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IMDbPro

Curse of the Starving Class

  • 1994
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Curse of the Starving Class (1994)
Drama

Sam Shepard's coming of age drama about a dirt-poor 1950's-era farm family. Dad's a foul talking drunk, and Mom is desperately trying to save what's left of their family life.Sam Shepard's coming of age drama about a dirt-poor 1950's-era farm family. Dad's a foul talking drunk, and Mom is desperately trying to save what's left of their family life.Sam Shepard's coming of age drama about a dirt-poor 1950's-era farm family. Dad's a foul talking drunk, and Mom is desperately trying to save what's left of their family life.

  • Director
    • J. Michael McClary
  • Writers
    • Bruce Beresford
    • Sam Shepard
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Kathy Bates
    • Randy Quaid
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    2.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • J. Michael McClary
    • Writers
      • Bruce Beresford
      • Sam Shepard
    • Stars
      • James Woods
      • Kathy Bates
      • Randy Quaid
    • 11User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos18

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    Top cast22

    Edit
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Weston Tate
    Kathy Bates
    Kathy Bates
    • Ella Tate
    Randy Quaid
    Randy Quaid
    • Taylor
    Henry Thomas
    Henry Thomas
    • Wesley Tate
    Kristin Fiorella
    • Emma Tate
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    Louis Gossett Jr.
    • Ellis
    Jim Fitzpatrick
    Jim Fitzpatrick
    • Emerson
    • (as James Fitzpatrick)
    Joel Anderson
    • Slater
    Lauren Abels
    • Taylor's Assistant
    John Cannon Nichols
    • Des
    Jerry Biggs
    • Policeman
    David McDavid
    • Will
    Gary Mitchell Carter
    • Weston's Buddy #1
    • (as Gary Carter)
    Peyton E. Park
    • Weston's Buddy #2
    • (as Peyton Park)
    Del Roy
    • Ellis' Buddy
    Stacie McDavid
    • Alibi Waitress #1
    Kimberly Gardener
    • Alibi Waitress #2
    Sue Shelley
    • Town Gossip
    • Director
      • J. Michael McClary
    • Writers
      • Bruce Beresford
      • Sam Shepard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews11

    5.52.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    shark-19

    Great acting in a slow-moving vehicle.

    Curse of the Starving Class showcases the fantastic acting talents of Woods, Bates, Thomas, and most notably, Randy Quaid who fits the bill of the sleazy desert-realtor to a tee. James Woods' portrayal of an alcoholic father to a farm family way, waaay down on their luck makes for great acting, but not quite good enough to make this film MOVE. I kept waiting for this story to turn around and pay off somehow, but by the end I still felt dragged down into poverty.
    10maythdr-50-447088

    How can you go wrong with Sam S.?

    I'm blown away by this piece. I read the play, saw the play...and this movie is spectacular! I'm usually not a big "Downer-Movie," supporter...I like happy endings, but, with that being said...

    I felt that the story, the actors, the setting, the cinematography, everything about the movie was amazing.

    I grew-up in central Texas and this movie depicted a lot of what I saw in the state.

    And it looks like Barak Hussein Obama's driving us right back into the ground again.

    I give this movie a 10 out of 10. The acting was the best I've seen in years.
    staisil2

    What Happened?

    This movie just sort of drags on, and never does really turn around or make a true point. I felt bad for James Woods, Kathy Bates, and Henry Thomas, because they are such great actors, and they chose to do a piece a crap of a movie like this. I give this movie a 5 out of 10, only because the actors tried.
    Salgirl

    Have you read the play?

    This message mainly goes out to satisil2. Have you read the play? Nothing happens. That's it. It just goes and goes and goes. . . Not to say I didn't enjoy it, I'm quite a Sam Shepered fan, myself (for a real thrill, watch True West)but that's how his plays are. It's more about the characters than the plot. Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. Pretty good depiction of the dirt poor (or starving class, as one may call it)
    8tolerford

    Script and Acting is Fabulous

    You can't improve on the casting of the leads here, nor the dialogue. So earthy, and James Woods in the field during the thunder is incredible. Cinematography holds your admiration and attention. Can't beat Sam Shepherd in the first place; Beresford's name is familiar to me.... True as I read in another viewer's observation that it was slow, but when your focus is the craft, slow is a luxury. Beautifully understated complexities that hit home with few words. I did turn away during the graphic violence; I see men outnumber women in the enjoyment of this movie, and that's likely why. The role of the daughter was the only lackluster performance. For lovers of craft, I'd recommend this movie highly.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film cast includes two Oscar winners: Kathy Bates and Louis Gossett, Jr.; and two Oscar nominees: James Woods and Randy Quaid.
    • Quotes

      Wesley Tate: How come I'm going backwards?

      Emma Tate: Because you don't look ahead, that's why. You can't just believe people when they look you in the eyes. You have to look behind them. And see what they're standing in front of, what they're hiding. Everybody's hiding.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Breaking News (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      The Devil Song
      Written by Todd Rigione

      Performed by Squash

      Published by MCA Music Pub., A Div. of MCA, Inc./ASCAP

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 5, 1995 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Den stora drömmen
    • Filming locations
      • Dallas, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • Trimark Pictures
      • August Entertainment
      • Breakheart Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $12,577,385 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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