SONGWRITER

US, 1984, 94 minutes, Colour.
Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Lesley Ann Warren, Rip Torn, Melinda Dillon, Richard C. Sarafian.
Directed by Alan Rudolph.

Songwriter is a star vehicle for Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson. They play a team of country and western singers who are faced with financial difficulties. The film pokes fun at the big time producers and managers - as well as the small time ones. The stars are at ease in the central roles - and contributed songs to the score. Lesley Ann Warren is particularly good in support as Gilda, the country and western singer who undergoes re-born Christian experience to become a gospel singer. Rip Torn is her manager.

The film was directed by Alan Rudolph, not one of his own projects - he came in after the original director was fired. Rudolph is an idiosyncratic film maker (Trouble in Mind, Choose Me, Welcome to LA); however, he has made some more commercially oriented films such as Roadie, Endangered Species, Made in Heaven. This film is one of the more popular type. It is the conventional story of country and western singers on the road and their difficulties. Comparison might be made with Honeysuckle Rose which also starred Willie
Nelson.

1. A piece of Americana? Country and western music? The country and western circuit?

2. Texas, the small towns, the music circuit, on the road, locations and concerts, recording studios?

3. The musical score, the title song and its lyrics, the stars as writers and performers?

4. The title, the images of the songwriters of Kristofferson, of Nelson? In the world of American show business?

5. The country and western circuit: Doc, Blackie and Honey and their performances, the success, the fans, the pressure, managers?

6. The relationship between Doc and Honey, the background of his marriage, alimony? Honey wanting to settle down? The daughters? The sense of family? Financial needs, tension? Doc and his easy-going character, enjoying the road? His not being "above the money"? The encounter with Rodeo Rocky? Hopes?

7. Rodeo Rocky and his presence, type and style? The deals? The discussions with Doc? The work of the lawyers, their knowing the ropes? Manoeuvring for better deals? Doc and his relationship with Blackie, his office - but under Rocky's control?

8. His personal and business dilemmas? Settling down with Honey, the pressure from her, the children? Setting fire to the building? Moving to Austin? The assistance from Blackie? On the road again?

9. Gilda, her character, personality? Singing style? Her relationship with Doc and his promotion of her career? Her admiration for Honey? Relationship with Blackie, with Doc? The song written for her? Its success, the charts? The lie about her writing it for stopping Rocky with the royalties? Her nerves, her drinking? The outburst and her declaration of love for Doc? His response, her feeling guilty, her going to Honey, the encounter with Honey, the overdose?

10. The success of the song, Rocky and his greed? The royalties and control? His deals with Doc and Doc doing the deal about Gilda? And winning?

11. Dino and his type, manner, his patter as manager and agent, his relationship with his family, control of Gilda?

12. Gilda and the effect of her collapse, Christianity, a born-again Christian? Her relationship with Arley, the marriage, the change?

13. Doc and his success, Blackie and success? Gilda and the contract? Her singing the gospel songs - and Rocky fainting? Doc winning out?

14. Easy going performances and style? Country and western circuit? The amiable sequences of performance, Doc helping Gilda, playing with his daughter? The concerts? The perennial popularity of country and western with American audiences?