HONEYSUCKLE ROSE
US, 1980, 119 minutes, Colour.
Willie Nelson, Amy Irving, Dyan Cannon, Slim Pickens.
Directed by Jerry Schatzberg.
Honeysuckle Rose is a pleasing star vehicle for country and western singer, Willie Nelson, who has a quietly persuasive screen presence, as both hero and villain. Its the 'show on the road' story, the concerts, the drive and, of course, the neglect of family and the risk of losing family. Dyan Cannon, in one of her best roles, is the wife and the attractive Amy Irving the more than infatuated other woman. Slowly paced at times, it nevertheless has good characterisations, has the flavour of Texas and its broad way of life and tellingly portrays and probes a little the stresses of marriage, affair and reconciliation, with strong focus on the two women.
1. An enjoyable musical? A piece of Americana? The country and western background - lifestyle, troupe on the road, the music itself? A Willie Nelson vehicle?
2. The reputation of Willie Nelson and his songs, his singing, the backing, the lyrics? Nelson's presence as an actor in the film? Audience response to his character, to his personality? The support from Dyan Cannon and Amy Irving - acting, singing?
3. Colour photography, Panavision? The Texas locations, the road, the concerts? The homes, picnics? The editing and the use of the songs, the slow pace?
4. The basic plot - the producers likened it to Intermezzo? The musician with his wife and the infatuation with the younger woman? How conventionally presented was the basic plot? How differently?
5. The character of Buck: his personality, songs especially 'On The Road Again,? His relationship with Garland Ramsay, a long friendship? His relationship with each member of the troupe? The quality and style of the concerts? Fame and the possibility of career and development? Hopes for the future? His restlessness and need to be on the road? The contrast in lifestyle with the road and home? Honeysuckle Rose as the romantic name for his farm? Audiences understanding and appreciating his way of life?
6. The character of Viv? Dyan Cannon's vivacity? Her devotion to Buck, waiting for him, the way she ran the home? Jande and his love for his father, his mother? The long years of marriage and continuous love? The vivacity of the welcome? The significance of the long discussion about fidelity and one night stands? Buck and the truth and deception? Viv's interest in her husband's work? The picnic sequences and the relations? Her lack of suspicion? Her reliance on Lily and Lily's friendship with the whole family? Her allowing Lily to go on tour? Growing suspicions? The drama of her arrival at the concert, her relentlessness, her going on stage and explaining the situation to everybody's embarrassment? Her feeling desperate? Her talk about divorce yet her love for Buck?
7. The character of Lily: young, helping around the house, bond with Jande, hero-worshipping Buck, Garland's daughter? Their home life? Her longing to go on the road after singing at the picnic? Her presence? The dismissal of Cotton? Her singing, growing infatuation? The sexual relationship? Her love for Buck, hopes for the future? Her embarrassment at being exposed by Viv?
8. Buck and the reasons for his succumbing to Lily's presence, the warnings given by the troupe, the situation with his getting rid of Cotton? The infatuati6n growing - the ambiguity for the future?
9. The character of Garland, the long friendship, music, neighbours? The Raway family? The friendship with Buck and his disgust with his daughter?
10. Buck's going to Mexico and experiencing what he had done, silence and remoteness? Garland's working out where he was? The shooting and the fight? The farcical aspects of the fight and the drinking? Garland persuading Buck to return - and the humour on the road?
11. The importance of Lily's apology to Viv? The way in which it was done, sincerity, the mutual hurt? Her presence at the concert?
12. The concert going on, the crowds, the music, the tribute to Garland? Viv's presence and her singing? Buck's arrival and joining in? Jamie's presence? Joy, sentiment - sentimentality?
13. The enjoyment of the concert., husband and wife singing together, reconciliation and hope for the future? Lily's presence in the crowd?
14. The atmosphere of the Texas way of life, the broad style? The perennial themes of men and women and relationships, love, marriage, affairs, sexuality? Career? Change, settling down? The usual themes - how well and attractively presented?
