END OF THE LINE
US, 1987, 103 minutes, Colour.
Holly Hunter, Mary Steenburgen, Wilford Brimley, Kevin Bacon, Bob Balaban, Levon Helm, Barbara Barrie.
Directed by Jay Russell.
End of the Line is a pleasing piece of Americana, about the little people and their losing their jobs because of changes, about big corporations and their impersonal treatment. of the little people as well as their exploiting them. It is also an enjoyable film about trains.
The setting is Arkansas, a railroad community, the shutting down of their line, two veterans taking an engine to Chicago to argue their case with the corporation.
The film was produced by Mary Steenbergen and she is part of a strong cast led by Wilford Brimley, an actor in his 60s who was in many prominent films of the 80s, and Levon Helm. The supporting cast includes Holly Hunter, Kevin Bacon, Barbara Barrie, Bob Balaban, Henderson Forsythe.
A very enjoyable film, reminiscent of the films about the plight of the farmers so popular in the mid-'80s (Country, The River, Places in the Heart).
1. A piece of Americana, railroads, the workers, the little people, the bosses, the corporations, assertion?
2. The Arkansas settings, Chicago, the American countryside as the train went through? The towns and the cities, an outside world? The songs, the score and the mood?
3. The title, railways, the end of the line for the workers or not? The tradition of the outlaws and the references to Bonnie and Clyde?
4. The credits: Clifford in 1946, the new advertising campaign for planes, the contrast between Arkansas and Chicago? Warren and Les Sullivan and the running of the corporation? Clinton as chairman of the board but not knowing what was going on? The workers back home?
5. Mr Haney, 40 years' experience, his age, personality, friends, the playing of cards, home life, going to work? Friendship with Leo? Jean and the family, the problems, Everett wanting to marry Charlotte again, his wariness about the future, Jean and her reassurance? Prospects, the impersonal notice of closure, his reaction, arguments with the men, proposal to go to Chicago? Turning up alone, Leo arriving, the decision to go, driving the train and the effect, their thinking about their lives and their work, the night in the motel, television, going to sleep on the train, talking? The night drinking and the decision to kill each other, the humour of the shooting, shooting the train? The sequence of their arguing about going on and the engine going back and forth? The encounters with the hobo and taking him to Chicago? Arriving in Chicago, the fanfare, their sending out the hobo and walking up the side streets, a new world for them, getting accommodation, getting into their suits, going to the office, Gerber and his friendly, reception of them, trying to argue their case? Making the TV commercial and Haney saying it was a hit, going to find Clinton, with his trains, Haney fixing the carriage? The plan about the kidnapping, explaining the situation, the trip in the train, buying the yard for one dollar, the confrontation with Gerber and the sheriff? Winning? Going home, the uncertainty about the future? Charlotte and Everett? Self-assertion by ordinary men - with the touch of the American outlaw (and the comment of the young man who sold them the diesel oil)?
6. Leo as quiet, his work, relationship with Rose, friendly, intuitions about the closure, preparing the meal, deciding to go with Haney, his character, on the train, the talking and Haney sleeping, the night in the motel and watching television, his enjoying of the trip, thinking it out, in Chicago, pleased, with the pilot's role in the commercial, with Clinton? The return trip? With Rose again - and his change of clothes and style?
7. Jean as supporting wife, mother, cheering up her husband, ringing Rose, going to the police, receiving them at the end, knowing that there was no trip - and happy to stay at home?
8. Everett and Alvin and their friendship, drinking, winning at cards, work,, owing the $500, the fight, the racist comments, their combining and becoming friends again, their families?
9. Everett and Charlotte, the break-up, wanting to move on, Everett as loud, his having to ask Haney's permission, going to search for the missing men, Charlotte finding them, his decision to stay in the town, asking permission for the marriage, the ring and his cleaning it?
10. Rose and her style, seeing Leo missing, wanting to get the dogs away but their chasing her, Leo and the gun, Jean and going to the police, the happy ending?
11. Warren Gerber and his plan, oily, with Les, the advertisements in bad taste, his father-in-law, his concern about P.R., the welcome and the fanfare, the commercials, speaking smoothly, his anger and going to Clifford, hostile with the sheriff, losing out? His yes-man assistant?
12. Clinton and his playing with his trains, not knowing what was going on, disliking his son-in-law, trains and planes in the firm, joining in the kidnap plot, selling the yard for one dollar, defeating his son-in-law?
13. The atmosphere of the '80s and change, industry, jobs, lobbying, corporations, personal and impersonal?
14. A sketch of ordinary people and their lives, fighting for their jobs?
