The Straight Story
David Lynch: Between Two Worlds, Part III
“The worst part of being old is remembering when you was young..”
We continue David Lynch: Between Two Worlds with a detour through one of the most unexpected entries in Lynch’s filmography — the G-rated, Disney-distributed THE STRAIGHT STORY.
Released in 1999, this quiet, deeply human film tells the true story of Alvin Straight, a 73-year-old man who drove a riding lawnmower across the Midwest to reconcile with his estranged brother. It’s a far cry from the surreal horrors of TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME and LOST HIGHWAY, but in its own way, THE STRAIGHT STORY is no less profound — a meditative road movie about aging, regret, and the small acts of grace that bind us together.
In this two-part episode, we trace the real-life events that inspired the film, how Lynch became involved through longtime collaborator Mary Sweeney, and the story’s path to the screen. We’ll also explore the film’s gentle pacing, the poetic score by Angelo Badalamenti, and Richard Farnsworth’s moving final performance — one that earned him an Oscar nomination just a year before his death.
It may be Lynch’s most conventional film, but THE STRAIGHT STORY still bears his unmistakable imprint: the awe of the unknown, the ache of memory, and the belief that even the simplest journey can carry great weight.
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THE STRAIGHT STORY, Part 1
THE STRAIGHT STORY, Part 2
Coming soon.
Credits
Directed by David Lynch
Screenplay by Mary Sweeney | John Roach
Starring Richard Farnsworth | Sissy Spacek | Harry Dean Stanton
Music by Angelo Badalamenti
Produced by Mary Sweeney | Neal Edelstein | Alaine Sarde
Cinematography by Freddie Francis
Edited by Mary Sweeney
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Benjamin Yates | curtcake5k | Andy Lancaster | MagicBloat | Jvance325 | Nate Izod | Elton Novara | Robert Stinson | Nathan Kelley | asotirov | Jackson_Baker | Interzone78 | Lucy Lawson | courtland ashley | LillymckY | Spacemonkey73 | KDurden | Robert
Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy.
This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis.
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