The Straight Story (1999)

Director:

David Lynch

Writers:

John Roach (written by) &
Mary Sweeney (written by)

Release Date:

3 November 1999 (France)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Plot:

An old man makes a long journey by tractor to mend his relationship with an ill brother.

Plot Keywords:

Lawn Mower | Tractor | Iowa | Motor Trouble | Storm

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 12 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Sissy Spacek	...	Rose
Jane Galloway Heitz	...	Dorothy
Joseph A. Carpenter	...	Bud
Donald Wiegert	...	Sig
Richard Farnsworth	...	Alvin
Tracey Maloney	...	Nurse
Dan Flannery	...	Doctor Gibbons
Jennifer Edwards-Hughes	...	Brenda
Ed Grennan	...	Pete
Jack Walsh	...	Apple
Max the Wonder Dog	...	Farm Dog
Gil Pearson	...	Bus Driver
Barbara June Patterson	...	Woman on Bus
Everett McGill	...	Tom the John Deere Dealer
Anastasia Webb	...	Crystal
Matt Guidry	...	Steve
Bill McCallum	...	Rat
Barbara E. Robertson	...	Deer Woman (as Barbara Robertson)
James Cada	...	Danny Riordan
Sally Wingert	...	Darla Riordan
Barbara Kingsley	...	Janet Johnson
Jim Haun	...	Johnny Johnson
Wiley Harker	...	Verlyn Heller
Randy Wiedenhoff	...	Fireman #1
Jerry E. Anderson	...	Fireman #2
Kevin P. Farley	...	Harald (as Kevin Farley)
John Farley	...	Thorvald
John Lordan	...	Priest
Garrett Sweeney	...	Boy in Truck
Peter Sweeney	...	Boy in Truck
Tommy Fahey	...	Boy in Truck
Matt Fahey	...	Boy in Truck
Dan Fahey	...	Boy in Truck
Russ Reed	...	Mt. Zion Bartender
Leroy Swadley	...	Bar Patron
Ralph Feldhacker	...	Farmer on Tractor
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Lyle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stephen Cinabro	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Gary D'Amico	...	Cyclist #1 (uncredited)
George A. Farr	...	Wendell (uncredited)
Jeremy Kent Jackson	...	Andy (uncredited)
Lana Schwab	...	Old Lady #1 (uncredited)

Directed by
David Lynch

Writing credits
John Roach		(written by) &
Mary Sweeney		(written by)

Produced by
Pierre Edelman	....	executive producer
Neal Edelstein	....	producer
Michael Polaire	....	executive producer
Mary Sweeney	....	producer

Original Music by
Angelo Badalamenti

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis

Film Editing by
Mary Sweeney

Casting by
Jane Alderman
Lynn Blumenthal

Production Design by
Jack Fisk

Set Decoration by
Barbara Haberecht

Costume Design by
Patricia Norris

Makeup Department
Crist Ballas	....	special makeup effects
Deborah K. Dee	....	hair stylist: Harry Dean Stanton (as Deborah Dee)
Bob Harper	....	makeup artist: Sissy Spacek
Sally J. Harper	....	hair stylist: Sissy Spacek (as Sally Harper)

Production Management
Billy Higgins	....	unit production manager
Spike Allison Hooper	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott Cameron	....	first assistant director
Simone Farber	....	second assistant director
Eric Sherman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Johnny D. Culley	....	assistant property master (as Johnny Culley)
Sean Everett	....	property master (as Sean E. Markland)
David Hack	....	lead man
Christopher Kennedy	....	assistant art director (as Chris Kennedy)
Steven Kerlagon	....	lead painter (as Steve Kerlagon)
Timothy W. Lobdell	....	carpenter (as Tim Lobdell)
Shane Patrick	....	swing gang
Thomas Traugott	....	swing gang (as Tom Traugott)
David Wilt	....	construction coordinator (as Dave Wilt)
Trini Wilt	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Bryan Arenas	....	second engineer
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Ronald Eng	....	sound effects editor (as Ron Eng)
Ronald Eng	....	supervising sound editor (as Ron Eng)
Mary Erstad	....	foley recordist
David Lee Fein	....	foley artist (as David Fein)
Patrick Giraudi	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Doug Jackson	....	sound effects editor
David Lynch	....	sound designer
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist (as Diana Marshall)
John Neff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Howard Neiman	....	foley editor (as Howard Nieman)
Howard Neiman	....	foley supervisor (as Howard Nieman)
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator
Walter Spencer	....	dialogue editor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley recordist
Susumu Tokunow	....	location sound mixer

Special Effects by
Gary D'Amico	....	special effects
Mike Weesner	....	assistant special effects

Stunts
Rudy J. Calzavara	....	stunt double (as Rudy Calzavara)
James Fierro	....	stunt coordinator (as Jim Fierro)
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator (as Rick LeFevour)

Camera and Electrical Department
Amy Alarian	....	electrical lighting technician
Richard Alarian	....	chief lighting technician
Kevin Boyd	....	24 frame video operator (as Kevin P. Boyd)
Keith Bunting	....	best boy grip
Ron Burchfield	....	grip
Brendan David Butler	....	aerial first assistant camera
David L. Butler	....	aerial director of photography (as David Butler)
Don Cerrone	....	key grip
Michael Fedack	....	dolly grip
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
Edgar Martin	....	grip
Bill McConnell Jr.	....	second assistant camera
William McConnell	....	first assistant camera (as Bill McConnell Sr.)
Steven R. Morales	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Steve Morales)
David B. Nowell	....	aerial director of photography (as David Nowell)
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	assistant camera: "b" camera (as Scott Ressler)
Eric Ritter	....	grip
Kathryn Roberts	....	film loader (as Kathryn Mueller)
Joshua E. Smith	....	electrical lighting technician (as Josh Smith)
Scott Smith	....	aerial first assistant camera
Wilson Webb	....	electrical lighting technician
Michael Hoffer	....	key grip: additional photography (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nancy Briggs	....	casting associate
Catherine Head	....	casting associate
Vicki Jo Hertz	....	extras casting assistant (as Vicki Hertz)
Sarah Jane Hill	....	casting associate
Joan Philo	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Lichtman	....	set costumer
W.T. Zacha	....	costume supervisor (as William T. Zacha)

Editorial Department
Angela Barton	....	second assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Mato	....	color timer (as Mato Der Avanessian)
Hugh Ross	....	apprentice editor
Hilary Schroeder	....	first assistant editor
Tim Wilson	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Angelo Badalamenti	....	conductor
Angelo Badalamenti	....	orchestrator
Smokey Hormel	....	musician (as Gregory 'Smokey' Hormel)
John Neff	....	score engineer
Walter Spencer	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Pedro Amaya	....	driver
Calvin Chin	....	transportation captain
Richard Deangelo	....	transportation coordinator (as Richard De Angelo)
Floyd Erwin	....	driver
George Gowing	....	driver
Joni Dee Gowing	....	driver
Roy Hancock	....	driver
Gracie Klein	....	driver
Paul Klein	....	driver
Dick McCartney	....	driver
Dennis McNamara	....	driver
Jerry Meyers	....	driver
'D.C.' Ressetar	....	driver
Billy Scoles	....	driver
Nick Swiatek	....	driver
Paul Vecchio	....	driver
Mickey Vendafreddo Jr.	....	driver
Bruce Ventura	....	driver
Ron Wilson	....	driver
Gary Zarris	....	driver

Other crew
Kent Abbott	....	set production assistant
Giovanni Arcangeli	....	intern
Chamonix Bosch	....	set production assistant
Anita Brongiel	....	production secretary
Alexander Bulkley	....	set production assistant
Mary Lu Cerny	....	assistant: Richard Farnsworth
John T. Churchill	....	on-set assistant: David Lynch (as John Churchill)
Sean Coffey	....	office production assistant: Asymmetrical Productions
Lisa DiQuollo	....	catering assistant (as Lisa Di Quollo)
Michael F. Dunn	....	assistant caterer (as Mike Dunn)
Ralph Feldhacker	....	stand-in
Geri Paige Filister	....	production assistant
Will Gatlin	....	craft service
Cheryl Gibson	....	assistant accountant
Tony Halsrud	....	set medic
Joe Hanna	....	chef
Mark Har	....	assistant location manager
Anne Johns	....	production coordinator
Brian Justus	....	stand-in
Kristi Lake	....	post-production accountant
Nancy Lampe	....	stand-in
Ann Luster	....	assistant: Michael Polaire
Jules Mann-Stewart	....	script supervisor (as Jules M. Stewart)
Patti Marshall	....	payroll accountant
Julia McFerrin	....	production assistant
Bob Medcraft	....	location manager
Hitomi Nakase	....	office production assistant: Asymmetrical Productions
Cheryl Nelson	....	production counsel
David Oberholtzer	....	assistant caterer
Andrew Peterson	....	assistant location manager
Gaye Pope	....	executive assistant: David Lynch
Gaye Pope	....	unit publicist
Luis Racer Rangel	....	set production assistant
Peggy Rosson	....	production accountant
Richard Schwartz	....	assistant: Mary Sweeney
Mark Togni	....	key set production assistant
John N. Ward	....	assistant production coordinator
John Wentworth	....	dailies viewer
Becky Whitehorse	....	location assistant
John David Wolfe	....	production assistant
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	helicopter pilot (as Bobby 'Z' Zajonc)

Thanks
Bill Chaffee	....	special thanks
Darlene Chaffee	....	special thanks
Scott Klug	....	special thanks
Carla Rear	....	special thanks
Dennis Rear	....	special thanks
Alvin Straight	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Asymmetrical Productions
• Canal+
• Channel Four Films
• CiBy 2000
• Les Films Alain Sarde
• The Picture Factory
• The Straight Story Inc.
• Walt Disney Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Australia) (1999) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Channel Four Films (1999) (UK) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (1999) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2000) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• BIM Distribuzione (2000) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Comstock (2000) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Eurocine (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Gutek Film (2000) (Poland) (theatrical)
• First Distributors (2001) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (????) (Norway) (theatrical)
• United King Films (????) (Israel) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (????) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Asymmetrical Studio  mixing house
• Asymmetrical Studio  music recording studio
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• City of Clermont, Iowa  special thanks
• City of Lansing, Iowa  special thanks
• City of Laurens, Iowa  special thanks
• Clermont Volunteer Fire Department  special thanks
• Deb's Country Kettle  special thanks
• Digital Sound and Picture  foley recording facilities
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Grotto of the Redemption, West Bend, Iowa  special thanks
• Hanna Brothers Catering  catering
• Hollywood Rental Company  lighting equipment
• Iowa Department of Transportation  special thanks
• Iowa Film Office  special thanks
• Joan Philo Casting  extras casting
• Mary's Cafe  special thanks
• Matthews Group  lighting equipment
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Shotmaker Co., The  camera support equipment
• Streeterville Studio  adr recording studio: Chicago
• Weather Channel, The  weather footage
• Wow & Flutter  adr recording studio: Minneapolis

Also Known As:

Une histoire vraie (France)

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

France | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Italy:T | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Québec) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:G | New Zealand:G | Norway:A | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Clermont, Iowa, USA

Company:

Asymmetrical Productions

Trivia:

There are no features on the DVD other than a trailer. Also, there are no scene selections because David Lynch wanted the film to be one whole experience rather than scenes.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: Alvin is shown crossing the Mississippi River at Lansing heading westward (into Iowa), instead of eastward into Wisconsin.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dorothy: Hi Rose.
Rose 'Rosie' Straight: Hi Dorothy.
Alvin Straight: [can be heard collapsing inside his house]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Wanderlust (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Y'Ready

A Shockingly-Straight Story From David Lynch

"A truly nice story with a moral about brotherly love" describes this odd David Lynch film. This was especially "odd" because it wasn't the kind of film Lynch had been putting out in the last 15 -20 years. Those were dark and shocking films (Blue Velvet, Wild At Heart, Mulholland Drive) and this is the opposite. I know it disappointed a lot of his fans. Others were delighted by it. Count me as one of the latter, and I own all three of those "dark" films, too.

This was another supposed-true life story, here detailing an elderly man's trip in a seated lawnmower from western Iowa all the way to Wisconsin to see his ailing brother who he hasn't talked to in years but wants to see before the latter dies. Well, I guess that premise - an old man driving a lawn mower 400 miles - still makes this an "odd" film of sorts, so Lynch stays in character with that!

Richard Farnsworth plays the title role. He is the type of guy, face-wise, voice-wise, low-key personality-wise, that just about everyone likes. The wrinkles on his face tell many a story. It was so sad to hear what happened to him in real life a year after this film was released.

The first 25 minutes of this film isn't much, and not always pleasant as it shows the main character's adult and mentally-challenged child (Sissy Spacek) and her tragic past, but once Alvin Straight (Farnsworth) begins his trip, the story picks up. I played this for several friends and they thought the film NEVER picked up, but I am more generous with it. I think it's a hidden gem. To them, it was a sleeping pill.

I found his trip pretty fascinating but you have to realize in advance this is NOT going to be a suspenseful Lynch crime story. It IS slow and if that's okay with you, you might like this. Charm enters the picture in some of people Alvin meets along the way, such as a wayward young girl running away and some nice town folks who help the old man out when he gets in trouble. (Henry Cada as "Daniel Riordan, is a standout in that regard.) Harry Dean Stanton gets third billing, but that's a joke: he's only in the final few minutes of the movie!

The Iowa scenery is pleasant. I lived there for several years and can attest to the rolling hills and the rich soil. It's a nice state with nice people....like this movie.