Urban Cowboy

Bud Davis, played by John Travolta, leaves his parents’ home to make a living in the big city. When he meets Sissy (Debra Winger) in a club, he falls head over heels in love with her. The two rush into marriage, but it soon collapses under the weight of Bud’s jealousy toward Wes Hightower, the ex-con and bull rider portrayed by Scott Glenn.

»Urban Cowboy« (1980) is like a time capsule. As a precise portrait of a social milieu and an era, it exerts a powerful pull, drawing viewers deep into the world of Gilley’s, the sprawling club run by country musician Mickey Gilley. At the same time, the film surprises and unsettles with the casual way Bridges depicts violence in relationships. The blows Sissy receives from Bud and Wes are portrayed as everyday occurrences, which makes their impact all the more painful. This serves as a warning, giving »Urban Cowboy« a disquieting relevance that endures to this day.