IMDb RATING
5.7/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
A prostitute and a drifter find themselves bound together as they make their way through the rural South, doing what they have to do to survive.A prostitute and a drifter find themselves bound together as they make their way through the rural South, doing what they have to do to survive.A prostitute and a drifter find themselves bound together as they make their way through the rural South, doing what they have to do to survive.
Michael V. Gazzo
- Tazio
- (as Michael Gazzo)
Royce D. Applegate
- The Father
- (as Royce Applegate)
Billy Jayne
- The Boy Thief
- (as Billy Jacoby)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Just recently checked out this little known film from 1981 called "Back Roads" and I knew it would be a winner when it had Tommy Lee Jones and Sally Field in it and I was right the chemistry had worked. This is a heartfelt little tale of struggle and a journey of survival it touches your emotions showing that everyone has good in them and life is an unexpected journey. Set in the deep rural south I believe Alabama you have Sally Field as Amy Post a sweet and love like street walking hotel staying hooker who earns 20 dollars for each bang she gives. Things shakeup a little bit when she meets the rough and rugged Elmore Pratt(Tommy Lee Jones) a man who's dreams of becoming a prize fighter has blown up in smoke as now he moonlights as a taxi car washer! After hooking up the two decide to journey out to California the best way they can as money will not stop them. This is an interesting journey in which both each learn respect, love and courage it proves life is a journey of discovery and learning how to love. Overall good little underrated gem to watch.
Good road movie and pretty emotion provoking. There are so many involving moments where you may sympathize the characters or feel sad about them, feel their situation and live it with them. The story may lack direction or logically complete end but nevertheless it's worth watching for the warmth of the characters' relations, the sensual way they stick together. If you can enjoy movies without judging them too strictly and without expecting anything stunning or extraordinary and just want to spend time following the way and sharing troubles with the characters, this movie might be for you. I rate this movie for the warmth that is expressed by the protagonists
Hi. Long time ago I was on a Swedish ship, a general cargo ship on a trip from England to Brownsville, Texas. It was a bad ship, and it ended in a one-way ticket back to Sweden, paid by the Swedish embassy, but, however, there were some Mexican hookers visiting our ship every day during our stay, very friendly and "speakable", but one day when they came aboard one of them shouted "I'm a movie star", and she explained that she had a part in a film called "Crossroads" (later I found out that it was called Back Roads), featuring Sally Field. As the years went by I looked for this film but never found it, until today(!) 14th March 2007, when they showed it on cable television...fantastic! After all, she wasn't lying! A little story on the first day of spring here in Sweden. Yours Rune Carlsson
Overlooked early 1980s film. The movie is a depressing look at two seedy characters trying to make it through life. The acting is solid and both Fields and Jones look the part of someone living on the edges of society. Jones is a two-bit club boxer with a reputation for losing. He comes across in a less then positive light, yet down deep, there's a heart of gold. Fields as a street hustler looks beat-up in this film. He rarely cracks a smile, and it's one of here meaty roles. However, the film is a somewhat depressing look at life, at least from the standpoint of street people. It's a fairly entertaining movie and if you're a fan of either Sally Fields or Tommy Lee Jones, then Back Roads is a film to see.
This little film has hooker Sally Field and drifter Tommy Lee Jones hitting the road together when Jones ruins Field's chances for, ahem, gainful employment in the one-horse Southern town where she lives after he decks a cop who tries to bust her. Along the way the two encounter various predicaments and characters, as well as revealing parts of their pasts. Fascinating study that gives two people on the fringe of society faces and intriguing stories. Keep an eye peeled for Nell Carter as a pistol-packin' waitress. Not a bad way to pass the time.
Did you know
- TriviaReportedly, Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones disliked each other and did not get along during production.
- Quotes
Mason: When was your last fight?
Elmore Pratt: I ain't had it yet!
- SoundtracksAsk Me No Questions (I'll Tell You No Lies)
Written by Henry Mancini
Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
Performed by Sue Raney
- How long is Back Roads?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $7,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,809,387
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,046,339
- Mar 15, 1981
- Gross worldwide
- $11,809,387
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