NASHVILLE

LIST OF SONGS:

'Two Hundred Years' during the credits
'Yes I Do' by the Negro Gospel Group
'Down to the River'
'Let Me Be the One'
'The Heart of a Gentle Woman'
'Bluebird'
'The Day I Looked Jesus in the Eye'
'Memphis'
'Rolling Stone'
'I Don't Know if I Found it in You'
'For the Sake of the Children'
'Keep a-goin''
'Tape Jeck in His Tractor'
'My Idaho Home'
'I Never Get Enough'
'Rose's Cafe'
'One, I Love You'
'I'm Easy'
'It Don't Worry Me',
'Since You've Gone'
'Trouble in the U.S.A.'.

Nashville is a magnificent film. Amazing that its first Melbourne release lasted only one week. Director Robert Altman has presented Nashville as a sardonic metaphor of modern America: the bizarre aspects of recent politics, violence and assassinations, the clashes of the strata of society, proud tradition, public enthusiasm, sentimentality, selfishness, the pleasing ordinariness of people.

The acting, encompassing a vivid gallery of characters, is extraordinary, the Nashville sound enjoyable but heavily
ironic. Sequence after sequence is interesting, engrossing, entertaining. Not exactly popular entertainment, but a blend of irony and realism about contemporary America.

1. Nashville has a good critical reputation. It did poorly at the box office. The value of this kind of film as commercial art? The atmosphere of the credits and the American 'razzle-dazzle' of show business?

2. The film was released in 1975 looking forward to the bi-centennial year. How significant was this? A particular view of America at the end of 200 years? America's status in the world? The invitation to reflect on the significance of America and its people, a sardonic view of America and the issues? How realistic was the film meant to be? How just was it in its criticism of people and issues, American history, American influence in the world? How necessary is this kind of satiric criticism?

3. The film's use of colour, Panavision? The visualising of the city of Nashville and its environment? Its presentation of the ordinary people of the city, the crowds, individuals, the individuals mingling and found within crowds? Environment and atmosphere? The American themes via this particular environment? The importance of the Nashville look and the Nashville sound? Nashville as a microcosm of modern America?

4. The importance of the use of sound? The techniques used, audiences being immersed in the middle of conversations, half-heard conversations, particular details, inconsequential pieces of dialogue, the ironies of the juxtaposition of conversations and of life? The importance of the editing and the weaving together of so many strands and individual stories? The feel of life as we live it? The blend of the important and the unimportant? Being in the midst of the various levels of interaction?

5. The contribution of the songs, Nashville as the city of song, the music and its style, the lyrics and their genuineness, the irony? The quality of the performances? The particular style of Country and Western music, atmosphere, clothes, ethos of the South in America? The old pry? The river boat? Songs at political rallies? The shows associated with the songs? The significance of so many of the songs, both serious and ironic ) being written and performed by the cast? How did they compare with real Nashville performers? Did the songs and the performances seem authentic or not? As a comment on the U.S.A.? Looking at the list of songs and considering the lyrics, what picture of America emerged from the songs? The irony of serious lyrics and the banal? The significance of the particular people who sang the songs? The various places that they sang? For example)Sueleen singing the same songs as Barbara Jean? The 'Two hundred Years. during the credits with the White Americans? The contrast with 'Yes I Do, by the black Gospel singers? Black and white during the credits? The unifying of all at the end? The irony of the final song? Why didn't this worry people?

6. The importance of the structure of the film: a microcosm Of America, the confining of the action to Nashville itself? The decision to present so many characters in such detail? The editing and blending of their stories? The structure and its use of so many well-known stars for particular performances? The quality of the performances within this framework? The varied characters and their effect? Audiences sorting out the different characters? Varying interest in the stories? Their interweaving? How well-drawn were the characters? Which particular personalities were caricatured? Why? e.g. Opal from the B.B.C.? How were the characters symbols of aspects of modern America? The three days in the structure, the sense of momentum, the focus on Barbara Jean and her arrival, the build-up to her death? The political framework? The build-up to the political rally and the music combining with politics? The emotional effect?

7. The political themes of the film: the critique of the Nixon administration, the highlighting of the Kennedy era as an ideal one? American politics in 1976, the comment on the two parties, the implied need for a third party? The emphasis on Hal Philip Walker, the explanation of his origins in the T.V. world towards the end of the film? The presentation of a political rally? The irony of presenting such a rally for the Replacement party? The fact that rallies are held like this for all parties? The significance of Tennessee as the State which had actually voted for presidential candidates (except
one) for the last fifty years. Does this validate the choosing of Nashville and Tennessee as the microcosm for America? The presentation of Walker's van, the continuous details of his policies as regards Congress, lawyers, churches and taxes, the National Anthem? The irony of his anonymous presence, the continued presence? The picturing of his supporters at the airport, Triplet and the various deals, the ballyhoo, the party to raise funds, Triplet's involvement in the details, Dalbert Reese and his involvement? The preparations for the rally, Barnett and his reaction to the ballyhoo? The political convention as a place for people to be assassinated? The fact that the end of the film was so linked with the political situation?

8. The picture of America: the initial introduction about the 200 years? The credits and the red, white and blue? Opal from the B.B.C. coming in to observe? (the non-American audiences coming in with her?) The significance of the highway crash and all the American values that it brought out? American brashness? The picture of America at the personal level, society, class, race, success and failure, politics, the anonymous crowds? How did Mr. Green and his concern for his wife, Martha, represent the ordinary Americans? Kenny and his mother as representing the harsh side of modern Americans? The picturing of the families?

9. The film's presentation of relationships: friendships, families, infidelities, casual promiscuity, loyalties? The simple the soldier and his loyalty to Barbara Jean, the pressures on the Hamiltons, Bud being forced into his work by his father? W and his 'phone call with his mother, Albuquerque and running away from her husband, Opal and her tactless push, the various rivalries? Barbara Jean and the rivalry with Connie White? Barnett and his running his wife's life? Sueleen and Wade? The insight into the strength and weaknesses of human beings?

10. Discussion of the characters by their various groups:

1) the Hamiltons: their status in Nashville, their representing Nashville, the arrogance of Haven Hamilton, his comments on Frog and the haircut for Nashville? His reaction to interviewers? His welcoming of Barbara Jean? His being a man of cliche and surface? Politics and the invitation to be Governor? His hold over his son and preventing him from being a singer and song writer? His relationship with Lady Pearl (their argument about Wanda during the war)? Their presence at the various places for talent and discovery of talent? Their reaction in the black scuffle? his reaction at the party and the meeting of Elliot Gould? His concerts and the style of his performance, his bland taking of everything seriously, his pride in his career, costumes, his shortness? His presence at the church? The deal about singing at the political rally? His being hurt at the rally? His naivety and selfishness? Bud as a contrast and a clean cut young man, doing what Dad wanted, inviting Martha out, singing his song for Opal and her rejection of him? His presence with his family, his father pointing him out for applause? His presence at Sueleen's Strip? Lady Pearl and her presence with the family, the importance of her political reflections about Catholics and the Kennedys? The personal intensity of her reflections? Her presence at the Catholic church?

2)Barbara Jean and Barnett: Barbara Jean as the heroine, the American heroine, the atmosphere of her breakdown, a Southern lady, her arrival and her concern with people, kind but calculating? A woman who had gone to the top? The human touches, for example her attitude towards Mr. Green? The rivalry with Connie White and her jealousy, listening to the radio, painting her nails? The importance of her love for Barnett, the clashes with him? The leaving of the hospital, her crack-up in arguing with him and the pathos of his directing her life and making her say goodbye? Her beauty, her singing, her being dressed in white? The pathos of her singing on the river boat and her breakdown, the beauty of her singing and the meandering of her madness? What did this signify? The build-up of her beauty, and the focus on Kenny before she was shot? The significance that she was the person assassinated? Kenny and his arrival, the mysterious guitar, the clean-cut young man, abandoning his car, the encounter with Winifred, his presence at the concerts, the relationship with Martha, boarding at Mr Green's place, his phone call with his mother and cutting it off, his intensity, his presence at Mrs Green's funeral, the importance of the editing and the crosscutting before his shooting of Barbara Jean, the significance of the hatred of his mother, mother America and Barbara Jean? The hatred in his face? Barnett and his roughness, his protection, his running Barbara Jean's life, the irony of his trying to present Connie White with a gift, his final blow-up with Triplet, the pathos of his helping of Barbara Jean when she was shot?

3) The Reeses: Linnea as a character and as a woman, her presence amongst the Gospel singers, the discussion in the car with Opal about her deaf children, the humanity of her love for her children and listening to their story about the swimming, helping them to sing? Her relationship with her husband? Her chatter about the accident and people being disfigured? Her presence at church with the Gospel singers and not with husband and children? Tom's intrusion over the 'phone, her decision to go to listen to him, the song 'I'm Easy' as directed toward her, the reasons for her going to bed with Tom, her leaving, Tom's callousness? Her presence with her husband at the end? Delbert her husband as the respected lawyer, his working with Triplet, his interest in his children and his wife, his boredom and lack of tolerance at their deafness? His presence at the party and meeting Elliot Gould? His being at church with his children? Presence at the Strip and his confrontation of Sueleen? Triplet as the Californian wheeler-dealer, his puzzlement at Nashville and its way of life, his presence at the various concerts, doing a deal with Haven Hamilton, at the party with Sueleen? The Sunday morning and his invitation to Bill and Mary to sing at the rally? His cynical attitude as regards the banners for Hal Philip Walker and-his confrontation with Barnett? The day going into shambles as he watched the assassination and the aftermath?

4) Sueleen and Wade: their work at the airport, Sueleen's ambitions and rehearsal, her singing off-key, her belief in herself? The contrast with Wade and the commotion he caused when critical of Tommy Brown? The two present at the Catholic church? The significance of the religious statues in Sueleen's room? Her going to the audition and her singing off-key? The Strip sequence and its effect on her, the pathos? The aftermath and the confrontation with Delbert Reese? Wade's advice and her ignoring of it? Her presence at the Parthenon and the shock of the assassination?

5) Opal and the pushy tactless woman from the B.B.C., her arrival during the credits, her interfering, her artificial comments, on Africa, on the deaf children, her patronising attitudes towards the negroes and Tommy Brown during the highway crash, her spending the night with Tom and its repercussions, especially during 'I'm Easy'? The sequence with the buses and the wrecks, listening to Bud-and discovering Elliot Gould and being pushy, her presence at the concerts, her gaffe in the presence of Mary about her relationship with Tom? The satire in this presentation?

6) Mr. Green and Martha: Mr. Green as the ordinary citizen, his concern for his wife? Martha and her thin appearance ) in clothes, the change of wigs? Changing her name? Her following the nearest man? With Bud, with the soldier, with Tom? Seeing her at home and her relationship with Kenny? Her callous behaviour at the hospital? Her not being interested in the death? The pathos for Mr. Green of the announcing of his wife's death? The effect on him? The funeral? His relation
ship with Kenny at home, inviting him into the house? Kenny and him self at the funeral? His wanting to drag her back to the funeral?

7) Tom: the cynic, the successful singer, his callous attitude towards sexuality? Playing the songs in bed? His intrusion into Linnea's life by the phone? The encounter with Opal, with Mary? The quality of his singing 'I'm Easy'? In bed with Linnea and the discussion about sign language? His reaction to her and calling up another friend before she had gone? His presence at the end at the assassination?

8) Bill and Mary and Norman: as a group, the emotional tangles, Mary and her involvement with Tom, Bill and his
relationship with Martha? The Sunday morning of their fight? The deal with Triplet? Their singing in the restaurant? Norman and his knowing people, driving people, Opal and her comment about gossip?

9) Winifred and her husband? Her dreams of being a singer, scatterbrained, running away from her husband and his hill-billy pursuit of her? Her being present at the clubs, pushing with Connie White, singing but inaudibly at the motor rally, her presence at the Strip? The irony of the quality of her singing and her being present at the end?

10) The soldier and what he stood for, insulted by Tom, devoted to Barbara Jean and his vigil, his sense of failure when she was shot?

11) Tommy Brown and his wife and their presence, his skill as a singer, the African American presence? The tricycle man and his magic?

12) Connie White and her dress, her songs, her snobbery, her attitude towards Julie Christie? Disregarding of Barnett and Barbara Jean? The various other performances at the auditions? Humour and irony? Comment on the various sequences: the church collage of what happened on Sunday; Kenny and his gun?

13) How important would a second viewing be for seeing the links?

14) The end and its build-up, the rally, trouble in the U.S.A., politics, crowds? The final look at America?