney	...	Chrystal
Ellen March	...	Becky
Gina Alexander	...	Waitress #2
Steven Chambers	...	Truck Driver in Parking Lot (as Steve Chambers)
Ann Travolta	...	Wedding Party
Anson Downes	...	Wedding Party
W.P. Wright III	...	Gilley's Bartender
Steve Strange	...	Sam Strange
Norman Tucker	...	Norman (Bullrider)
Debie Tucker	...	Debbie
Jessie La Rive	...	Jessie
Bettye Fitzpatrick	...	Sissy's Mom
Jim Gough	...	Sissy's Dad
Connie Hanson	...	Marshalene
Glenn Holtzman	...	Plant Foreman
Christopher Saylors	...	Bubba
Daniel Heintschel Jr.	...	Big 'C'
Ben P. Brannon III	...	Ben
Robert Lewis Bush	...	Dwight (as Robert Bush)
James N. Harrell	...	Minister at Gravesite
Julie Bailey	...	Singer at Gravesite
Gene McLaughlin	...	Trick Roper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Steve M. Clark	...	Gilley's Bar Patron (uncredited)
Justine Dudley	...	Pam's Girlfriend #2 (uncredited)
Terry Holbrook	...	Girl at Bar (uncredited)
Greg Korin	...	Barfly (uncredited)

Directed by
James Bridges

Writing credits
Aaron Latham		(story)
James Bridges		(writer) and
Aaron Latham		(writer)

Produced by
Irving Azoff	....	producer
C.O. Erickson	....	executive producer
Robert Evans	....	producer

Original Music by
Ralph Burns

Cinematography by
Reynaldo Villalobos		(as Ray Villalobos)

Film Editing by
David Rawlins

Casting by
Congetta Bish

Production Design by
Stephen B. Grimes		(as Stephen Grimes)

Art Direction by
W. Stewart Campbell

Set Decoration by
George R. Nelson

Costume Design by
Gloria Gresham

Makeup Department
Silvia Abascal	....	hair stylist: John Travolta
Wes Dawn	....	makeup artist
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist
Susan Zietlow-Maust	....	hair stylist (as Susan Zietlow)

Production Management
C.O. Erickson	....	production manager
Lindsley Parsons Jr.	....	executive production manager: Paramount (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marty P. Ewing	....	assistant director
Kim Kurumada	....	assistant director
Albert M. Shapiro	....	assistant director

Art Department
Dudley Holmes	....	property master (as Ace Holmes)
Ida Random	....	assistant art director
Ray Villalobos Sr.	....	painter

Sound Department
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
Robert W. Harris	....	sound crew (as Bob Harris)
Marvin E. Lewis	....	sound crew (as Marvin Lewis)
Bob Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Troutman	....	sound effects editor (as Jim Troutman)
Richard Tyler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ray West	....	sound re-recording mixer
Clancy T. Troutman	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
David A. Whittaker	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Bush	....	special effects
David Domeyer	....	special effects
Milt Rice	....	special effects supervisor (as Milton Rice)

Stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
Chris Howell	....	stunt coordinator
Denny Arnold	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician
George Holmes	....	gaffer
Gene Kearney	....	key grip
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Charles Minsky	....	assistant camera (as Chuck Minsky)
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip
Ron Phillips	....	still photographer
John Toll	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Congetta Bish	....	extras casting
Marion Dougherty	....	casting: Los Angeles
Liz Keigley	....	casting: Houston
Shari Rhodes	....	casting: Houston

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Aggie Guerard Rodgers	....	ladies costume supervisor
Frank Scarano	....	wardrobe assistant
G. Tony Scarano	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
William 'Skip' Greene	....	assistant editor
Christopher Koefoed	....	assistant editor
Priscilla Nedd-Friendly	....	assistant editor (as Priscilla Nedd)
Sonya Sones	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ralph Burns	....	music adaptor
Robby Campbell	....	composer: additional music
Nancy Fogarty	....	music editor
Jim Henrikson	....	music editor
Wayland Holyfield	....	composer: additional music
Bob House	....	composer: additional music
Wanda Mallette	....	composer: additional music
Becky Mancuso-Winding	....	music coordinator (as Becky Shargo)
Patti Ryan	....	composer: additional music
Rusty Wier	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Ron Kern	....	transportation coordinator
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Dwight Adair	....	dialogue coach (as Dwight R. Adair)
Joy Anzarouth	....	assistant: C.O. Erickson
Justin Buehrlen	....	location auditor
Cathy Chazan	....	assistant: Mr. Evans
Michelle Cohen	....	special publicist
Joan Edwards	....	assistant: John Travolta
Marty P. Ewing	....	location assistant (as Marty Ewing)
Debbie Getlin	....	assistant: James Bridges
Clifford J. Green	....	assistant: C.O. Erickson
Karen Hale Wookey	....	script supervisor
Barbara Kalish	....	executive assistant: Robert Evans
Gene Kraft	....	title designer
Bob Le Mond	....	production consultant
Frank Mancuso Jr.	....	location assistant
Lisa Niemi	....	choreographer
Stephanie Pond-Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Evans (as Stephanie Aranas)
Patsy Swayze	....	choreographer
Jerry Wurms	....	executive assistant: John Travolta
Lois Zetter	....	production consultant

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1981) (Argentina) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1983) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1987) | UK:AA (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1980) | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The 1967 Ford Mustang that Sissy drove in this movie now resides in Evans City, PA (near Pittsburgh). It is owned by two brothers and is often seen in local car shows.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Pam walks the wrong direction from Bud's bedroom after turning up the radio and finding Sissy's note. From inside the bathroom, the bedroom door is to the left of the bathroom door (the layout is seen in more than one shot.) After leaving the bedroom, Pam should've passed the bathroom door from left to right but she walks the opposite direction.

Quotes:

Uncle Bob: Uh-oh, get out the Alka-Seltzer.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Jay Leno Show: (#1.56)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Orange Blossom Special

Like it or not, fiction it ain't

Okay, so I have come a long way from Houston by now, but whenever I see this movie, I am taken back to a little cowgirl's dream to one day ride the bull at Gilley's. (It burned down before I was of drinking age.)

If you grew up in in East Texas, then you know this movie is an accurate depiction of contemporary life at that time. If you didn't then trust me and watch the movie. Either you will join the many who love it (and at the same time strangely repulsed), or at the very least, you can make fun of the red-necks. (There is plenty material for poking fun.) This movie doesn't try to be P.C. (what was that in the 80's) or hide the white trash element and it is honest to the time and place.

Gotta be a 10 for me!