Rewatched Tender Mercies last night, and had some questions about where the various action was supposed to take place. Please correct/fill out any of the following assumptions/question:
Mac lives in a hotel in the middle of nowhere. I believe the closest town is 4 miles away, and the nearest city is Austin. For some reason, I got the impression Austin was 2 hours away.
I believe Mac drove to Austin to see ex-wife Kitty sing at the “Opry.” My impression was that this was not a HUGE distance from Mac’s home, and did not require an overnight stay.
Did Kitty have some sort of residency at the Opry? I believe they showed her touring bus outside, but she also had a dressing room with a closet full of costumes. I do not believe they ever showed her singing anywhere else, and I do not recall her going on tour throughout the movie.
Where does Kitty live? Near Austin? Did Mac drive to the funeral? And why was he carrying a bag when he came there - that a household assistant took from him? Certainly he wasn’t staying overnight.
That his wife seemed to live relatively nearby somewhat jarred with his comment questioning what brought him to that particular corner of Texas.
Just a couple of minor questions that sorta nagged at me. Really enjoyed the film.
That is one of my favorites. I love Duvall in it.
Tess Harper is good in it.
As far as the “area” they’re in. Texas is big. My Sister, who lives in Austin, says everything is far away in Texas.
Filmed in and around Waxahatchie. Strange place. I’ve been there. It makes a good back drop for this movie.
I love the bigness of the movie. Wide open spaces.
I’ve driven Little Rock to Nashville numerous times.
It’s a 5+ hour drive (350 to 360 miles). 10 hours driving plus attending the Opry in one day is too exhausting for me. I always spend the night in a motel.
Little Rock is basically in the middle of the state. I can drive to most areas of the Arkansas & Texas border in 2 to 3 hours.
The Interstates limit driving choices. I usually drive I-30 to Texarkana (2 hour drive) and follow it into Texas. Get off and take a highway to a specific small town.
Anybody living in Texas better live close to the Arkansas & Texas border. Even then, Nashville would be at least 7 or more hours away.
Texas is huge. Just driving Texarkana to Dallas is a little over 3 hours. 190 to 200 miles.
I’ve driven to Six Flags, Texas a handful of times. It’s similar to the Nashville drive and requires staying overnight.
Thanks guys. I understand that Texas is large. Perhaps if you wished to start a thread discussing how large it is, that might be a good idea.
But in case I was not clear, my questions SOLELY concerned the geography as presented in the film. Where was the hotel compared to the concert venue, compared to Kitty’s house? Why did Mac bring a bag to the funeral?
They referred to several real world locations. I THOUGHT Mac was going to Austin to see Kitty perform, but I might have misremembered. Then later, when Mac went out driving I THOUGHT he said he started towards San Antonio, and turned around. Then started towards Houston, but turned around. He also referred to the car crash as having occurred in Northern Louisiana.
There are plenty of sites where I can find the filming locations. I understand that someone starting a thread has little control of where it goes, but I would greatly appreciate it if folk would at least nod towards the questions I asked. And, if no one has any info or interest, the thread can just die.