Honkytonk Man
| Honkytonk Man | |
|---|---|
|
Promotional movie poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Clint Eastwood |
| Produced by | Clint Eastwood |
| Written by | Clancy Carlile |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | Steve Dorff |
| Cinematography | Bruce Surtees |
| Edited by |
Ferris Webster Michael Kelly Joel Cox |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates | December 15, 1982 |
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million[1] |
| Box office | $4,484,991[2] |
Honkytonk Man is a 1982 American musical drama film set in the Great Depression. Clint Eastwood, who produced and directed, stars with his son, Kyle Eastwood. Clancy Carlile's screenplay is based on his novel of the same name. This was Marty Robbins' last appearance before he died. The story of Eastwood's character, Red Stovall is loosely based on the life of Jimmie Rodgers.
Plot summary
Itinerant western singer Red Stovall (Clint Eastwood), suffers from tuberculosis but has been given an opportunity to make it big at the Grand Ole Opry. He is accompanied by his young nephew Whit (Kyle Eastwood), to Nashville, Tennessee. After a series of adventures which include the nephew's first sexual encounter in a brothel, he and uncle Red finally arrive at Nashville. A fit of coughing in the middle of his audition at the Grand Ole Opry ruins his chance and his dream. But talent scouts for a record company are impressed enough to arrange a recording session, realizing that he has only days to live. The tuberculosis reaches a critical stage in the middle of this session, where Red's lines are filled in by a side guitarist. Red finally succumbs while Whit vows to tell the story of his uncle. Red's vintage Lincoln Model K touring car, prevalent throughout the movie, finally 'dies' at the cemetery where Red is laid to rest.
Production
Filming took place over five weeks on location.[3] The first part of the movie was filmed in Bird's Landing, California.[3] However, the majority of this feature was filmed in and around Calaveras County, east of Stockton, California. Exterior scenes include Main Street, Mountain Ranch; Main Street, Sheepranch; and the Pioneer Hotel in Sheepranch. The famous jail break scene was filmed in Dayton, Nevada at the corner of Pike Street (the Lincoln Highway) and W Main Street. The vintage brick building the movie-built jail was attached to is the Odeon Hall, where Marilyn Monroe's paddle ball and bar interior scenes were shot in The Misfits (1961). Extras were locally hired and many of the towns residents are seen in the movie.
Cast
- Clint Eastwood as Red Stovall
- Kyle Eastwood as Whit
- John McIntire as Grandpa
- Alexa Kenin as Marlene
- Verna Bloom as Emmy
- Matt Clark as Virgil
- Barry Corbin as Arnspriger
- Jerry Hardin as Snuffy
- Tim Thomerson as Highway Patrolman
- Macon McCalman as Dr. Hines
- Joe Regalbuto as Henry Axle
- Gary Grubbs as Jim Bob
- Marty Robbins as Smokey
Reception
Honkytonk Man received critical acclaim, and has a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.[4] The New York Post wrote, "The pace is slow, very country, but it rises to touching moments...not all perfect by any means, but ultimately a story of occasional awkward truths."[5] The film grossed $4.5 million at the United States box office.[6] The film was nominated for a Razzie Awards for Worst Original Song for No Sweeter Cheater than You.[7]
References
- ↑ Thompson, p.82
- ↑ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=honkytonkman.htm
- 1 2 Hughes, p.136
- ↑ "Honkytonk Man". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ↑ Hughes, p.138
- ↑ Hughes, p.137
- ↑ Wilson, John (2005). The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 0-446-69334-0.
Bibliography
- Hughes, Howard (2009). Aim for the Heart. London: I.B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-84511-902-7.
- Thompson, David (1999). "Cop on a Hot Tightrope". In Robert E., Kapsis; Coblentz, Kathie. Clint Eastwood: Interviews. University Press of Mississippi. pp. 81–95. ISBN 1-57806-070-2.