''Heartland'' is a 1979 American film, directed by Richard Pearce, starring

Rip Torn Elmore Rual "Rip" Torn Jr. (February 6, 1931 – July 9, 2019) was an American actor whose career spanned more than 60 years. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his part as Marsh Turner in '' Cross Creek'' ...

and Conchata Ferrell. The film is a stark depiction of early homestead life in the American West. It is based on a memoir by Elinore Pruitt Stewart, titled ''Letters of a Woman Homesteader'' (1914).

Plot

In 1910 Wyoming, a widow and her seven-year old daughter travel by train to two great unknowns-a strange land and life in a remote frontier with a man they never met.

Production

Set in southwestern Wyoming, where Stewart homesteaded, the movie was filmed in central Montana. The soundtrack features New Orleans clarinetist George Lewis playing the hymn " What a Friend We Have in Jesus."

Reception

In 1980, the film was featured as a "Buried Treasure" (a film that received little attention during its initial run) by film critics

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert (; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American film critic, film historian, journalist, screenwriter, and author. He was a film critic for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, Ebert beca ...

and

Gene Siskel Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the ''Chicago Tribune''. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted a series of movie review programs on television from 1975 until his d ...

on an episode of the TV show, '' Sneak Previews,'' (the latter put the film as one of the best films of 1981).

Cast

as Clyde Stewart * Conchata Ferrell as Elinore Randall Stewart * Barry Primus as Jack * Megan Folsom as Jerrine * Lilia Skala as Mrs. Landauer * Amy Wright as Clara Jane * Jerry Hardin as Cattlebuyer * Mary Boylan as Ma Gillis *

Jeff Boschee Jeffrey Allen Boschee (; born on December 21, 1979) is an American former basketball player and current coach. He currently serves as head coach of the men's team at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. He was formerly the head coach ...

as Land Office Agent #1 * Robert Overholzer as Land Office Agent #2 * Bob Sirucek as Dan Byrd * Marvin Berg as Justice of the Peace * Gary Voldseth as Cowboy * Mike Robertson as Cowboy * Doug Johnson as Cowboy

Awards

In 1980, the film shared the Golden Bear award for Best Film at the

30th Berlin International Film Festival The 30th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 18–29 February 1980. The Golden Bear was awarded to the American film ''Heartland'' directed by Richard Pearce and West German film '' Palermo oder Wolfsburg'' directed by Werne ...

, and one year later on the

Top Ten Films A spinning top, or simply a top, is a toy with a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom, designed to be spun on its vertical axis, balancing on the tip due to the gyroscopic effect. Once set in motion, a top will usually wobble for a few se ...

from National Board of Review alongside cinematic heavyweights like

Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only category ...

winner '' Chariots of Fire'' and the

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...

blockbuster Blockbuster or Block Buster may refer to: *Blockbuster (entertainment) a term coined for an extremely successful movie, from which most other uses are derived. Corporations * Blockbuster (retailer), a defunct video and game rental chain ** Blo ...

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. It stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ron ...

''.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Heartland (Film) 1979 films Films set in the 1910s Films set in Wyoming Films shot in Montana Golden Bear winners 1979 drama films Films directed by Richard Pearce American drama films American Playhouse 1970s English-language films 1970s American films