Urban cowboy filming locations
Directed by James Bridges, the Urban cowboy is a 1980 romantic film that stars John Travolta and Debra Winger in the lead. The story revolves around “Bud” Davis and Sissy and their love-hate relationship. Most of the action takes place at Gilley’s club; a football field-sized bar in Pasadena, Texas.
The movie had received positive reviews from both the critic and the audience.
Mickey Gilley’s career got back on track after the film. The soundtrack of the movie started a whole music movement.
The term “urban cowboy” was also used to describe softcore country music of the early 1980s.
A closer look into the cast
In the movie, we see John Travolta as Bud Davis, Debra Winger as Sissy, Scott Glenn as Wes Hightower, Madolyn Smith as Pam, Barry Corbin as Bob Davin, Brooke Alderson as Corene Davis, Cooper Huckabee as Marshall, James Gammon as Steve Strange, Mickey Gilley as Himself.
We also have Johnny Lee as Himself, Bonnie Raitt as Herself, Charlie Daniels as Himself, Ellen March as Becky, Jessie La Rive as Jessie, Howard Henson as Himself, Connie Hanson as Marshallese.
Tamara Champlin as Gilley Background Vocalist, Becky Conway as Gilley, Background Vocalist, Jerry Hall and Cyndy Hall as Sexy Sisters.
A closer look into the plot
The story revolves around a young man from Texas named Buford “Bud” Davis, who was a construction worker and lets his marriage with Sissy fall apart as he strives to fit in the world Gilley’s, a Houston honky tonk.
Bud wanted to compete in the Gilley’s mechanical bull riding competition, where the winner was to be rewarded with $5000. Later, he won the contest and earned the reward money. He had also realised his mistake and apologised to Sissy and told her he wanted to get back together with her. And they head back home together.
The inspiration for the movie
Aaron Latham and James adapted the screenplay from an article in Esquire magazine. The article talked about a love story that started in the Gilley’s and ended up in a beautiful marriage. The real love life romance between Dew Westbrook and Betty Helmer inspired the romance between John Travolta’s and Debra Winger’s characters “Bud” and “Sissy.”
The movie was Patsy Swayze’s first film as a film choreographer.
The shooting of the film
Most of the movie was shot in a real-life honky tonk called Gilley’s in the Houston area. It had the capacity to fit around 6000 people and had one extremely famous mechanical bull.
The Honky tonk was named after its co-owner and country music star Mickey Gilley.
The mobile home park shown in the film was Pico Rivera, California. The prison Rodeo shown was in Huntsville, Texas. The penthouse condominium of Sissy shown in the movie was 2016 S. Main Street, Houston, Texas.
Toppers Steakhouse, 2408 Spencer Highway, Pasadena, Texas, is shown in the restaurant scenes. The restaurant sat between 2408 & 2510. 225 Red Bluff Rd, Pasadena, Texas, is the place where Sissy is working with a tow truck, towing a car
