Beautifully adapted by director Peter Bogdanovich and Larry McMurtry (from the latter's novel), this is a masterclass in how to create fully rounded characters and then give them real lives to lead. While the nostalgic elements of this memoir of small-town Texas in the 1950s are lovingly realised (a miraculous blend of John Ford and Howard Hawks), it's the re-creation of that long-lost sense of community, in which everyone knew and respected one another, that makes this such a rewarding experience. Jeff Bridges and Cybill Shepherd excel, but it's the playing of Timothy Bottoms, Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman that gives the film its authenticity. This digitally restored version of the director's cut of the film (which was only previously available on video) includes scenes omitted from the original theatrical release.