Crossroads (1986)
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The story
Eugene Martone, a 17-year-old classical guitar student at the Juilliard School, becomes obsessed with the legend of blues musician Robert Johnson, specifically the myth that Johnson sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads. After discovering that Johnson's friend, Willie Brown, is alive and incarcerated, Eugene travels to find him. Willie agrees to reveal a legendary 'missing' song only if Eugene helps him escape to Mississippi to settle unfinished business. The two begin a journey south, experiencing the blues legacy firsthand while navigating hardships and musical discovery.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Eugene Martone, a classical guitar student, travels to Mississippi to find Willie Brown, an incarcerated musician who claims to know a lost Robert Johnson song. Willie agrees to share the song only if Eugene helps him escape to Mississippi. During their journey, they experience the blues culture, and Eugene eventually trades his belongings for a Fender Telecaster. They are joined by Frances, a girl fleeing an abusive stepfather. Upon reaching a rural Mississippi crossroads, Willie reveals he sold his soul to the Devil, Scratch and Legba, for his harmonica skills and seeks to end the deal. The Devil appears and proposes a challenge: Eugene must win a guitar duel against the Devil's ringer, Jack Butler, in a music hall. If Eugene wins, Willie's soul is freed; if he loses, Eugene forfeits his soul. Eugene agrees and faces Butler, eventually winning by playing a fast neoclassical piece. The Devil tears up the contract, freeing Willie's soul. The two return to Mississippi and decide to head to Chicago to play together before parting ways.
- First release year
- 1986
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Walter Hill
- Writers
- John Fusco · writer
- Cast and characters
- Ralph Macchio · Eugene Martone; Joe Seneca · Willie Brown; Jami Gertz · Frances
- Genres
- musical drama; drama; road movie
- Themes
- the cost of fame; musical legacy; redemption
- Tone and mood
- musical; fantasy
- Premise and plot tags
- road movie; musical; supernatural
- Source material / true-story basis
- the legend of blues musician Robert Johnson
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics but was not a financial success, though it has gained a cult classic status among musicians.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 74% · scale: fresh rating · review count: 19
- Production trivia
- The script was written as a Master's Thesis at New York University.; The film features a climactic guitar duel between Eugene and a ringer played by Steve Vai.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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