Places in the Heart (1984)

100% of critics liked it
(21 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(6,175 ratings)

Of the three "mortgage on the farm" films of 1984 (Country and The River were the other two), Places in the Heart is the only one set during the Depression. After her husband is killed, Sally Field is forced to take over the debt-ridden Texas family farm herself. Though slightly embittered by the… More Of the three "mortgage on the farm" films of 1984 (Country and The River were the other two), Places in the Heart is the only one set during the Depression. After her husband is killed, Sally Field is forced to take over the debt-ridden Texas family farm herself. Though slightly embittered by the fact that a black man was responsible for her husband's death, Field accepts the help of another African-American, Danny Glover. She is also given aid and comfort by her blind boarder, John Malkovich. Despite almost insurmountable odds, Field manages to bring in the cotton crop and to hold her farm and family together. Throughout the film, director Robert Benton stresses the importance of solidarity in facing down disaster, underlining this point with a remarkable surrealistic finale, in which the "live" members of the cast are seen singing a hymn with the characters who have "died" in the course of the film. Places in the Heart won Sally Field her second Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Robert Benton
Written By: Robert Benton
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 21, 1984 Wide
On DVD: Oct 9, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Places in the Heart is a loving, reflective homage to his hometown by writer-director Robert Benton.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
[Benton's] memories provide the material for a wonderful movie, and he has made it, but unfortunately he hasn't stopped at that. He has gone on to include too much.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Out of the memories of his boyhood in Waxahachie, Tex., during the Great Depression, and within the unlikely tradition of the old-fashioned ''mortgage'' melodrama, Robert Benton has made one of the best films in years about growing up American.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Benton effectively re-creates depression-era Texas in this moving tale that landed the second Oscar for Field.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Set in the Depression, Benton's memory film is too sanctimonious and idealistic, showing how economic misery and hard times bring out the best, here in the form of a new community, composed of a white widow and her children, a black hobo and a blind.
Derek Adams, Time Out
Much is unemphatic, but all of it carries the moving weight of conviction. And it ends on a healing grace-note which passeth all understanding.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
A treasure of a film. The performances are beyond great.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
moving and inventive
Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide
Field succeeds in making Edna both fragile and tough-minded, defiant not by character or disposition but by sheer effort of will.
Jon Niccum, Lawrence Journal-World
Brilliant, Oscar-winning period piece
Frank Ochieng, TheWorldJournal.com
Benton's personal drama is soulful and utterly absorbing. And yes, we really like Sally Field in this defiant role
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Emotionally affecting film about struggling through adversity and living with hope in a small Texas town during the 1930s.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
quiet drama that settles into the memory like a story Grandma might tell

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Sally Field, Lindsay Crouse, Ed Harris Edna Spalding finds herself alone and broke on a small farm in the midst of the Great Depression when her husband the Sheriff is killed in an accident. A wandering black man, Moses, helps her to plant cotten to try and keep her farm and her… More
Sally Field, Lindsay Crouse, Ed Harris Edna Spalding finds herself alone and broke on a small farm in the midst of the Great Depression when her husband the Sheriff is killed in an accident. A wandering black man, Moses, helps her to plant cotten to try and keep her farm and her kids together. She also takes on a blind border, Mr. Will, who lost his sight in the first World War. She must endure storms and harsh labor to try and make her mortage payment on time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One of my favorite Sally Field movie's. She gives a great performance along with a great cast. This movie could probly relate to a lot of people who are trying to make it through hard times, while trying to keep their home and family together. I highly recommend this movie to all.
jay n

sally's very good but the film is slow
Daisy M

Places in the heart was a movie I took from my friend list, award winning movies.It was a strong well made drama that took place in Texas during the Depression in the mid 30s. Sally Field gave a powerful performance as Edna Spalding, a wife and mother of 2 kids who became widowed… More
Places in the heart was a movie I took from my friend list, award winning movies.It was a strong well made drama that took place in Texas during the Depression in the mid 30s. Sally Field gave a powerful performance as Edna Spalding, a wife and mother of 2 kids who became widowed after a drunk negro accidentally shot her husband. She had also the chance of losing her home because she had no money to pay off the mortgage. So she decided to make some money by planting cotton. She took in a black man played by Danny Glover, who helped her plant the cotton, and a blind man played by John Malkovich. All the performances were top-notch. Sally Field was just great and for this performance she won her Oscar. Glover, Malkovich, Harris, and the rest of the cast offered great support. Places in the Heart was directed by Robert Benton, who also won with this movie based on his life experiences during the Depression..

Cast

            Sally Field as Edna Spalding

            Lindsay Crouse as Margaret Lomax

            Ed Harris as Wayne Lomax

            Amy Madigan as Viola Kelsey

            John Malkovich as Mr. Will

            Danny Glover as Moze

            Yankton Hatten as Frank

            Gennie James as Possum

            Lane Smith as Albert Denby

            Ray Baker as Royce Spalding

            Jim Gough as Lone Star Syrup Boy

            Vernon Grote as KKK Man

            Lou Hancock as Dispossessed Lady

            Jerry Haynes as Deputy Jack Driscoll

            Toni Hudson as Ermine

            Terry O'Quinn as Buddy Kelsey

            Jay Patterson as W.E. Simmons

            Bob Porter as Stunt Double

            Matthew Posey as Eugene

            J.C. Quinn as Texas Voice

            Bert Remsen as Tee Tot Hightower

            Robert Schenkkan as Texas Voice

            Bill Thurman as Lone Star Syrup Boy

            De'voreaux White as Wylie

            Trey Wilson as Texas Voice

            Gregg Brazzel as KKK Man

            Ned Dowd as KKK Man

            Randy Fife as KKK Man

            Paul Nuckles as KKK Man

            Shelby Brammer as Ruby

            Sharon Schaffer as Stunt Double

            Norma Young as Beauty Shop Customer
See full cast