The Trip to Bountiful is a 1985 film starring Geraldine Page, John Heard, Carlin Glynn, Richard Bradford and Rebecca De Mornay.
The movie was adapted by Horton Foote from his play. It was directed by Peter Masterson. Although set in Houston, Texas, the movie was filmed in Dallas.
The film, set in the 1940s, tells the story of an elderly woman, Carrie Watts (Page), who wants to return home to the small town where she grew up, but is frequently stopped from leaving Houston by the daughter-in-law who insists that there is not enough money for a travel ticket, and an overprotective son who won't let her travel alone.
Carrie Watts is living the twilight of her life trapped in an apartment in 1940's Houston, Texas with a controlling daughter-in-law and a hen-pecked son. Her fondest wish -- just once before she dies -- is to revisit Bountiful, the small Texas town of her youth which she still refers to as "home." The trouble is her son, Ludie, is too concerned for her health to allow her to travel alone and her petty daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae, insists they don't have money to squander on bus tickets. This prompts "escape" attempts each month which coincide with the arrival of Mrs. Watts' Social Security check. With writing by Horton Foote ("To Kill a Mockingbird," "Tender Mercies"), this is the touching story of Mrs. Watts successful escape and last trip home. Written by Mark Fleetwood
