{"id":26453,"date":"2012-07-11T11:32:26","date_gmt":"2012-07-11T18:32:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26453"},"modified":"2021-10-24T16:24:16","modified_gmt":"2021-10-24T23:24:16","slug":"urban-cowboy-1980","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26453","title":{"rendered":"Urban Cowboy (1980)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Sometimes even a cowboy&#8217;s gotta swallow his pride and hold on to somebody he loves.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Poster-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-26454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Poster-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Poster-686x1024.jpg 686w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Poster.jpg 1467w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA callow cowboy (John Travolta) transplanted to Houston marries a feisty young woman (Debra Winger) he meets in a bar, but their marriage is quickly beset by jealousy and infidelity.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cowboys<\/li>\n<li>Debra Winger Films<\/li>\n<li>James Bridges Films<\/li>\n<li>John Travolta Films<\/li>\n<li>Marital Problems<\/li>\n<li>Masculinity<\/li>\n<li>Scott Glenn Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAfter achieving phenomenal fame in both <em>Saturday Night Fever<\/em> (1977) and <em>Grease<\/em> (1978) &#8212; and then enduring ridicule for his role as Lily Tomlin&#8217;s lover, &#8220;Strip&#8221;, in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=9474\"><em>Moment by Moment<\/em> (1978)<\/a> &#8212; John Travolta starred in this film about a headstrong young country boy whose adventures in the Big City (Houston) include both a tempestuously whirlwind marriage and a nascent obsession with riding mechanical bulls. Indeed, the newly popular sport of mechanical bull-riding &#8212; shown on-screen here so many times you&#8217;ll likely be yawning by the end &#8212; becomes a central element of the storyline, overtly representing Travolta&#8217;s quest to prove his manhood to his new wife, especially when faced with stiff competition in the form of ex-convict (and master rider) Scott Glenn. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-1024x434.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-1024x434.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-768x325.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-1536x651.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Glenn.png 1588w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the screenplay (co-written by director James Bridges and Aaron Latham, based on Latham&#8217;s own story) disappoints in its presentation of marital challenges and machismo run amok. Travolta and Winger&#8217;s marriage, while perhaps sadly realistic, is based on nothing more than chemistry and a desire to play at housekeeping, with little real understanding of what such a commitment will entail. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-1024x436.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"273\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-1024x436.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-768x327.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-1536x654.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Marriage.png 1825w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not at all surprising, then, when their romance quickly falls apart, especially given Travolta&#8217;s intermittently abusive treatment of Winger. Glenn&#8217;s villainous bull-rider is menacing but one-note, and Travolta&#8217;s new lover &#8212; a beautiful, slumming heiress (Madolyn Smith) with a &#8220;thing&#8221; for cowboys &#8212; simply strikes one as a caricature. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-1024x427.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"267\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-1024x427.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-768x320.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-1536x640.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner-604x252.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-New-Partner.png 1831w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s Winger &#8212; nurtured by her mentor, Bridges &#8212; who gives the film&#8217;s most nuanced and noteworthy performance, and remains the primary reason to give this film a one-time look. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> For a much better variation on some of the same themes touched upon here, see Nicholas Ray&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=34\"><em>The Lusty Men<\/em> (1952)<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Debra Winger as Sissy<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-68593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/Urban-Cowboy-Winger2.png 1591w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look simply for Winger&#8217;s performance. Listed as a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0081696\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1980\/06\/11\/arts\/travolta-urban-cowboy.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.digitallyobsessed.com\/displaylegacy.php?ID=4129\">Digitally Obsessed Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/4308\/urban-cowboy#articles-reviews?articleId=90491\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/reviews\/81106\/urban_cowboy.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Sometimes even a cowboy&#8217;s gotta swallow his pride and hold on to somebody he loves.&#8221; Synopsis: A callow cowboy (John Travolta) transplanted to Houston marries a feisty young woman (Debra Winger) he meets in a bar, but their marriage is quickly beset by jealousy and infidelity. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Cowboys Debra Winger Films James Bridges Films John Travolta Films Marital Problems Masculinity Scott Glenn Films Review: After achieving phenomenal fame in both Saturday Night Fever (1977) and Grease&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=26453\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26453"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77693,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26453\/revisions\/77693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}