I have seen this movie only once, in 1991. I remember it as having the most beautiful opening credits of any movie I have ever seen, with the lovely fields of Blue Bonnet wildflowers and the haunting rendition of "Softly and Tenderly." Hollywood just doesn't make it better than that. It's been a long time. I must watch this movie again soon.
shareI agree!!! I can't think of a better, more wonderful film opening than this one. This is one of my all-time favorite films, and that beginning is a part of the reason why.
I also love the end credits, where they use the song again at length with the gorgeous view of Bountiful.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."
From the "Well, duh!!!!" Department of the Obvious, the opening credits depict Carrie (the flashback young mom of an earlier day) chasing Ludie (the young son) through that perfect, Texas field of bluebonnets to the foreground music of Cynthia Clawson singing "Softly and Tenderly."
My wife and I (a couple of expatriate Texans ... one native, one naturalized) saw The Trip to Bountiful while living in exile in Alaska, in 1986. To this day, I remember walking out of that theater into a cold, bleak, overcast, dark Anchorage day overwhelmed with homesickness for chasing barefoot through a field of Texas bluebonnets. The Carrie Watts character reminds me of my mom. The "Softly and Tenderly" hymn takes me back to the country churches where my dad preached in the early-to-mid fifties. All that taken together? A young, vibrant mom ... from a long ago day ... chasing her barefoot boy son through that pastoral meadow ... at a perfect, languid, "magic hour" Texas dusk ... to those sweet gospel tones perfectly performed?
Sublime.
You know Nanci Griffith wrote a beautiful song mentioning those Texas blue bonnets called "Gulf Coast Highway".
shareMy wife and I (a couple of expatriate Texans ... one native, one naturalized) saw The Trip to Bountiful while living in exile in Alaska, in 1986. To this day, I remember walking out of that theater into a cold, bleak, overcast, dark Anchorage day overwhelmed with homesickness for chasing barefoot through a field of Texas bluebonnets. The Carrie Watts character reminds me of my mom. The "Softly and Tenderly" hymn takes me back to the country churches where my dad preached in the early-to-mid fifties. All that taken together? A young, vibrant mom ... from a long ago day ... chasing her barefoot boy son through that pastoral meadow ... at a perfect, languid, "magic hour" Texas dusk ... to those sweet gospel tones perfectly performed?
Sublime.
another great scene similar to the opening is when she is finally on the bus and it is on the way, the music theme in a bit jazzier style, the colors, the bus speeding along. the scene is not long enough for me.
shareThat shot of Geraldine Page on the bus is great. Along with music, I got the feeling that she was thinking, "Free at last... mission accomplished!"
SEE THE RAP CRITIC
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/rap-critic
Did anybody notice the slightest touch of purple in the field at the end when they drove away?
I'll have to watch it again...
THE RAP CRITIC
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/teamt/rap-critic
Did anybody notice the slightest touch of purple in the field at the end when they drove away?
I just found this message board in the process of doing a blog piece on Cynthia Clawson. She was a sorority sister in college and I had the privilge of singing with her and accompanying that perfect, pure voice! I'll be posting severa links to her songs if anyone is interested.
That opening scene was one of those "You had me at Hello" moments!! Loved the entire movie although I wanted to slap the daughter-in-law into the next county a couple of times. Wish we had more like this one! Geraldine Page was outstanding!!!
we are all interested!
shareCount me in as interested.
shareJust divine and possibly my favourite ever opening credits for a film.
shareVery definitely among them...:'-) I know, I too wish they could still "make 'em like they used to," but maybe I have to accept that most of the best already has been made...
shareI also love the opening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EgJxPbS9ds
shareI am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006
I Love the opening credits! To use a hymn of the church explicitly mentioning the precious name of Jesus...was risky for 1985.....and don't even think about using the name of Jesus in generic Hollywood film making today; unless it's a Christian film independently produced with NO FINANCING OR SUPPORT from hollywood!
"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"
I Love the opening credits! To use a hymn of the church explicitly mentioning the precious name of Jesus...was risky for 1985.....and don't even think about using the name of Jesus in generic Hollywood film making today; unless it's a Christian film independently produced with NO FINANCING OR SUPPORT from hollywood!