Hard Country (film)

1981 film by David Greene

Hard Country

Theatrical poster

Directed by| David Greene
Screenplay by| Michael Kane
Story by|

* Michael Kane
* Michael Martin Murphey

Produced by|

* Mack Bing
* David Greene

Starring|

* Jan-Michael Vincent
* Kim Basinger
* Michael Parks

Cinematography| Dennis Dalzell
Edited by| John A. Martinelli
Music by|

* Jimmie Haskell
* Michael Martin Murphey

Production
company

ITC Entertainment

Distributed by| Associated Film Distribution

Release date

* May 8, 1981 (1981-05-08)

Running time

| 102 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English
Budget| $5–7 million[1]
Box office| $534,653[2]

Hard Country is a 1981 American contemporary Western film[3] directed by David Greene and starring Jan-Michael Vincent, Kim Basinger (in her film debut),[4] and Michael Parks. Written by Michael Kane and Michael Martin Murphey, the film is about a young woman who longs to escape the limitations of life in a small Texas town to pursue her dreams. She is prevented from leaving by her factory worker boyfriend who does not want her to move to the big city. The film features appearances by country music artists Tanya Tucker and Michael Martin Murphey.

## Plot

[edit]

Ambitious young Jodie wants more out of life than the small Texas country town she lives in has to offer. Jodie realizes that in order to pursue her dreams she will have to leave Texas and move to the big city. However, her shiftless factory worker boyfriend Kyle wants to stay in Texas.

## Cast

[edit]

* Jan-Michael Vincent as Kyle
* Kim Basinger as Jodie
* Michael Parks as Royce
* Gailard Sartain as Johnny Bob
* Sierra Pecheur as Mama
* John Chappell as Daddy
* Tanya Tucker as Caroline
* Daryl Hannah as Loretta
* Lewis Van Bergen as Ransom
* Ted Neeley as Wesley
* Curtis Credel as Dale
* Scotch Byerley as Aaron
* Richard Lineback as Larry
* Elise Caitlin as Cowgirl #1
* Danone Camden as Cowgirl #2
* Holly Haber as Cowgirl #3
* Richard Moll as Top Gun
* Ron Spivey as Kicker
* Cisse Cameron as Royce's Wife
* Jack Rader as Planet Foreman
* Laura Madison as Tracy Jo
* Delana Michaels as Telephone Operator
* Teri Foster Brooks as Waitress
* David Haney as Bartender
* Garrie Kelly as Airline Interviewer
* A'leisha Brevard as Snoopy Lady
* Jay Kerr as Deputy
* Cheryl Carter as Woman Customer
* Henry G. Sanders as Man Customer
* Tina Menard as Maid
* Jane Abbott as Woman at Airport
* Dolores Aguirre as Security Guard
* Stephen C. Bradbury as Airport Clerk
* West Buchanan as Airport Agent
* Kirby Buchanan as Airport Police #1
* Mitch Carter as Airport Police #2
* Michael Martin Murphey as Michael
* Mike Hearne as Lead Guitar
* Jody Mephis as Drums
* Mark Webernick as Piano
* Rick Fowler as Bass
* David Ellis Coe as Fidde
* Hank Corwin as Steel Guitar
* Katy Moffatt as Special Guest

Michael Shain as Harry Webb

Mark Garibaldi as Doc Udda

## Production

[edit]

Principal photography of Hard Country began in December 1979 on a budget of approximately $5–7 million.[1] Though set in Texas, the film was largely shot on location in Bakersfield, California, while some second unit photography occurred in Midland, Texas.[1]

## Release

[edit]

Hard Country was released theatrically in Los Angeles on May 8, 1981.[1]

## See also

[edit]

* List of American films of 1981

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Hard Country". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved October 12, 2023. (Note: Toggle between "History", "Details", and "Credits" tabs for full scope of source)
2. ^ Hard Country at Box Office Mojo
3. ^ Graham, Don (2013-05-31). Giant Country: Essays on Texas. Texas A&M University Press. p. 248\. ISBN 978-0-87565-487-4.
4. ^ Thomson, David (2010-10-26). The New Biographical Dictionary of Film: Completely Updated and Expanded. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 65\. ISBN 978-0-307-59461-7.

## External links

[edit]

* Hard Country at IMDb
* Hard Country at Rotten Tomatoes

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by David Greene

Films|

| Feature|

* The Shuttered Room (1967)
* Sebastian (1968)
* The Strange Affair (1968)
* I Start Counting (1969)
* The People Next Door (1970)
* Madame Sin (1972)
* Godspell (1973)
* Gray Lady Down (1978)
* Hard Country (1981)

|

Television|

* The Count of Monte Cristo (1975)
* The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1977)
* Friendly Fire (1979)
* A Vacation in Hell (1979)
* Rehearsal for Murder (1982)
* Murder Among Friends (1982)
* The Guardian (1984)
* Guilty Conscience (1985)
* Circle of Violence: A Family Drama (1986)
* The Betty Ford Story (1987)
* After the Promise (1987)
* Inherit the Wind (1988)
* Small Sacrifices (1989)
* The Penthouse (1989)
* What Ever Happened to... (1991)
* Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story (1992)
* A Season in Purgatory (1996)
* Bella Mafia (1997)

Miniseries|

* Fatal Vision (1984)
* Children of the Dust (1995)

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