“It boasts one hell of an ensemble.” - Alyx Vesey, Bitch Media
“Yes, the characters are warped by their illusions, but Altman has a poetic intuition of the way illusions wrap around people’s lives, and his technique—all the artifice he brings to the staging—becomes one with the themes of illusion and deception.” - Pauline Kael, The New Yorker
Wednesday, July 30, 6:00 p.m. & Saturday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. | After the critical lashing he received for POPEYE, Altman turned to Broadway, directing Ed Graczyk’s play Come Back to the 5 And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean, about a group of women who reunite inside a Woolworth’s in rural Texas in 1975 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of James Dean’s death. Altman made a deal with the stage producer to retain the original cast (Karen Black, Cher, Sandy Dennis, Kathy Bates) and the set, which included two-way mirrors, and allowed the camera to transition from present to past as the women recall the last two decades of their lives. COME BACK… had its U.S. premiere on September 30, 1982 (the anniversary of James Dean’s death) at the Chicago International Film Festival, where it received a 10 minute standing ovation. A brilliantly acted and sincere exploration of the passage of time, COME BACK… is a gentle gem.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Gold Hugo, Best Feature, Chicago International Film Festival
Nominee - Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Cher), Golden Globes
Nominee - Best Supporting Actress (Cher), Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Robert Altman Centennial | June–August 2025
Robert Altman (1925–2006) is one of the rare directors whose name alone conjures his style. Say a film is “Altmanesque” and you’ll get nods of understanding—most cinephiles know the auteur’s calling cards: large ensemble casts; overlapping dialogue; a roving camera, and a subtle critique of the American Dream. Altman was prolific (a hardworking midwesterner), directing 36 feature films, and well over 100 episodes of television. Nominated for five Best Director Academy Awards, Altman was presented with an Honorary Academy Award in 2006—and he passed away nine months later, at the age of 81. When asked by Playboy Magazine in 1976, “When you look into your future, what do you want to have accomplished?” Altman answered, “All I want is to do what I'm doing. What else would I do?”
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu