MovieChat Forums > The Trip to Bountiful (1986) Discussion > Ludie

Ludie

posted 12 years ago by Tickerage
4 replies | jump to latest

Didn't Ludie, as well as all the men in this film, come off as just unnecessarily mean? I mean Ludie's main complaint in life seems to be his lack of kids, but instead of discussing it with or blaming Jesse Mae, he seems to blame his mother. He can clearly see how poorly his wife treats his mother but then just backs Jesse Mae up when push comes to shove.

Same with the attendant at Harrison. Just mean. I grew up in the '80s and this film accurately portrays that off-the-cuff meanness and self centered-ness that men between 25-50 seemed to have then. I can't really explain it beyond that, but I recognized the behavior of many people I knew then and that meanness was something that always stuck with me. Weird.

At least there will be plenty implied.

[–] fiatlux-1 12 years ago

Yes, Ludie was mean indeed. He didn't think he was, I suspect, and I do believe he loved his mother. But he was a selfish, spineless jerk basically.
He knew what seeing Bountiful again meant to his mom, who was not getting any younger and was in ill health. There was absolutely NO reason Ludie couldn't bring her back for another visit! It was right in the same state, for God's sake!
He could borrow a car and go.

Besides, NONE of them had any right to imprison Mrs. Watts like that! If she wanted to go, she should go. She wasn't a danger to herself or others.
The rights of the elderly were almost non-existent back then. Then again, how existent are they now? Terrible.
This film was set in the 1950s; I don't know what the attitudes of men were like then but that guy in the station just seemed beaten by life. He knew that this was likely all he'd ever have in life or all he could manage to work for: working in a bus station at night.

I didn't get the sense that Ludie blamed his mom for his lack of kids, but he seemed to whine about it a bit too much. I think he was realizing how little he really had, despite his efforts. Even though it was more unusual for women to work back then, I would have tried my damndest to get dumpy Jessie Mae to get a job too!
She screamed about having no money and a tiny apartment, yet squanders his money on magazines, candy, hair appointments. GET A JOB!
Even Mrs. Watts had a job when she was that age, working hard on a farm.

Sorry for the long post, but this is one of my favorite films and I just love talking about it.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] PenTheater 12 years ago

Ludie can’t “take” his mother back to Bountiful of course. Yes in the story he can but that’s not the point of the story. Bountiful isn’t a place, it is memory, it’s a longing for when we were young, and life seemed so pleasant and beautiful. Of course it wasn’t all great, but that’s what you remember unless something was really tragic. Bountiful is reflecting on one’s life, at her age, as she nears death, at Ludie’s age as he crosses from youth to half life over. Dreams accomplished, dreams denied, dreams imagined.

Ludie's "meanness" is because of these frustrations.

Once again, Horton Foote is saying DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.

[–] fiatlux-1 12 years ago

I meant he could take his mother back to the house, and the land.
There was no reason at all that he should have restrained her from going, or allowed Jessie Mae to keep her from it.
That was despicable.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] PenTheater 12 years ago

remember at first when he said he didn't remember it ( the songs, the late night walks,etc

then later said Yes mama I lied I do remember it...

that was an important part of the character.

If he took her back willingly, one big happy extended family picnic in Bountiful, then there wouldn't have been a story and the messages from Mr. Foote.