MovieChat Forums > Bound for Glory (1976) Discussion > Melinda Dillon

Melinda Dillon

posted 18 years ago by Hot Thom
9 replies | jump to latest

As I was watching the credits of this movie, I noticed that Melinda Dillon played both Mary Guthrie and Memphis Sue. Sometimes, actors can be cast in two roles in a film, but there's usually a reason. The only reason I can come up with for the same actress to play these two roles is that they were both rooting for Woody to play whatever the station wanted him to play in order to get more money. Maybe it's just Hal Ashby taking cinematic liberties, but it sure leaves me scratching my head.

[–] agsconnolly 18 years ago

I thoght the same thing. This only normally happens when the audience is 'in on it'. But this time there appears to be no real reason for it. Perhaps Dillon auditioned for the smaller part (Memphis Sue) and sufficently impressed to fill the role of Mary Guthrie also. Who knows. But it is strange!

[–] marcus-173 18 years ago

Yah, I was really confused by that. Especially knowing Hal Ashby's movies, I can't think of why he would do it.

[–] p_banger 16 years ago

I just saw this film for the first time tonight, and I thought the way the film handled Guthrie's relationships with the women in his life was the only flaw in an otherwise excellent biopic.

The casting of Dillon in both parts did not help. Especially in that scene at the springs when Ozark Bule (Ronny Cox) warns Guthrie about the new sponsors of his show.

Is the woman with them in the swimming suit splashing water around supposed to be Memphis Sue or Guthrie's wife? It's Dillon, but no other indication.

At the end, there's no real point to his wife leaving, at least none the film makes. Ashby just lets it lie there. Confusing.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Modern_Classics 12 years ago

Wow, I'm responding to a post from 6 years ago--but I was wondering the same thing about Dillon. I did some research and here is what I found:

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1891&dat=19770202&id=_qc fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J9YEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2150,183834

An article from 1977 that reveals that Dillon was cast as Woody's wife. She loved working on the film so much that when her shooting was done, she was devastated. Ashby sensed her sadness and cast her as Memphis Sue so she would have more to do on the film. They put her heavy make-up as Sue.

Very interesting.

"Whoa! What excitement! Hang onto your hats boys and girls, let's just watch!"

[–] Statutory_Ape69 11 years ago

Check out Carradine in "Circle of Iron" (1978). Excellent movie in which he plays FOUR roles!

[–] Statutory_Ape69 11 years ago

Check out Carradine in "Circle of Iron" (1978). Excellent movie in which he plays FOUR roles!

[–] alliekat9090 9 years ago

If the director thought no one would notice that both parts are played by the same actress he is sadly mistaken. It was obvious to me the minute the Memphis Sue character showed up on screen. My 1st thought is that maybe it was supposed to be some sort of weird symbolism but nope- just two parts played by the same actress for no reason.It takes a lot more than a black wig to disguise the fact its Melinda Dillon. Very distracting.

[–] PurpleProseOfCairo 8 years ago

I thought the same - I was imagining cineastes everywhere stroking their chins, going "hmmmmm..." then coming up with some great metaphysical reason why the same actor plays both roles. The truth is rather more prosaic, as it usually is!

There was a similar mystery in Lindsay Anderson's wonderful "If..." - part shot in black and white, part in colour. All kinds of deep and meaningful theories were put forward as to why this was (it was that kind of movie, very thought-provoking) until Anderson himself said they simply ran out of money and the final part of filming had to be done in black and white.

(Years later, on the DVD commentary, male lead Malcolm McDowell said that a scene set in a chapel would have taken too long to light for colour and so was filmed in monochrome. He said Anderson so liked the effect he shot several more scenes in black and white, for "texture", Who knows what the true story is?).