A tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a ...
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Title: The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
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1 nomination.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Vanessa Redgrave | ... | Miss Amelia | |
| Keith Carradine | ... | Marvin Macy | |
| Cork Hubbert | ... | Cousin Lymon | |
| Rod Steiger | ... | Rev. Willin | |
| Austin Pendleton | ... | Lawyer Taylor | |
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Beth Dixon | ... | Mary Hale |
| Lanny Flaherty | ... | Merlie Ryan | |
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Mert Hatfield | ... | Stumpy McPhail |
| Earl Hindman | ... | Henry Macy | |
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Anne Pitoniak | ... | Mrs. McPhail |
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Frederick Johnson | ... | Jeff |
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Lauri Raymond | ... | Sadie Ricketts |
| Joe Stevens | ... | Henry Ford Crimp (as Joe Stephens) | |
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Keith Wommack | ... | Tom Rainey |
| Kevin Wommack | ... | George Rainey | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
A tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminutive crook-back named Lymon. He suggests they open a café in the downstairs of her large house. Marvin Macy gets out of prison and returns to town; turns out he was married to Amelia but it wasn't consummated. He pleaded, then got angry. Is he back for revenge? Eventually, Amelia and Marvin stage a no-holds-barred fight in the café. Lymon's complicated response to Marvin and to Cousin Amelia figures in the resolution. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
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Rev. Willin: I remember that.
Mary Hale: Why'd she throw him out? Why'd she marry him and then throw him out? Why?
Rev. Willin: I don't know. All I know is... that it takes two people to be in love. It takes the... lover... and the beloved. But these two, they come from... diff'rent countries. And sometimes, the... the belove is the cause for all the, all the ...
[...]
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Did You Know?
Trivia
This motion picture is set in the 1930s and can be genre classified as being a depression-era drama. See more »Goofs
Several times earlier in the film, we are shown how the only way to arrive at Miss Amelia's secret still is by wading - neck-deep - through a muddy swamp. Yet late in the film when Marvin Macy and Cousin Lymon are shown at Miss Amelia's still, their clothes are clean and dry. See more »Quotes
Mary Hale: Marvin changed himself. That time he loved Miss Amelia. Well, it seemed like he changed completely -- he was -- he was good to me, and to Henry... You remember that, doncha'?Rev. Willin: I remember that.
Mary Hale: Why'd she throw him out? Why'd she marry him and then throw him out? Why?
Rev. Willin: I don't know. All I know is... that it takes two people to be in love. It takes the... lover... and the beloved. But these two, they come from... diff'rent countries. And sometimes, the... the belove is the cause for all the, all the ...
[...]
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
June 1991 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$2,343, 5 May 1991Gross USA:
$184,890Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$184,890Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
To take on a film version of this classic play is a bold venture. They almost pull it off, but with a poor acting job by Caradine and some questionable directorial choices it doesn't quite live up to expectations. The flying midget scene actually had me laughing . . . A powerful story that someone should take some time with and do justice to.