Urban Cowboy

1980 "Hard Hat Days And Honky-Tonk Nights."
6.5| 2h12m| PG| en| More Info
Released: 06 June 1980 Released
Producted By: Paramount Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.

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Reviews

Incannerax What a waste of my time!!!
BoardChiri Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay
Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
Matylda Swan It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.
Uriah43 "Bud" (John Travolta) is a young man who leaves his home in West Texas to try to find a job at an oil refinery in Houston. One of the first things he does is go to a famous nightclub known as Gilley's where he meets a young woman named "Sissy" (Debra Winger) and they fall for each other immediately. They soon get married and just about every night they go back to Gilley's to have a good time. Then one night the management of the nightclub puts in a mechanical bull and their lives are changed forever. Now if this plot sounds a bit corny that's because it really is. But it manages to capture the flavor of that particular area during that particular time due in large part because of the country music which was so popular back then. No doubt, there are probably plenty of viewers who won't care for this film as it is clearly dated to a specific time in America--and I fully understand that. Be that as it may, it brought back some good memories and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.
tcmay-1 I saw it when it came out in 1980, and then several times since then on cable or satellite. A great soundtrack, a pretty good story, and some good performances by Scott Glenn and the others. I'd not liked John Travolta much before (Kotter, Grease, etc.) so this was the first role I thought was "substantial." The Western theme (mixed with Houston astronauts, high tech oil rigs) was appropriate for the 1980s, where Texas was well into the high-tech revolution and yet where "cowboy regalia" was part of the culture.Again, the soundtrack was great. --Tim May, California
g-bodyl Urban Cowboy is a pretty good "western" movie that certainly highlights what it's like to live out in the West and to be a cowboy with a knack on how to get the girls. The movie wasn't fantastic, but it also wasn't awful and it was entertaining. The movie boasts an awesome soundtrack with lively country music and the one thing I liked is how we get "live" performances from the greats like Charlie Daniels Band and such.James Bridge's film is about a guy named Bud who movies from a Texas small town to Pasadena, Texas in order to get a better paying job. But he embraces the local nightlife and he meets this girl named Sissy, whom he asks to marry. They end up splitting, but Sissy moves in with Bud's hated rival named Wes who has a plan to rob the club.The acting is fine for the most part. John Travolta does another good job is a music-based film. At least he gets to show off his dancing skills once again. Debra Winger is fantastic as Sissy, especially when she shows her independence. Scott Glenn is also pretty good as Wes and shows why you don't want to mess with him.Overall, Urban Cowboy is a decent country film and it gives a look on what society was back around this time in the Texas heartland. The music is definitely the best of the film. The story itself wasn't bad and it's pretty entertaining. I rate this film 8/10.
mcfly-31 I'm sure this film is gospel to several East Texans, but for us city folk, it's just a wholly meandering slog of a movie. I sort of liked how a studio took a chance to show how "the other half lives," complete with country-western bars, trailer life, cheatin', beatin', and cussin'. But as a feature-length film, it was just one, giant void. For these people's lives to revolve around such trivial, blank issues was too much to take. The mechanical bull loses its charm after the third go 'round, and to find out that they were going to use it for the finale's plot device?? Boy, this really is small town life.Though chronically dull, it at least tackles the elements of domestic violence --- from both the villain's *and* the hero's perspectives. The cast was fine, nothing' wrong with them. Their material was just vacant. And the time line is an utter mess for all this crap to have transpired (dated a week, married a week, cheating within a week! Please). The only thing remotely valuable to come from this film was the beautiful Boz Skaggs ballad, "Love Look What You've Done To Me." There's a mess a' other country hits, as well, that at least help keep uninterested viewers awake. As far as the flick, I found *one* original moment, and that didn't happen until the last reel, involving Glenn and a gun.Again, if you grew up around this lifestyle, you might feel it speak to you more. But 'round these parts, this pretty much need to be takin' out back and shot.