Urban Cowboy (1980)
- Starring:
- John Travolta, Debra Winger, (more)
- Director(s):
- James Bridges
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Category:
- Drama
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
"You a real cowboy?" John Travolta traded disco for a mechanical bull in this adaptation by James Bridges and Aaron Latham of Latham's article on Western nightlife. Texas country boy Bud (Travolta) moves to Houston to work on an oil rig with his Uncle Bob (Barry Corbin), and he swiftly becomes indoctrinated in the nighttime rituals of drinking, dancing, and showing off cowboy duds at Gilley's, the enormous local honkytonk. There he meets and marries the sassy Sissy (Debra Winger), but the honeymoon quickly ends when Sissy starts spending too much time learning the men-only skill of mechanical bull-riding from ex-con Wes (Scott Glenn); Bud throws her out and hooks up with slumming Pam (Madolyn Smith). Under the paternal tutelage of Uncle Bob, Bud then learns not only how to master the bull but also what it takes to be a real man rather than just an ersatz cowboy. With a story, cast, and setting that were essentially Saturday Night Fever country-style, Urban Cowboy was poised to be a summer 1980 hit. Although its box office did not live up to Fever's legacy, Urban Cowboy did spawn a soundtrack album of country-and-western hits and helped spur a Western fashion vogue; people from all regions began sporting cowboy boots, and mechanical bulls started replacing passé disco floors. The first of Travolta's many comebacks, Urban Cowboy provided the star with a more "manly" image after his Moment by Moment (1978) fiasco, but it was neophyte co-star Winger who got even better notices. With its Western milieu and retro view of relationships, Urban Cowboy stands as a sign of the nascent Reagan era, as '70s icon Travolta learned bull-riding himself and replaced his white polyester with a black Stetson. ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 134 mins
Complete Cast:
- John Travolta - Bud Davis
- Scott Glenn - Wes
- Barry Corbin - Uncle Bob
- Bonnie Raitt - Musical Appearance
- James Gammon - Steve Strange
- Johnny Lee - Musical Appearance
- Ed Geldart - Bud's Dad
- Keith Clemons - Bud's Brother
- Sheryl Briedel - Lou Sue, Bud's Cousin
- Ellen March - Becky (Stoney's Waitress)
- Lucky Mosley - Plant Supervisor
- Jerry Hall - Sexy Sister
- David Ogle - Killer
- Jim Gough - Sissy's Dad
- Betty Murphy - Bud's Mom
- Leah Geldart - Bud's Sister
- Debra Winger - Sissy
- Madolyn Smith - Pam
- Brooke Alderson - Aunt Corene
- Cooper Huckabee - Marshall
- Mickey Gilley - Musical Appearance
- Charlie Daniels - Musical Appearance
- Ann Travolta - Wedding Party
- Steve Chambers - Truck Driver in Parking Lot
- Christopher Saylors - Bubba
- Robert Bush - Dwight
- Anson Downes - Wedding Party
- Gator Conley - Gator
- Howard Norman - Bud's Brother
- James Harrell - Minister at Gravesite
- Sean Lawler - Willie, Bud's Cousin
- Director(s):
- James Bridges
- Writer(s):
- James Bridges, Aaron Latham
- Producer(s):
- C.O. Erickson, Robert Evans, Jack Larson
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Questionable for Children, Violence, Adult Language, Adult Situations)
- Categories:
- Drama
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions






