Urban Cowboy (1980) Urban Cowboy (1980)

Paramount's 1980 country-and-western romance, directed by James Bridges from a screenplay by Bridges and Aaron Latham, adapted from Latham's 1978 Esquire article "The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy." A young Texan refinery worker courts and marries a tough-minded woman he meets at Gilley's, the famous Pasadena, Texas honky-tonk;b3 b8 their marriage breaks on the question of who can ride the mechanical bull,b18 and an ex-con bull champion sets up the test.b9

Quick Facts
Director James Bridges
Screenplay James Bridges, Aaron Latham
Based on "The Ballad of the Urban Cowboy" by Aaron Latham, Esquire (Sept. 12, 1978)
Producers Robert Evans, Irving Azoff
Stars John Travolta (Bud Davis), Debra Winger (Sissy), Scott Glenn (Wes Hightower), Madolyn Smith (Pam)
Music supervisor Becky Shargo
Cinematographer Ray Villalobos / Reynaldo Villalobos
Editor David Rawlins
Studio / Distributor Paramount Pictures
Setting Gilley's honky-tonk, Pasadena, Texas; Houston-area oil refineries
Release Date June 6, 1980
Running Time ~135 minutes
Rating PG

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