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Bound For Glory (1976)
Released By: MGM Home Entertainment   Rating: PG   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: MGM Home Entertainment
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Hal Ashby
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: David Carradine, Melinda Dillon, Randy Quaid, Ronny Cox
Published ID: 224
UPC: 027616799920,
Plot: Adapted by Robert Getchell from Woody Guthrie's autobiography, Hal Ashby's biopic portrays a few pivotal years in the life of the celebrated folk singer and social activist. In the Depression 1930s, Midwesterner Guthrie (David Carradine) plays music locally but cannot make enough as a sign painter to support his wife (Melinda Dillon) and children. With only his paintbrushes, Woody joins the migration westward from the Dust Bowl to supposedly greener California pastures via boxcar and hitchhiking. When penniless Woody is turned back from the California border, he sneaks into the state alone and meets Luther (Randy Quaid), who takes Woody to a farm where hundreds of workers scrounge for a few ill-paid harvesting jobs. When singer Ozark Bole (Ronny Cox) arrives both to entertain and to urge the workers to unionize, Woody joins Ozark in song, fleeing with him after thugs break up the assembly. He lands a job singing with Ozark on the radio, and the two become partners in union agitation. Unable to commit in his personal life as he finds his political voice, Woody brings his family west, but his wife can't tolerate Woody's wandering ways. Reluctant to sell out his ideals for a lucrative career, Woody hits the road again, bringing his songs of freedom and protest to a nationwide audience on his own terms. Opting for atmospheric story-telling over strident polemic, the filmmakers present Guthrie as a complex individual with contradictory virtues and faults. Despite critical praise and nominations for several Oscars, including Best Picture, Bound for Glory proved less than glorious at the box office. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
A Walking Tour of The Depression and Dust Bowl
Added 4/10/2009

My parents survived the depression and the dustbowl, both of them moving as children with their families across the country at that time. They were spellboundby the acting, the props, and scenery, but most of all by the fantastic music that was played throughout the movie. I learned a lot just watching it with them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Gutherie is awesome
Added 2/25/2009

My son loves Woody Gutherie, and so do I. I got this for his Birthday and he loves it. Very well made. Great music also.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Wonderful Biopic of Woody Guthrie
Added 2/12/2009

Hal Ashby made a wonderful film about Woody Guthrie. It is still a wonder today. It centers on Woody's wondering lifestyle and his experience with Oakies during the Great Depression. Woody was an Oakie himself. The music Woody wrote came out of his experiences. David Carradine never had a great role to play and was never better. It's too bad he didn't win a Best Picture Oscar. I highly recommend this film.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Good acting job on a not very likable personality
Added 9/1/2008

David Carredine does a fine job of portraying Woody Guthrie, who was a dog of a man. He ran out on his wife and children in a time when folks were really starving in our fat land. Some one else has to see to his family in a time before we had welfare to assist people who were in need. He went out to California and got involved in labour unions, after seeing the shoddy way the incoming oakie's and other folks who had to migrate west, were treated. Got beaten up, run out of town etc. Took up with other women, then after finally getting a gig to sing on a radio station, he sends for his wife and kids, then basically ignores them once they arrive. She finally leaves and I guess goes back to Texas, and he continues with his labour union attempts to rouse the migrants to protest the way they are treated. It is depressing to find out someone who seemed to be worth admiring, has serious clay feet, kind of like BoJangles Robinson who was another dog. I have watched both of these films for the ist and last time. In spite of the good acting and music etc. they are just to damn depressing. Once around is enough for me.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
Depression Era Story Falls Short As Musical Biography
Added 3/23/2008

The late Hal Ashby was one of the great maverick directors of the Seventies. After making his mark as an editor("In the Heat of the Night") Ashby helmed many offbeat and personal films. My personal faves are "Harold and Maude" and "Being There". I'm still waiting for his directorial debut, "The Landlord", to become available on DVD. "Bound for Glory" was a very enigmatic film for me. I admired how Ashby depicts the breadth of the suffering during the Great Depression from the dust parched Texas landscapes to the harsh conditions of the California workfarms. Cinematographer Haskell Wexler can be thanked for a large part of the film's power. As a biography, however, I think the film falls short. I didn't know much about Woody Guthrie before watching this film and quite frankly I don't think "Bound for Glory" offers much insight into the man. My knowledge of Guthrie mainly consists of him being Arlo's father and mentor to Bob Dylan. Like Dylan, Guthrie is portayed as a man of contradictions and enigmas. But there's nothing here that suggests why Guthrie became the spokesperson for the long-suffering working class. David Carradine is a good actor but he is unable to make sense to the viewer what Guthrie is all about. An interesting film that I wouldn't call a failure but falls short of it's noble ambitions.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A Walking Tour of The Depression and Dust Bowl
Added 4/10/2009

My parents survived the depression and the dustbowl, both of them moving as children with their families across the country at that time. They were spellboundby the acting, the props, and scenery, but most of all by the fantastic music that was played throughout the movie. I learned a lot just watching it with them.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Gutherie is awesome
Added 2/25/2009

My son loves Woody Gutherie, and so do I. I got this for his Birthday and he loves it. Very well made. Great music also.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Wonderful Biopic of Woody Guthrie
Added 2/12/2009

Hal Ashby made a wonderful film about Woody Guthrie. It is still a wonder today. It centers on Woody's wondering lifestyle and his experience with Oakies during the Great Depression. Woody was an Oakie himself. The music Woody wrote came out of his experiences. David Carradine never had a great role to play and was never better. It's too bad he didn't win a Best Picture Oscar. I highly recommend this film.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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