john travolta be like, “i’m not misogynistic you fucking bitch”
After moving to Pasadena, Texas, country boy Bud Davis starts hanging around a bar called Gilley's, where he falls in love with Sissy, a cowgirl who believes the sexes are equal. They eventually marry, but their relationship is turbulent due to Bud's traditional view of gender roles. Jealousy over his rival leads to their separation, but Bud attempts to win Sissy back by triumphing at Gilley's mechanical bull-riding competition.
Where to watch
1Urban Cowboy is showing in 1 cinema in Los Angeles — next screening Thursday 23 July at 20:00 at Desert 5 Spot.
Thursday, 23 July
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6What people say
halfway through i realized i meant to watch midnight cowboy lmao
John Travolta spends one half of “Urban Cowboy” on a mechanical bull and the other half beating up his wife. It was a cultural reset! No really, it was. For how mediocre and pointless director James Bridges’ “Urban Cowboy” is as a film, it was also one of the most influential movies of the 1980s. Only its influence — was in pretty much every area of popular culture other than cinema. Have you ever heard the phrase ‘countrypolitan?’ That derived from “Urban Cowboy.” Listened to country music anytime after 1980? The fruits of a genre revitalisation courtesy of “Urban Cowboy.” Hey - have you ever heard the phrase ‘urban cowboy?’ I’ll bet you can guess where that came from. But try as you might, you’ll be hard pressed to find anyone under 40 who has actually seen the film. More luck to you actually getting someone who has seen it to give a basic plot recap. Trick question. There is no plot. “Urban Cowboy” is essentially a series of interludes in the lives of John Travolta and Deborah Winger, playing characters who might be politely referred to as “Whiskey Tangos.” They line dance, he works on an oil rig, he hits her, she leaves, they fight in the mud in the middle of a road. You know, cowboy stuff. But there’s an accidental honesty about it all. Because by the 80s, ‘cowboy’ was essentially a brand aesthetic appropriated by rich white Texas millionaires and their wannabe underlings. Fittingly; there’s nary a black or LatinX person to be seen in this film. A great number of the original ranchers and cowboys were descendants of slaves, or of mixed Mexican ancestry. But then... the cowboys of “Urban Cowboy” are no real cowboys. They’re playing dress-up in the outfits of cowboys — not even able to ride an actual bull, but glorifying mounting a mechanical one inside a honkey tonk bar instead. And this — has defined an entire culture for decades.
Common questions
What is Urban Cowboy about?+
A young man moves to Texas and begins a turbulent romance while caught up in the culture of a local country music bar.
Who directed Urban Cowboy?+
James Bridges directed the 1980 film, a filmmaker known for capturing specific American subcultures.
Is the music significant in this film?+
Yes, the film is widely recognized for its country music soundtrack that significantly influenced the culture of the era. Tickets on Mood.
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