dir. Peter Bogdanovich
writ. Larry McMurtry (novel), Larry McMurtry and Peter Bogdanovich
feat. Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, Ellen Burstyn, Eileen Brennan, Clu Gulager, Sam Bottoms
Peter Bogdanovich takes the existential Western through Antonioni territory in his chronicle of a post WWII dying Texas town. Dust blasts through the streets of Anarene as though the dinky burg might blow clear off the map. Teen mute, Billy (Sam Bottoms), persistently if ineffectually sweeps the road, perhaps trying to preserve something long since lost, an era when his father, Sam the Lion (Johnson), brought life and love to the area, caring for it, building its economy by offering opportunities to the locals. As Sam's energy fades, so does that of the town.
Shiftless high school seniors, Sonny (Timothy Bottoms) and Duane (Bridges), won't even commit to the football team as they ramble around, going to the movies, and trying to score with the girls. Jacy (Shepherd) looks for the next thrill, testing out sex in a few forms before trying out elopement. Her mother, Lois (Burstyn), already lived that life and dabbles in it still when she isn't dreaming nostalgically of the few beautiful moments she once experienced.
Though the kids grow older and assume the roles of their predecessors, no savior rises from the dusty streets. The best loved citizens fall, the movie house kills the lights, and Ruth (Leachman), after a defiant screaming moment that rages on behalf of the entire town, surrenders with a gentle whimper.
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