Tony Keith As an avid movie aficionado and collector of Hollywood's Golden Years, who has little time for today's processed canned product, I rarely view anything made after 1955.But I thought that Cannery Row would be couple hours of escape with characters that lived simply in an earthier time and place.The opening, with the seagulls at evensong and the bell buoys swaying in the swell, with the fatherly voice narrating augured well.Then the two main protagonists were introduced to us. We had two Hollywood Idols of their day trying to act, or should I say emote, as two losers in a shanty town. That was bad enough, but I followed them into some elaborate expensive Emporium Brothel that was out of Paris of the 1890's with a staff of hookers that outnumbered the towns residents.I couldn't take any more, and at this point I gave up and canned the movie from my collection.I mean, Hunk Nick Nolte in his prime as an eccentric would be marine biologist and reigning beauty queen of the day Deborah Winger as a "drifter"?I am not even related to the Hemingways, but I wanted to sue Hollywood, too :)Take away the references to Hemingway and his book title and you have just another churned out, eminently forgetful, but expensively made TV pilot.

raingraham A lot of reviewers rightfully state this movie is not like the book. The storyline is actually based on Steinbeck's lesser known "sequel" to Cannery Row, a book titled "Sweet Thursday." It is a great read if you liked Cannery Row. I would encourage anyone to read "Sweet Thursday" and then re-watch this film. It is still not the best, but better knowing the source of the screenplay. That being said, just watch and enjoy! Well I guess IMDb needs more lines to validate this review, not sure why ten lines is a minimum requirement but that's cool. So, I have two lines to go. Okay, now one line. There is so much one can write about a movie that is admittedly unremarkable, but entertaining.

psny62 Nothing to do with the book, just used the names of the characters and the location names. It's a simple formula Hollywood movie, boy meets girl, they get on each other's nerves a bit and then it's time to fall in love. I can only imagine that the positive reviews here are from people who hold some sort of financial interest in the film. The story line, again nothing to do with the book really, was scattered and nonsensical. What a waste of my time. Read the book. Skip the movie. This movie actually ruined the book experience for me. Steinbeck would turn over in his grave if he saw this. Now I am reading East of Eden and see that a movie was made about that too. I will watch the film after I finish the book, but I am sure that it will be a poor remake too. As for Cannery Row, you will note that there was no romance between the characters, or any big focus on Dora's whore house. This is all changed in the movie. And the book takes place during the time the canneries were open for business. The film is set at a time when all the factories have closed and the industry had shut down. The characters are never really developed and none of them are likable in any way.

abacussk Even after 23 years I still have the newspaper ad for this movie on my bulletin board. "You don't have to be crazy to live here, but it helps." I love this movie. Of course, it pairs my two favorites, Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. It has the feel of an old time movie, or surreal, as another person commented. The characters are wacky and lovable and the dance scene and the frog hunt are unforgettable. The narration by John Huston is perfect.Watching Cannery Row is a relaxing, enjoyable way to spend an evening. And I have used Doc's speech to Hazel at least twice -the one about paying for breaking something.I don't think it is meant to be the retelling of Steinbeck's novel. I read both Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday ....and preferred the movie!!