The rural town of Bixby, Oklahoma, doesn't have a lot to offer the kids that are stuck growing up there. In TEX, the poignant coming-of-age story based on S.E. Hinton's novel of the same name, Tex McCormick (Matt Dillon) and Mason McCormick (Jim Metzler) are two very different brothers forced to survive when their burnt-out rodeo cowboy father (Bill McKinney) deserts them. After his departure, the boys must face the hardships of running a household and making some tough decisions. Mason is a star basketball player eager to escape the confines of the small town, but forced into the fatherly role of looking after the younger, hapless Tex. Considering himself a fourth generation cowboy, Tex is happiest when he's riding his horse. He parties with the locals, plays pranks in school, flirts with his best friend's (Emilio Estevez) sister (Meg Tilly) and doesn't take life seriously. When Mason is forced to sell Tex's beloved horse to pay household bills, Tex must learn how to accept the loss and forgive his older brother. The two boys are drawn closer by the sudden appearance of their delinquent father and a series of life-threatening events that reminds them that they're all the family they've got.

Faithfully based on S.E. Hinton's novel, TEX portrays the lives of two diverse brothers struggling under the burden of running a household after being deserted by their father. This poignant story of emerging adulthood in rural Bixby, Oklahoma stars Matt Dillon as Tex McCormick and Jim Meltzer as his older brother Mason. The brothers are forced to face hardship and loss when their burnt-out rodeo cowboy father (Bill McKinney) leaves them with nothing to survive on. TEX is a touching story of growing up too fast and doing the best with what you've got.

Emilio Estevez, son of Martin Sheen and brother of Charlie Sheen, made his screen debut in TEX.

Sourcewriter S.E. Hinton and screenwriter Charlie Haas both have bit parts in the film.

Excerpt: "You're either real brave, real stupid, or real lucky."--a highway patrolman to Tex (Matt Dillon)

"That's all you care about, is going there and being a big basketball star."--Tex to Mason (Jim Metzler)
"Well, it beats staying here and being a screw up."--Mason to Tex

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Full Frame - 1.33

Distributor Notes: Tex

Experience Disney's poignant coming-of-age tale based on the best-selling novel by S.E. Hinton. For Tex McCormick (Matt Dillon) and older brother Mason, just growing up is the ultimate adventure, especially when Dad is always gone, Mom has passed on, and life is dealing you one challenge after another. Times are so tough, brother Mason has to sell off Tex's favorite horse just to put food on the table. So begins the small-town saga of one teen's straightforward struggle to find friendship, love, and family -- and learning that growing up is about never giving up.

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Matt Dillon: American Actor, DRUGSTORE COWBOY (1989)
Jim Metzler: American Supporting Actor
Meg Tilly: American Actress
Bill McKinney: Supporting Actor
Frances Lee McCain: TV/Film Actress
Ben Johnson: American Actor/Westerns
Phil Brock: Actor
Emilio Estevez: American Actor, BREAKFAST CLUB
Jack Thibeau: Supporting Actor/Writer
Zeljko Ivanek: Actor/In USA

Tim Hunter: American director, writer: TEX/CARNIVALE TV series

Pino Donaggio: Film composer, TEX (1982)

Howard E. Smith: American Editor, STRANGE DAYS (1995), TEX (1982)

"...A tenderly told coming of age story that works quite well..."
"...An utterly disarming, believable portrait of a small town adolescent....It will make a star of Matt Dillon..."