Forty-years-ago a film landed in theaters that would spur a nation to seek out mechanical bulls. Why you ask? To emulate what they had just seen in Urban Cowboy with John Travolta in the titular role. The James Bridges directed drama is marking its 40th anniversary with a special Blu-Ray release that is in stores and online retailers now.
Travolta plays Bud, a man who leaves his more rural Texas surroundings and his parents, for the bright lights of Houston. He has a plan to arrive in the largest city in the Lone Star State, move in temporarily to his uncle and aunt’s abode and secure a job. Once some money is coming in, Bud has his eye on a sick trailer. In the meantime, if he’s lucky, he also seeks a little loving. Lucky for him, his uncle and aunt take him to the iconic Gilley’s on his first night in town and this small-town boy’s eyes couldn’t be larger. The club, aka entertainment complex, is co-owned by country music legend Mickey Gilley. As portrayed in the film, he shows up quite often to jam his unique brand of down-home country music.
Evening one, he sees and is enamored by Debra Winger’s Sissy. Sparks fly, but in a manner that deserves some serious cowboy hat-tipping by co-screenwriters Aaron Latham (who penned the book that the film is based on) and Bridges, it progresses organically over the first act. Paradise doesn’t last too long as jealousy, alcohol, and lots of available single (or not-so-single) folks to keep that bed warm at night.
Something, besides the toe-tapping country music, has garnered the attention of much of the folks at the club. It is a mechanical bull and riding it may be a drunken fool’s folly, but for others—this is serious business. Travolta’s Bud is intrigued, and it doesn’t take too much coaxing for him to get on and wouldn’t you know it, this kid’s got talent.
His uncle, besides introducing him to the awesomeness that is Gilley’s, scores his nephew a job at a local refinery that gets our protagonist moving firmly towards that dream.
Along the way, viewers are treated to a rich and three-dimensional ensemble of characters. Scott Glenn turns in a seismic performance as Wes, who winds up being a rival to Bud on many levels. Barry Corbin is a delight as Bud’s uncle Bob while Brooke Alderson shines as Aunt Corene. Mickey Gilley shows up, playing himself, as does Bonnie Raitt and The Charlie Daniels Band. So yeah, the soundtrack is fantastic and that is accompanied subtly and brilliantly by a Ralph Burns (Annie and All That Jazz) score.
Travolta and Winger have an electric chemistry that is the key to whether Urban Cowboy works or not. If the viewers don’t buy that these twos’ passion for one another is palpable, all the country and western hits in the world couldn’t save the picture. Their rocky, roller-coaster romance is frustrating at times because so often, jealousy rears its head. That is what so many couples go through and is just the tip of the iceberg of the drama that drives the flick. What makes Bridges’ work on this film so compelling is a combination of the richness of a three-dimensional character laden ensemble with a slice-of-life sentiment that permeates every single frame. It worked because the response to the film’s release stretched far beyond the movie theaters. Western clothes (from boots to hats and more) flew off the shelves. Country bars started popping up across the American landscape like dandelions. The same fandom that Travolta helped spur with Saturday Night Fever to flood Discotheques and an increased passion for the ‘50s fashion and music with Grease, had a nation desperate to find a C&W bar and most importantly—a mechanical bull. Telling ya, Travolta was on a roll that has hardly been seen prior or since.
I would be remiss if I didn’t salute the production design of Stephen B. Grimes and cinematography of Reynaldo Villalobos. The pair’s work crafted a 70s Texas landscape that practically has us feeling the humid wind and beer-soaked bar. Sure, shooting at the real Gilley’s helped, but that was merely the starting point for these two cinematic artists.
When it comes to the Blu-Ray transfer for Urban Cowboy, the 1080p transfer is solid, but not perfect. There is an occasional feeling that we’re watching film, and honestly, is that so bad? No, particularly for a period piece such as this one. Audio-wise, the upgrade is impressive and if you have that full home theater tools at your fingertips, why not turn it up!
Good Times with Gilley: Looking Back at Urban Cowboy is a brand-new featurette that is exclusive to this anniversary celebration. The nostalgic-laced extra includes a brand-new interview with Gilley where he waxes poetic about his career, his honkytonk, the flick, the music and so much more. It is truly fascinating and also enlightening and entertaining as all giddy-up.
There are also about eight minutes of deleted scenes that are interesting in how it gets us into the head of the film’s helmer. The editorial choices he made can be gleaned from those deleted clips and the viewer scores a priceless spotlight into his artistic methods. There’s just over four-minutes of outtakes that are equally as hilarious as they are entertaining. They include a bit with Travolta and Winger dancing and one where the Pulp Fiction star dances solo.
A surprise inclusion is Rehearsal Footage. So much of what audiences witness on the big screen are a result of what nobody saw happening long before a single frame was shot. Being able to be a fly on the wall as the cast goes through rehearsal is compelling on many levels.
Film Grade: B+
Bonus Features: B