Texture transitions associated with recrystallization and grain growth occur m thin films in different modes from those observed in bulk. As an example, the recrystallization of free standing (100) oriented Au films into (111) films was examined where the overall driving force presumably arises from the anisotropy of the surface energy. The recrystallization took place while heating between 600 ° and 700 °C. Subsequent electron microscope observations showed several stages of the transition mechanism. They include growth of twins inside the (100) oriented regions and a gradual bending and rotation of the twin crystals into the (111) orientation. This leads to (111) films which contain elastic distortions fluctuating on a scale of several microns.