Road House (1989 film)
Road House is a 1989 American action film directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Patrick Swayze, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, and Ben Gazzara.
Road House is a 1989 American action film directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Patrick Swayze, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott, and Ben Gazzara. The film follows professional bouncer James Dalton, who is hired to clean up a violent roadside bar in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, and becomes entangled with a powerful local businessman. Despite mixed initial reception, the film later developed a cult following.
Plot
The film follows Dalton as he is brought in to tame the violent Double Deuce bar. His efforts draw him into a conflict with Brad Wesley, a corrupt local power broker, while he develops a relationship with Dr. Clay.
Cast
The film’s principal cast includes Patrick Swayze as James Dalton, Kelly Lynch as Dr. Elizabeth Clay, Sam Elliott as Wade Garrett, and Ben Gazzara as Brad Wesley. Supporting roles feature Marshall R. Teague, Julie Michaels, Red West, Jeff Healey, and Kevin Tighe.
Production and filming
Road House was directed by Rowdy Herrington from a screenplay credited to David Lee Henry and Hilary Henkin. Search results identify the film as an American production, but do not provide filming locations.
Reception and legacy
Although not a major critical success on release, the film later developed a cult following. It has remained notable in popular culture for its action scenes, quotable lines, and Swayze’s performance.
Key facts
- Patrick Swayze stars as James Dalton, a professional bouncer hired to restore order at the Double Deuce bar.
- The story is set in the small town of Jasper, Missouri, where Dalton conflicts with local businessman Brad Wesley.
- The cast includes Kelly Lynch as Dr. Elizabeth Clay, Sam Elliott as Wade Garrett, and Ben Gazzara as Brad Wesley.
- Road House was released in 1989 and is widely described as an action film with thriller elements.
- It later gained a cult reputation despite mixed initial reception.
Road House has long been part of North American popular-culture viewing, including in Canada, where it is often discussed as a cult action film and as part of Patrick Swayze’s film legacy.
Frequently asked questions
Who starred in Road House?
What is Road House about?
Where was Road House filmed?
What happened to Patrick Swayze?
Is there a Road House remake?
Is Road House a cult film?
References
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_House_(1989_film)Supports: Release year, director, main cast, plot summary, and general film identification.
- Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1017666-road_house/cast-and-crewSupports: Cast, release date, and brief plot description.
- YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpmWANitAcgSupports: Summary of the film and mention of Patrick Swayze's death in the video's narration.
- IMDb data mirror — https://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~vaibhavvyas/cs784/IMDB_data/html_data/tt0098206.htmlSupports: Cult-film characterization and basic film metadata.