The Gravy Train

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The Gravy Train
The Dion Brothers poster.jpg
Directed by Jack Starrett
Written by Bill Kerby
Terrence Malick
(as David Whitney)
Produced by Jonathan Taplin
Starring Stacy Keach
Frederic Forrest
Cinematography Enrique Bravo
Gerald Hirschfeld
Edited byJohn C. Horger
Music by Fred Karlin
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date
June 16, 1974
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Gravy Train, also commonly known as The Dion Brothers, is a 1974 American crime-comedy film directed by Jack Starrett, written by Terrence Malick (under the pseudonym David Whitney) and Bill Kerby, and starring Stacy Keach and Frederic Forrest. [1]

Contents

Although initially overlooked by audiences and critics alike, it has in recent years developed a cult following, and has been highly praised by filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and David Gordon Green. The film is still relatively obscure and hard to find, as there has never been any official VHS or DVD release.

Plot

Two West Virginia brothers quit their jobs as coal miners in order to make their fortune from armed robbery.

Cast

Legacy

Despite a limited theatrical run and no subsequent VHS or DVD releases, The Gravy Train has still become somewhat of a cult film. David Gordon Green has cited it as one of his five favorite films of all time, [2] as a major influence on his film Pineapple Express (2008), and as "the funniest movie ever made". [3] Green also screened the film in a film series he curated at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. [4]

Quentin Tarantino screened the film at his 2nd QT-Fest in 1998, and again in 2006 at his Best of QT-Fest. [5]

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References

  1. Sayre, Nora (June 17, 1974). "MOVIE REVIEW Gravy Train (1974) Screen: 'Gravy Train,' American Style--Almost". The New York Times .
  2. "Interview: Pineapple Express Director David Gordon Green | FirstShowing.net".
  3. "David Gordon Green". The A.V. Club .
  4. "David Gordon Green at BAM".
  5. "Best of QT Fest - the Quentin Tarantino Archives".