Chattahoochee

1989
R
1h 38m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

2.5K

YOUR RATING

In 1955 Florida, a Korean vet has a breakdown and is incarcerated in a "maximum security" mental health prison, where patients are abused.

Play trailer2:46

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Biography Drama

In 1955 Florida, a Korean vet has a breakdown and is incarcerated in a "maximum security" mental health prison, where patients are abused.In 1955 Florida, a Korean vet has a breakdown and is incarcerated in a "maximum security" mental health prison, where patients are abused.In 1955 Florida, a Korean vet has a breakdown and is incarcerated in a "maximum security" mental health prison, where patients are abused.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

2.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 2:46

Trailer

Photos35

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The "Emmet Foley" character is based on real life Christopher Calhoun (b.1934), an inmate of the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee, Florida from 1956 to 1962. He moved to Los Angeles after his release and wrote about and became an activist for similarly abused people. In a more modern time he would have been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of his combat in Korea, which is depicted at the beginning of the film.

Goofs
When Emmett leaves the house a second time, he fires eight shots from his six-shot revolver without reloading.

Quotes
Emmett Foley: I got one for you, Baker. There's these two goldfish, see, having this argument. And then one of them gets madder than hell. He gets so mad, he just swims away... and sits there for a long time in the corner of his goldfish bowl, sulking. And then all of a sudden, he gets this real smirky look on his face. So he sidles up to this other fish... and real smart-like, he says: 'Oh, good. If there's no God, then who changes the water?'

Crazy credits
The producers would like to thank the people of Columbia and Newberry, South Carolina for their generosity and support during the making of this film.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Miami Blues/Vital Signs/Lisa/Chattahoochee (1990)

User reviews32

Review

Featured review

Great film, two thumbs up to Gary Oldman

Chattahoochee is a fine film that explores heroism as well as the trials of personal relationships in times of hardship. The acting is superb, especially Oldman's performance of Emmet Folley as the unstable Korean war Veteran who ends up in an abusive and unsanitary mental hospital. Dennis Hopper also does a fine job and special recognition to Frances McDormand who plays Emmet's wife. She isn't the most likeable character but she proves herself again to be a fine character actor. I appreciated the movies realism and there was no doubt about the horror and darkness associated with the institution which Oldman's character was fighting against. Watching the entire movie is worth it just to see the scene where Emmet barricades himself behind the bunk beds and begins rallying against the guards. I wasn't completely satisfied with the sound track but the music was used in the all the right places. A great film both for it's historical significance and for it's study of relationships--and also of course for it's well built up exciting moments.