The Stars Fell on Henrietta

Henrietta

This is a fine movie - I fail to understand why this picture did not receive it's just dues. Most certainly this should be on DVD - November 25, 2008

Hitch Your Wagon To A Star

This review refers to "The Stars Fell On Henrietta"...

Fans of Robert Duvall, if you havn't seen this one yet, you've got a real treat in store for you. Duvall will steal your heart and soul in this drama about the early "wildcatting days" of the oil industry.

Duvall is simply, "Mr Cox". An aging wildcatter, who can feel and smell the oil that has yet to be discovered, during this time of the boom. But yet, with all this intuitive knowledge of where there's oil to be found, he remains, a down on his luck, drifter. Hitching a ride, he's headed for California, to try his luck. When the car stops in the little town of Henrietta for gas, Mr. Cox decides to stay behind. He KNOWS there's oil here. He can smell it, he can feel it and he's gonna find it!

When he lands on the failing farm of Don Day and family, he tries to convince them to drill for oil on their property. Their money, his "expertise". But who would believe or risk their life savings this drifter, this hobo. Dejected, he doesn't give up and goes to great lengths to raise the money himself, not always in the most legal like fashion. Never the less, you will find yourself rooting for him from start to finish.

It's a wonderful story of going after your dreams. Basically a family film(rated PG) and it is, as long as parents of younger children watch it together and remind them that going against the law is not the way to attain your dreams.

Duvall is mesmerizing as the low key but intense Mr. Cox. You just want to see that oil shoot up out of the well for him. The rest of the cast add their marvelous talents as well. Aidan Quinn, Frances Fisher, and Brian Dennehy co-star, and be sure to look for Billy Bob Thornton and Park Overall. Also a great big nod to Matilda the cat who kept right up there with her famous co-stars. An endearing story, beautifully photographed and an exceptional cast, all directed by James Keach. You may notice it is a "Malpaso" production. Yup..an Eastwood produced film(he always has a knack for surrounding himself with the finest talent, even when he isn't in the film!).

I was set to go 4 stars on this film, thinking of other Duvall films, I would go 5 stars with(e.g. "The Godfather"), but the more I wrote about it, the more I remembered what a feel good film this was, so 5 stars, for one that I will view many times.

So Warner Bros!..Where is the DVD for this endearing film?!

Enjoy...Laurie
May 3, 2007

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