Comedy,Drama
United States of America
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean is a 1982 drama film directed by Robert Altman and adapted by Ed Graczyk from his own play of the same name. The film centers on a group of women who were all members of a James Dean fan club in their youth.
The film primarily takes place in a five and dime store in a small Texas town in 1975, on the 20th anniversary of James Dean's death. The women, who are now in their late thirties to early forties, gather to reminisce about their idol and their past. However, as the night progresses, secrets are revealed and tensions rise among the group.
The main characters include Mona (played by Sandy Dennis), who is now a waitress at the local diner and the de facto leader of the group; Sissy (Cher), who has become a successful businesswoman but is still haunted by her past; Juanita (Sudie Bond), who is now a devout Christian and has distanced herself from the group; and Edna Louise (Kathy Bates), who has gained a significant amount of weight and is struggling with her self-esteem.
Throughout the film, the story flashes back to the 1950s when the women first met and formed their James Dean fan club. The flashbacks reveal the complicated relationships between the women, including a love triangle between Mona, Sissy, and a young man named Joe (Mark Patton).
As the night wears on and the emotions of the women reach a boiling point, a surprise guest arrives and adds an extra layer of tension to the proceedings. In the end, the women must confront their pasts and come to terms with the present in order to move forward with their lives.
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean received positive reviews from critics and is considered a notable work in Altman's filmography. The film also marked one of Cher's early film roles and helped launch Kathy Bates' career in Hollywood.
