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The Ballad of the Sad Cafe

  • 1991
  • PG-13
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
945
YOUR RATING
The Ballad of the Sad Cafe (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:00
1 Video
30 Photos
ComedyDramaMystery

A tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminu... Read allA tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminutive crook-back named Lymon. He suggests they open a café in the downstairs of her large h... Read allA tangled triangle. In the rural South of the early 20th century, Miss Amelia is the town eccentric, selling corn liquor and dispensing medicine. She takes in her half-sister's son, a diminutive crook-back named Lymon. He suggests they open a café in the downstairs of her large house. Marvin Macy gets out of prison and returns to town; turns out he was married to Amel... Read all

  • Director
    • Simon Callow
  • Writers
    • Michael Hirst
    • Edward Albee
    • Carson McCullers
  • Stars
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • Keith Carradine
    • Cork Hubbert
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.8/10
    945
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Simon Callow
    • Writers
      • Michael Hirst
      • Edward Albee
      • Carson McCullers
    • Stars
      • Vanessa Redgrave
      • Keith Carradine
      • Cork Hubbert
    • 25User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Ballad of the Sad Cafe
    Trailer 1:00
    Ballad of the Sad Cafe

    Photos30

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    Top Cast55

    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Miss Amelia
    Keith Carradine
    Keith Carradine
    • Marvin Macy
    Cork Hubbert
    Cork Hubbert
    • Cousin Lymon
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Rev. Willin
    Austin Pendleton
    Austin Pendleton
    • Lawyer Taylor
    Beth Dixon
    • Mary Hale
    Lanny Flaherty
    Lanny Flaherty
    • Merlie Ryan
    Mert Hatfield
    Mert Hatfield
    • Stumpy McPhail
    Earl Hindman
    Earl Hindman
    • Henry Macy
    Anne Pitoniak
    • Mrs. McPhail
    Frederick Johnson
    • Jeff
    Lauri Raymond
    • Sadie Ricketts
    Joe Stevens
    Joe Stevens
    • Henry Ford Crimp
    • (as Joe Stephens)
    Keith Wommack
    • Tom Rainey
    Kevin Wommack
    • George Rainey
    Laura Burns
    • Molly Kelly
    Megan Bowman
    • Townspeople
    Fred Brumfield
    • Townspeople
    • Director
      • Simon Callow
    • Writers
      • Michael Hirst
      • Edward Albee
      • Carson McCullers
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    5.8945
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    10

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      The original Broadway production of "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" by Edward Albee opened at the Martin Beck Theater in New York on 30th October 1963 and ran for 123 performances until the play closed on 15th February 1964.
    • Goofs
      Several times earlier in the film, we are shown how the only way to arrive at Miss Amelia's secret still is by wading - neck-deep - through a muddy swamp. Yet late in the film when Marvin Macy and Cousin Lymon are shown at Miss Amelia's still, their clothes are clean and dry.
    • Quotes
      • Mary Hale: Marvin changed himself. That time he loved Miss Amelia. Well, it seemed like he changed completely -- he was -- he was good to me, and to Henry... You remember that, doncha'?
      • Rev. Willin: I remember that.
      • Mary Hale: Why'd she throw him out? Why'd she marry him and then throw him out? Why?
      • Rev. Willin: I don't know. All I know is... that it takes two people to be in love. It takes the... lover... and the beloved. But these two, they come from... diff'rent countries. And sometimes, the... the belove is the cause for all the, all the stored-up love that's lain in the heart of the lover for such... a looong time, and every lover knows that... deep... deep in his soul, he knows that his love is a lonely and solitary thing --
      • [sad chuckle]
      • Rev. Willin: -- and the funny thing is, the object of that love... can be anybody, and it just don't... matter one whit.
      • [shakes head]
      • Rev. Willin: That's why I guess most of us, we'd rather be... the lover than to be loved, I mean, because the state of bein'... beloved is... is intolerable. See an' then, after a while... the beloved gets to hate the lover, because the lover's always trying to strip, strip, strip baaare... the beloved. See, that's because the... the lover... 'e craves that love -- even though he knows that that love can only cause 'im pain.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper: Backdraft/Truly Madly Deeply/Madonna: Truth or Dare/The Ballad of the Sad Cafe/A Rage in Harlem (1991)

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    Details

    • Release date
      • June 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Merchant Ivory Productions (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Ballad of the Sad Café
    • Filming locations
      • Austin, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Channel Four Films
      • Merchant Ivory Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Gross US & Canada
      • $184,890
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,343
      • May 5, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $184,890
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 41m(101 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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