"The Straight Story" - Alvin Straight

[The Straight Story]

"When my kids were real little I used to play a game with them. I'd give each one of them a stick, then I'd say, 'you break that'. Course they could, real easy. Then I'd say 'tie them sticks in a bundle', try to break that. Course, they couldn't.

Then I'd say that bundle, That's family."

Alvin Ray Straight (17 October 1920 – 9 November 1996) was a resident of Laurens, Iowa. He gained fame for traveling 240 miles (390 km) on a 1966 John Deere riding lawn mower to visit his 80-year-old ill brother in Mount Zion, Wisconsin. His brother had recently had a stroke. At a top speed of 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h), the journey took six weeks. The trip took place in the summer of 1994 when Alvin was 73 years old.

Straight's story was adapted into the film The Straight Story, directed by David Lynch, which starred Richard Farnsworth (in an Oscar nominated role) as Alvin Straight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OnsVDKjhpc

I think, personally, there is a message in all that which we should hear. From liberals sticking together, to us on DU doing the same. Family does not always agree, often we don't, but we still stick together.

And for those who ever wondered where my username came from, now you know.

[Matariki]

1. kick

for David Lynch reference. Too cool.

[The Straight Story]

2. My Fav Director, his only G rated movie IIRC and one of his best

and I have been a fan since Eraser Head days (his second best IMHO was Wild At Heart - outside of Twin Peaks).

[t0dd]

11. My favorites are Mulholland Drive and Elephant Man.

Check those out if you haven't seen them. Wonderfully imaginative, often surreal and heartbreaking.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Wow. You are related to that guy?

Awesome :)

[The Straight Story]

4. No - but when I signed up here for DU, I had that DVD sitting next to my PC

And being that it meant a lot to me, and had dual meaning, I used that for my user name.

In honor of him, Lynch, and telling the Straight Story - even when it does not make you look good, you tell the Straight story.

Alvin Straight reminds me of my own heart. Not perfect, but real.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. I was just kidding

And yes, that was an absolutely wonderful movie.

[roguevalley]

15. the gentleman playing the title character committed suicide. I believe

he wasn't well and ailing. :( Lovely, lovely story. Thank you for reminding me of it.

[alphafemale]

5. I loved that movie.

It's one of the most profound depictions of love I've ever seen on film.

And I had always suspected your screen nic was in homage to this.

edited for redundancy

[The Straight Story]

8. Does that mean you would go out with me

;)

[JaneQPublic]

6. A great movie. (nt)

[The Doctor.]

9. To have adopted a username based on anything,

given the user in this particular case, gives a great deal of respect to the source.

I'll have to be checking that out soon.

[Hissyspit]

10. It's a great true unusual story.

And an unusual movie for Lynch.

[The Doctor.]

13. Cool. David Lynch films have always seemed a bit dysjunct to me...

Although I like them.

I look forward to seeing this given the praise met with here.

Thank You.

[Kurt Remarque]

12. rent it tomorrow

[Hekate]

14. Nice. Kickin' and R

:kick:

[renate]

16. oh my goodness, what a beautiful, memorable movie

I watched it because of the reviews--ordinarily I'd have thought "yawn, dude on a lawnmower, I bet it's sweet but boring"--and I'm so grateful. Easily one of my top ten movies. It was incredible.

[progressoid]

17. I've been in the house that was it was filmed in.

(I know some people in Laurens)

[yellowwood]

18. An All-Time Favorite

The trip across the Iowa countryside is wonderful. The story's "message" is great. Everybody should see it.

[AuntPatsy]

19. I loved the story, thank you for sharing it...