Back Roads (1981)

50% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
33% of users liked it
(1,524 ratings)

For his follow-up to 1979's Academy Award-winning Norma Rae, director Martin Ritt re-teams with that film's star, Sally Field, for this gritty romantic road comedy. Reportedly Ritt's homage to Frank Capra's films of the 1930s, Back Roads stars Field as Amy Post, a no-nonsense prostitute in the deep… More For his follow-up to 1979's Academy Award-winning Norma Rae, director Martin Ritt re-teams with that film's star, Sally Field, for this gritty romantic road comedy. Reportedly Ritt's homage to Frank Capra's films of the 1930s, Back Roads stars Field as Amy Post, a no-nonsense prostitute in the deep South struggling with the fact that she gave up her only child for adoption. When Amy first encounters the recently unemployed Elmore Pratt (Tommy Lee Jones), she is anything but fond of the drifter. But after taking to the road together with dreams of California, the two societal misfits find themselves falling for each other. Ritt and Field would team together once again four years later in another romantic comedy set in the South, Murphy's Romance. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Martin Ritt
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 13, 1981 Wide
On DVD: May 3, 2005

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
If the movie had been willing to deal honestly with the plight of its characters, it wouldn't need to be clutterted up with eccentrics and hearts of gold.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Less a movie than an extended sketch, and it's to the credit of Mr. Ritt, his stars and Gary Devore, the screenwriter, that the movie is so much fun.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
It's a surprise to discover that this hackneyed, relatively dull road picture is the work of director Martin Ritt.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Very good on local colour but a bit sugary in its attitude to the central relationship, it would have been better taking a bleaker cue from Tommy Lee Jones' admirably dry performance.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
A quiet and unassuming little comedy, a dual-gendered character study mixed with a low-key "road trip" adventure.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Back Roads is a love story with real clout.
, Film4
Despite the efforts of the two talented leads, their central relationship fails to ignite, while the comedy is lacklustre at best.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

appealing performers but the script isn't great

Cast

            Sally Field as Amy Post

            Tommy Lee Jones as Elmore Pratt

            David Keith as Mason

            Miriam Colon as Angel

            Michael Vincente Gazzo as Tazio

            Dan Shor as Spivey

            M. Emmet Walsh as Arthur

            Barbara Babcock as Rickey's Mom

            Nell Carter as Waitress

            Alex Colon as Enrique

            Royce D. Applegate as Father

            Jim Bailey as Billy

            Don 'Red' Barry as Pete

            Lee de Broux as Red

            Bruce M. Fischer as Ezra

            Tony Ganios as Bartini

            John M. Jackson as Merle

            John Dennis Johnston as Gilly

            Eliott Keener as Willis

            Lee Mc Laughlin as Deputy

            David Powladge as Fight Announcer

            Ralph Seymour as Gosler

            Henry Slate as Grover

            Diane Summerfield as Liz

            Woody Watson as Larry

            John Wilmot as Ed

            Richard Boyle as Ernest

            Eric Laneuville as Pinball Wizard

            Bill Holliday as Isaac

            Fred Baldwin as Gordy

            David Dahlgren as Mel

            Brian Frishman as Bleitz

            Billy Jayne as The Boy Thief

            Michael V. Gazzo
            
See full cast