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 Lynch’s 1999 film “The Straight Story” 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 brother’s stroke.
David Lynch has some bizarre films to his credit. Trippy and chilling tales like “Eraserhead” and “Mulholland Drive” come to mind. “The Straight Story” was written by John E. Roach and Mary Sweeney. David Lynch was probably the only person capable of successfully directing such a crazy premise.
“Rose darling, I am not dead yet”
Alvin Straight is brought to life by Richard Farnsworth in a role seemingly destined to be his. Farnsworth’s career spanned 60 years as an actor and stuntman – beginning with a role in “Gone with the Wind.” Farnsworth tells us everything we need to know about the real life character he’s 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 doesn’t 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. “The Straight Story” 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 Straight’s 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 Alvin’s daughter. James Cada appears as Danny – 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 Straight’s 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.
“The Straight Story” is an amazing picture. It tells a true and certainly odd story in a captivating way. It’s one of David Lynch’s finest, and a fitting sendoff for a great actor in Richard Farnsworth.
“The Straight Story” is available to rent on Amazon.
