Ralph Seymour | 80's Movie Guide

Taglines: Running from the past, and backing into love. Back Roads movie storyline. Amy Post (Sally Field) is a $20-a-trick hooker in Mobile, Alabama. One night she entertains Elmore Pratt (Tommy Lee Jones), an ex-boxer who has just been fired from his job at a car wash. He cannot pay her for services rendered. Pratt punches a plainclothes police officer. He and the prostitute drive away together, intending to head for California, bickering along the way. Back Roads is a 1981 American romantic comedy film starring Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones. It is directed by Martin Ritt. It got middling reviews and grossed $11 million at the box office. It was produced by CBS Theatrical Films and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Field and Jones disliked one another intensely during filming. Ritt said that he regretted not being able to make this film work, blaming its failure on both the script and the stars' inability to get along. In her January 29, 2013 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Field said that she and Jones reconciled many years later when he approached her at an event and apologized for the on-set clashes. They then went on to co-star in the 2012 film, Lincoln, for which they both received Academy Award nominations for their supporting roles. Back Roads (1981) Directed by: Martin Ritt Starring: Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, David Keith, Miriam Colon, Michael V. Gazzo, Dan Shor, Barbara Babcock, Nell Carter, Ralph Seymour Screenplay by: Gary DeVore Production Design by: Walter Scott Herndon Cinematography by: John A. Alonzo Film Editing by: Sidney Levin Set Decoration by: Gregory Garrison Music by: Henry Mancini Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures Release Date: March 13, 1981