Five Easy Pieces

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Five Easy Pieces is a 1970 film that 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 (classical) piano pieces referred to in the film are anything but.

The soundtrack employed a number of songs (five) by Tammy Wynette, including "Stand by Your Man". The "five easy pieces" refers both to five classical pieces and five country music pieces — as in, music that is both "sacred and profane".

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 tries to get a waitress to bring him toast with his breakfast, which is not on the menu. Despite appeals to logic and common sense, the waitress adamantly sticks to the rules of the restaurant, so Bobby comes up with a plan of his own:

Bobby: I'll have an omelet, no potatoes. Give me tomatoes instead, and wheat toast instead of rolls.

Waitress: No substitutions.

Bobby: What do you mean? You don't have any tomatoes?

Waitress: Only what's on the menu. You can have a number two - a plain omelet. It comes with cottage, fries, and rolls.

Bobby: Yea, I know what it comes with, but that's not what I want.

Waitress: I'll come back when you make up your mind.

Bobby: Wait a minute, I have made up my mind. I'd like a plain omelet, no potatoes on the plate. A cup of coffee and a side order of wheat toast.

Waitress: I'm sorry, we don't have any side orders of toast. I'll give you a English muffin or a coffee roll.

Bobby: What do you mean "you don't make side orders of toast"? You make sandwiches, don't you?

Waitress: Would you like to talk to the manager?

Bobby: You've got bread. And a toaster of some kind?

Waitress: I don't make the rules.

Bobby: OK, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. 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 number two, 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.

The waitress then indignantly orders them to leave.

External links

[Discussion of characters and themes in "Five Easy Pieces".]

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