The setting is early America during the oil boom. An elderly, down on his luck 'oil man', Mr. Cox finds himself in the town of Henrietta. Using unconventional methods, he convinces himself and local Don Day that there is oil on Day's land. The financially strapped Day puts everything into finding oil...but at what cost?
Acting
Duvall's quietly devastating con man — his best underrated work.
Cinematography
Bleached Texas landscapes that ache with poverty and possibility.
Director
James Keach
Robert Duvall
Mr. Cox
Aidan Quinn
Don Day
Frances Fisher
Cora Day
Brian Dennehy
Big Dave McDermot
Lexi Randall
Beatric Day (eldest daughter)
Francesca Eastwood
Mary Day (as Francesca Ruth Eastwood)
Joe Stevens
Big Dave's driver
Billy Bob Thornton
Roy
Victor Wong
Henry Nakai
Paul Lazar
Seymour
Spencer Garrett
Delbert Tims
Park Overall
Shirl (waitress)
Zach Grenier
Larry Ligstow (owner of Greek restaurant)
Wayne Dehart
Robert
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Duvall spent weeks with real wildcatters to perfect his character's physicality and speech patterns.
The film captures the forgotten 1930s Texas oil boom that created and destroyed thousands of farming families.
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