Before striking it rich with Landman, Billy Bob Thornton teamed with Robert Duvall for a forgotten oil drama. After Thornton stole 1883 with four minutes of screentime, Taylor Sheridan wrote Landman with the actor in mind. That’s skipping ahead, as long before he became a star, Thornton was a jobbing actor who was pals with the late, great Robert Duvall.
Thornton has described Duvall as his “mentor,” and the two worked together on many movies like Sling Blade or 2014’s The Judge. One of their earliest collaborations came with 1995’s The Stars Fell on Henrietta, a Depression-era story about an oil “wildcatter” named Mr. Cox (Duvall), who believes there’s oil underneath a broke farmer’s land.
The Stars Fell On Henrietta Plays Like A Period Version Of Landman
The drama gave a supporting role to Thornton as Roy, an oil rig worker caught up in Cox’s ambitions. It’s interesting looking back on Billy Bob Thornton’s movies from the 1990s, where The Stars Fell on Henrietta, Steven Seagal’s On Deadly Ground and Armageddon all revolved around oil workers in some form.
Tonally, The Stars Fell on Henrietta doesn’t have much in common with Landman, and lacks the harsh bite of Sheridan’s TV series. The 1995 film is more like a Frank Capra story, where the main characters suffer in pursuit of an impossible dream – and are eventually rewarded for keeping the faith.
The Stars Fell On Henrietta Marked An Odd First For Clint Eastwood’s Production Company
The Stars Fell on Henrietta was co-produced by none other than Clint Eastwood through his Malpaso company. The film marked a curious first for Malpaso too, as it was the first time since it was founded in 1967 that Eastwood himself didn’t star in the movie.
There is little information on the making of the film, so it’s unknown why Eastwood opted to only produce. It’s possible that at one point he was eyeing the Mr. Cox role, but became busy with other projects. The Stars Fell on Henrietta also features a major part for actress Frances Fisher, who was Eastwood’s romantic partner at the time.
Robert Duvall’s Performance Is The Best Reason To Watch The Stars Fell On Henrietta
The Stars Fell on Henrietta was a major financial dud, grossing less than $100,000 on an estimated $13 million budget (via The Numbers). The historical drama is relatively obscure now too, but if there’s a single reason to unearth it, it’s Duvall’s exceptional performance.
Even in his worst movies, Duvall was incapable of giving a bland or indifferent performance, and he really elevates The Stars Fell on Henrietta. He’s surrounded by a great cast (including Thornton and Brian Dennehy) but Cox really is the center of gravity for the whole story.
Even though the character is depicted as an over-the-hill loser, it’s easy to see why the other characters are taken in by Cox’s flights of fancy. Duvall is so charming and captivating that he effortlessly walks away with The Stars Fell on Henrietta, and it’s a project his fans should seek out.
Source: The Numbers
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The Stars Fell on Henrietta
- Release Date
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September 15, 1995
- Runtime
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109 minutes
- Director
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James Keach
- Writers
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Philip Railsback
Cast
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Brian Dennehy
Big Dave McDermot
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- Birthdate
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January 5, 1931
- Birthplace
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San Diego, California, United States
- Height
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5 feet 8 inches
- Professions
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Actor, Filmmaker
