Themes: Race Relations, Culture Clash, Immigrant Life
Main Cast: Amy Madigan, Ed Harris, Nguyen Ho, Donald Moffat, Truyen V. Tran
Release Year: 1985
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Director Louis Malle scrutinizes modern-day racism in Alamo Bay. The scene is the Texas coast, where local fishermen resent the "intrusion" of Vietnam refugees. Fair-minded shrimp supplier Wally (Donald Moffat) hires several Vietnamese workers, which serves to further infuriate the locals. The most vociferous of Moffat's opponents is a fisherman, Shang (Ed Harris), who faces bankruptcy due to loss of business. A town meeting designed to settle the issue erupts into violence when Vietnamese emigre Dinh (Ho Nguyen) accuses some of the locals of bending the law for their own purposes. A desperate Shang asks his former lover Glory (Amy Madigan) for financial aid, a delicate situation in that she is Wally's daughter. When the Ku Klux Klan arrives on the scene to drive the Vietnamese out, Glory sides with the refugees, resulting in strong friendship between herself and Dinh. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Rudy Young - Skinner; Cynthia Carle - Honey; Martin Lasalle - Luis; William Frankfather - Mac; Lucky Mosley - Ab Crankshaw; Bill Thurman - Sheriff; Michael Ballard - Wendell; Gary Basaraba - Leon; Reathel Bean - Radio D. J.; Jerry Biggs - Buddy; Tony Frank - Leroy; Johnny Gimble - Band Member; Doris Hargrave - Mrs. Ranney; Buddy Killen - Rev. Disney; Harvey Lewis - Tex; Jay Patterson - Texas Voice; Khoa Van Le - Father Ky; Jimmie Ray Weeks - Texas Voice; Caroline Williams - Diane; Tony Anastasio - Band Member; Christopher Blum - Quick Finance; Carita; Laura Casterline - Brandon's Girl Friend; Max Evers - Pete; Carolyn Farnsworth - Marge; Jeanette Hudson Gray - Rita Venable; Mark Hanks - Brandon; Richard Hormachea - Band Member; David Ivanowski - Tyd Hwrt; Mary Carroll Kinnett - Kandy; Lan Ti Do - Bao; LeNguyen - Mai; Wally Murphy - Band Member; Donna Callaway Nugent - Rev. Disney's Wife; Barbara Opstad - Woman in Bar; Ed Opstad - Cal; Ray Benson Seiffert - Band Member; Sally Sockwell - Texas Voice; Norman Spells - Fisherman; Tuan Tran - Ho; Ken West - Fisherman; Reese Wynans - Band Member; Xuan Thi Le - Woman Shopper; Stanley Wilson - Texas Voice
Credit
Rhiley Fuller - Art Director, Marianne Fassler - Costume Designer, Deirdre Williams - Costume Designer, Louis Malle - Director, James Bruce - Editor, Alain Jakubowicz - Editor, Ry Cooder - Composer (Music Score), Rita Ogden - Makeup, Trevor Williams - Production Designer, Curtis Clark - Cinematographer, Louis Malle - Producer, Vincent Malle - Producer, Ross E. Milloy - Producer, Christian Kelly - Set Designer, Dewey Gene Grigg - Special Effects, Alice Arlen - Screenwriter
