#sunshine parker

[accursedichor]

Halo

for @amethystandemma bc i'm on a comic kick rn

[abs0luteb4stard]

W a t c h i n g

[scenesandscreens]

Tremors (1990)

Director - Ron Underwood, Cinematography - Alexander Gruszynski

"Broke into the wrong goddamn rec room, didn't ya you bastard!"

[clemsfilmdiary]

Road House (1989, Rowdy Herrington)

6/16/23

[roadhousechronicles]

Act 1: Scene 11

It Ain’t the Money

Dalton sets out to find a place to lay his head, and he ends up at Emmet’s horse farm.  No phone, no television, no conditioned air, but a great view across the river to the mansion of the town baddie.

Emmet is played by Hollywood character actor Sunshine Parker.  Parker had roles in movies like Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and Tremors, opposite of Kevin Bacon. So that’s how you can get Swayze to Bacon in one step.  Parker’s charm made him a natural for the role, delivering such dialogue gems like “Calling me ‘sir’ is like putting an elevator in an outhouse.”  It was a role he was meant to play.

Equally well suited was Ben Gazzara in the role of Brad Wesley, the town mob boss and extortionist.  Gazzara plays the villain with all the bravado you would want in any western.  Cocky and sure, he oozed evil but charming in every scene.  Sure, The Big Lebowski might be memorable for younger audiences, he sharpened his sword in Road House.

This scene sets up the contrast between the rich and poor, evil and pure, separated only by the winding river which will play a significant part of the overall story.  The stark contrast of humble to opulent was entirely intentional, as both Emmet’s house and the barn were constructed entirely for this film.  By director Rowdy Herrington’s insistence, the loft of the barn has direct line of sight to Wesley’s estate.

This scene also includes one of the more pointed exchanges of dialogue. It’s hard to call it my favorite from the movie, but it’s certainly near the top.   When Emmet asks for $100 a month for rent, he embarrassingly introduces the request as necessary to keep him on the good side of the local Presbyterians.  When Dalton agrees if it will keep Emmet in the church’s good graces, Emmet responds “Ain’t it peculiar how money seems to do that very thing.”  So wise, and a kick-ass beard to boot.