Five Easy Pieces
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Five Easy Pieces is a 1970 film which tells the story of Bobby Dupea (played by Jack Nicholson), a concert pianist who is estranged from his family. In the opening of the film the character is working as an oil rigger. When his father becomes ill, he goes to confront the family, taking his diner waitress girlfriend with him. It stars Jack Nicholson, Karen Black, Billy Green Bush, Fannie Flagg and Sally Struthers.
The movie was written by Carole Eastman (as Adrien Joyce) and Bob Rafelson, and was directed by Rafelson.
The title refers to a beginner's primer for the piano, consisting of five simple songs. However, the five piano pieces referred to in the film are anything but.
It was nominated by Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Karen Black), Best Picture and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced.
In 2000 the United States Library of Congress deemed the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Famous quote
The movie's most famous scene takes place in a roadside diner, where Bobby trys to get a waitress to bring him toast with his breakfast (it's not on the menu). Despite using logic and common sense, the waitress adamantly sticks to the rules of the resteraunt, so Bobby comes up with a plan of his own:
- Bobby: I'd like an omelet, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee.
- Waitress: A #2, chicken sal san. Hold the butter, the lettuce, the mayonnaise, and a cup of coffee. Anything else?
- Bobby: Yeah, now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.
- Waitress: You want me to hold the chicken, huh?
- Bobby: I want you to hold it between your knees.
See also
- List of movies
- List of actors
- List of directors
- List of documentaries
- List of Hollywood movie studios