WILD TEXAS WIND
US, 1991, 100 minutes, Colour.
Dolly Parton, Gary Busey, Willie Nelson.
Directed by Joan Tewkesbury.
Wild Texas Wind was produced by Dolly Parton and seems rather like a television special focusing on her and her singing. There is a slight plot, the would be singer and her band, the encounter with an ambitious producer, his violent tendencies and their clashing. Dolly Parton is her genial self - the songs, the integrity, the homespun wisdom. Garry Busey seems charming and then reverts to his screen stereotype as the violence erupts. There is a guest appearance by Willy Nelson at the Grand Old Oprey. The film was directed by Joan Tewkesbury writer of Robert Altman's Nashville and director of such films as Friendly Fire and Old Boyfriends.
1. A film for Dolly Parton fans? Her screen presence, her singing?
2. Texas locations, the clubs, homes, the Grand Old Oprey? On the road again?
3. The range of songs, Dolly Parton's style, the country and western tradition? Willy Nelson?
4. The title, the focus on Big T? Her style, her career?
5. Dolly Parton as Big T? Her background, memories of her mother ',s alcoholism, her going to visit her in the institution and singing to her? Not wanting the same thing to happen to her? Her singing and success, with the band? Bonds with Ben? The encounter with Justice? Infatuation, his promises? Falling in love with him The tension with Ben and the band? Justice and his ambitions? The house? Eruptions of violence and her staying? Defying him, covering up the bruises? His continued outbursts and her love for him? Ben and his wanting to defend her? The drinking, the buying of the clothes and lingerie, then attacking her? Her bewilderment? The success of the singing, Willy Nelson at the Grand Old Oprey, the recording sessions? Jamming together and Justice interfering? The brutality and her eventually leaving? Seeing his father? The death, her reaction? Not wanting Ben to take the blame? Her speech to the judges, going to prison? The release - and on the road again?
6. Gary Busey as Justice, in his father's shadow, his ambitions? Story about his mother's death, blaming his father? His own madness? In love with Big T? The house, furnishing, the clothes? The arranging of the deals? The concerts, his applause? Drinking, the mad outbursts, the violence - and yet his declaring, while drunk, that he loved her? His clashes with his father? Her walking out on him?
His anger, his death?
7. Justice and his father, the mother's death? The father and his work on the courts, owning the clubs, wanting to have been a performer? Clash with his son? The breakfast and his drinking, humiliating his son? The return, the clash? His death -and confessing to shooting his son?
8. Ben, his support of T, singing, wary of Justice? Leaving, returning? The members of the band? Willy Nelson and his showing up?
9. The world of Texas, country and western, show business, relationships, violence?
