Main Cast: Conchata Ferrell, Rip Torn, Lilia Skala, Barry Primus, Megan Folsom
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
The "heartland" of the title is rural Wyoming in the early 20th century, where dwells taciturn, reclusive Scottish farmer Rip Torn. Conchata Ferrell arrives at the Torn spread to work as his housekeeper. Paid near-starvation wages, Ferrell continues working day and night, hoping to use her savings to ensure a bright future for her 10-year-old daughter Megan Folsom. Touched by her diligence, Torn slowly falls in love with Ferrell, and after seeing the woman and her child through the torturous Wyoming winter, he marries her - but their union gets off to a shaky start and threatens to buckle, thanks to several unforeseen casualties. Heartland is based on several autobiographical works by Elinore Randall Stewart. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Disarmingly realistic in its depiction of the realities of frontier life, Heartland is a strong antidote to the cliches of traditional Westerns. This semi-documentary slice of life is based on the diaries of Elmore Randall Stewart about her days on the Wyoming frontier in the early 20th century. It's a strongly feminist statement about a woman raising her small daughter alone and scrapping for a living by working for a shy Scottish rancher. Director Richard Pearce brings an endearing touch to a film that is helped greatly by the dazzling cinematography of Fred Murphy. Conchata Ferrell and Rip Torn star in this small film that substitutes veracity for a high-powered plot. Pearce worked as a cinematographer on Woodstock and other documentaries before making his directorial debut. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Amy Wright - Clara Jane; Marvin Berg - Justice of the Peace; Jeff Boschee - Land Office Agent; Mary Boylan - Ma Gillis; Jerry Hardin - Cattle buyer; Doug Johnson - Cowboy; Robert Overhoizer; Bob Sirucek - Dan Byrd
Credit
Carl Copeland - Art Director, Hilary M. Rosenfeld - Costume Designer, Richard Pearce - Director, Bill Yahraus - Editor, Charles Gross - Composer (Music Score), Patrizia Von Brandenstein - Production Designer, Fred Murphy - Cinematographer, Michael Hausman - Producer, Beth Ferris - Producer, Beth Ferris - Screenwriter, Elinore Randall Stewart - Book Author
Heartland is a 1979film, directed by Richard Pearce, starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell. The movie is a stark depiction of early homestead life in the American West, and is based on a 1914 published reminiscence by Elinore Pruitt Stewart, titled Letters of a Woman Homesteader.
Though the story is set in southwestern Wyoming, where Stewart homesteaded, the movie was actually filmed in central Montana.
Prominently featured as a "Buried Treasure" (a film which had received little attention during its initial run) on a 1980 episode of Roger Ebert & Gene Siskel's long-running tv show.
