Candy Mountain

Houston Cinema Arts Festival

Introduced by Marian Luntz, curator of film

This criminally underseen rock ’n’ roll road movie from Robert Frank and longtime collaborator Rudy Wurlitzer (Two-Lane Blacktop) sees Kevin O’Connor as a down-on-his-luck musician looking to strike it rich by locating the elusive guitar-maker Elmore Silk, whose creations turn a major profit in the music scene. What starts out as a simple journey becomes a series of wrong turns that lead to a revelatory conclusion in the Canadian wilderness. 

Candy Mountain is a forgotten cult classic of the 1980s with a decidedly 1960s spirit. Presented in 35mm on Robert Frank's 100th birthday, it features real-life music legends like David Johansen, Dr. John, Leon Redbone, Joe Strummer, and Tom Waits. 

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Presented in collaboration with the MFAH in celebration of the Robert Frank Centennial.


Underwriting for the Film Department is provided by Tenaris, The June Leaf and Robert Frank Foundation, and the Vaughn Foundation.

Generous funding is provided by The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea; Nina and Michael Zilkha; Lois Chiles; Foundation for Independent Media Arts; Franci Neely; Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick; Ms. Laurence Unger; L'Alliance Française de Houston; and ILEX Foundation.

Candy Mountain

Directed by Robert Frank and Rudy Wurlitzer
(USA, 1987, 91 minutes, in English)
Brown Auditorium Theater, 35mm