An old man travels hundreds of miles on a riding lawnmower to visit his ailing brother. At first glance, the plot seems goofy, if not completely farfetched. But David Lynchâs 1999 film âThe Straight Storyâ is real. It tells the amazing adventure of Alvin Straight; a World War II veteran who, unable to drive due to physical ailments, traveled 240 miles via a John Deere mower upon hearing of his brotherâs stroke.
David Lynch has some bizarre films to his credit. Trippy and chilling tales like âEraserheadâ and âMulholland Driveâ come to mind. âThe Straight Storyâ was written by John E. Roach and Mary Sweeney. David Lynch was probably the only person capable of successfully directing such a crazy premise.
âRose darling, I am not dead yetâ
Alvin Straight is brought to life by Richard Farnsworth in a role seemingly destined to be his. Farnsworthâs career spanned 60 years as an actor and stuntman â beginning with a role in âGone with the Wind.â Farnsworth tells us everything we need to know about the real life character heâs portraying; A WWII vet whose kind, stubborn, and true to himself and his motives. A comical part early on depicts a doctor warning him of dire consequences if he doesnât change his ways. The scene then cuts to Straight lighting up a massive cigar. We know right away who we are going on this trip with.
Richard Farnsworth was dealing with terminal cancer during the production. The paralysis of his legs as shown in the film was real. I was saddened to discover he committed suicide a year after the film was released. âThe Straight Storyâ was his final movie, and like the character of Alvin Straight, the road trip was a final adventure.
Farnsworth is an amazing actor. Two scenes stand out. The first being Alvin Straightâs encounter with a teenage runaway. The second when he meets a fellow WWII vet and they share emotional memories at a bar. He plays the character effortlessly. Farnsworth received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor and frankly, had no business losing.
Supporting Roles
Sissy Spacek portrays Alvinâs daughter. James Cada appears as Danny â a friendly man who Alvin encounters along his journey. The ancillary characters do their best to stay out of the spotlight and let the real star shine.
David Lynch held nothing back in terms of producing the incredibly simple story. The film was shot chronologically on location along the actual route Straight took. Beginning in Laurens, Iowa and ending in Mount Zion, Wisconsin, the scenery is consistent in blandness, yet strikingly beautiful at times. The small long forgotten towns seem enviable, despite their obvious limitations to modern amenities.
Wide and long shots emphasize the impossible distance – which on a map looks daunting. A journey that would take hours by car, weeks by a riding mower that topped out at speeds of 5 mph (emphasized by a funny moment when bicyclists pass Straight on a long stretch of highway).
112 minutes
Lynch paces the story slow. It amplifies the quaint and peaceful nature of rural life. And the slow and plodding way with which the journey occurs. Even Straightâs lawnmower is 30 years old, but like himself, is built (John Deere) tough.
Alvin Straight is on a personal mission to patch things up with his estranged brother. The encounters he has along the way reveal various aspects of his life story. His family and his experiences. In an interesting way, the brotherly love bond is represented by real life brothers; Kevin and John P. Farley, who at the time of filming had just lost their own brother, Chris.
âThe Straight Storyâ is an amazing picture. It tells a true and certainly odd story in a captivating way. Itâs one of David Lynchâs finest, and a fitting sendoff for a great actor in Richard Farnsworth.
“The Straight Story” is available to rent on Amazon.
