- Fat City (film)
Infobox Film
name = Fat City
image_size =
caption = DVD Cover
director =John Huston
producer =Ray Stark John Huston
writer =Leonard Gardner
narrator =
starring =Stacy Keach Jeff Bridges Susan Tyrrell Candy Clark
music =
cinematography =Conrad L. Hall
editing = Walter Thompson
distributor =Columbia Pictures
released =July 26 ,1972
runtime = 100 minutes
country =United States
language = English
budget =
gross =
amg_id = 1:16875
imdb_id = 0068575"Fat City" (1972) is an American
boxing drama film directed byJohn Huston . The picture starsStacy Keach ,Jeff Bridges , andSusan Tyrrell . [imdb title| id=0068575|title=Fat City.]The movie, one of John Huston's later triumphs, is based on the boxing novel "Fat City" (1969) by
Leonard Gardner , who also wrote the screenplay.Tyrrell received an Oscar nomination as the world weary Oma.
Plot
The film tells of alcoholic farm laborer Tully (Keach) who lives with Oma (Tyrrell) and is trying to make a boxing comeback. Yet, his personal problems overpower him.
Fellow Stockton resident and fighter Ernie (Bridges) takes Tully's advice to join Ruben's (
Nicholas Colasanto ) gym and make something of himself.Learning the lesson that "winning is not as easy as it sounds," Ernie is determined to get what he can out of boxing and, unlike Tully, not let set-backs get the best of him.
Background
The film was shot mostly in
Stockton, California . According to the Stockton newspaper "The Record's" website, Stockton and the surroundingSan Joaquin County was once a desirable place to shoot films due to its varied landscapes within considerably short distances of one another. In fact, many films have been filmed in the city and county.Another factor was the smaller production fees that had to be paid to the county by the producers.
The drama is featured in the documentary "" (1992) for
Conrad L. Hall 's use of lighting.Cast
*
Stacy Keach as Tully
*Jeff Bridges as Ernie
*Susan Tyrrell as Oma
*Candy Clark as Faye
*Nicholas Colasanto as Ruben
* Art Aragon as Babe
*Curtis Cokes as Earl
* Sixto Rodriguez as Lucero
* Alfred Avila as Lucero's coach
*Billy Walker as Wes
* Wayne Mahan as Buford
* Ruben Navarro as FuentesDistribution
The film premiered in the
United States onJuly 26 ,1972 .The film was screened at various film festivals, including: the
Cannes Film Festival ,France , thePalm Springs International Film Festival , USA; and others.Critical reception
Critic
Vincent Canby , film critic for "The New York Times ", liked the film and John Huston's direction, and wrote, "This is grim material but "Fat City" is too full of life to be as truly dire as it sounds. Ernie and Tully, along with Oma (Susan Tyrrell ), the sherry-drinking barfly Tully shacks up with for a while, the small-time fight managers, the other boxers and assorted countermen, upholsterers, and lettuce pickers whom the film encounters en route, are presented with such stunning and sometimes comic accuracy that "Fat City" transcends its own apparent gloom." [ [http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?title1=FAT%20CITY%20%28MOVIE%29&title2=&reviewer=Vincent%20Canby&pdate=&v_id=16875 Canby, Vincent] . "The New York Times", film review,July 27 ,1972 .]Roger Ebert liked the film as well and he makes the case it's one of John Huston's best films. He also appreciated the acting performances. Ebert wrote, " [Huston] treats [the story] with a level, unsentimental honesty and makes it into one of his best films... [and] the movie's edges are filled with small, perfect character performances." [ [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19720101/REVIEWS/201010308/1023 Ebert, Roger] . "Chicago Sun-Times ", film review,January 1 ,1972 .]Awards
Wins
* Kansas City Film Critics Circle: KCFCC Award Best Actor Stacy Keach, (tied withMarlon Brando for "The Godfather "); 1972.Nominations
*Academy Awards : Oscar; Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Susan Tyrrell; 1973.References
External links
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* [http://noiroftheweek.blogspot.com/2007/11/john-huston-part-3-fat-city-1972.html "Fat City"] at Film Noir of the Week.
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