June 14, 1993
THE STARS FELL ON HENRIETTA
Screenplay by Philip Railsback
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
In East Texas 1935, MR. COX is a worn-out oil promoter who has never had a successful strike. He travels the country with his cat MATILDA looking for oil. He claims he and Matilda can smell oil.
Cox comes to a farm owned by DON DAY, his wife CORA, and their two children, PAULINE and BEATRICE. Cox smells oil. He tries to get Don to put up the money for digging, but Don refuses. Cox goes into town to find an investor. He is refused by everyone. Down on his luck, Cox takes a job washing dishes and shares a room with black busboy, ROBERT. Meanwhile, Don has caught the oil bug and starts investigating costs. He uses his cotton money to rent a rig. After the rig busts and the banker starts asking for the mortgage money, Cora gets mad at Don who winds up sleeping in the barn.
Cox starts robbing wealth oilmen to raise money. After robbing BIG DAVE MCDERMIT at a poker game, Cox returns with his bankroll to invest in a first-rate oil rig for Don's farm. Cox and Don drill for oil. All the neighbors think Don is crazy. Matilda gets sick and Cora heals her. As the boys are about to strike oil, Big Dave and four hit men arrive to kill Cox. The rig explodes. Cox is injured. Don runs Big Dave off his land. Cox and Don become wealthy. Cox repays his "investors." Later, Cox gets itchy feet and leaves in search of new endeavors.
Summary Criticism: While a familiar and predictable story, the setting is interesting and the characters are sympathetic.
The Stars Fell On Henrietta (1995) - imdb
Henrietta, Texas - wiki
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