The Rose (film)
The Rose is a 1979 American drama film directed by Mark Rydell, and starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Barry Primus, and David Keith. Loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, the film follows a self-destructive rock star in the late 1960s, who struggles to cope with the pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager.
| The Rose | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mark Rydell |
| Produced by | Aaron Russo Marvin Worth Anthony Ray |
| Screenplay by | Bo Goldman Bill Kerby |
| Story by | Bill Kerby |
| Starring | Bette Midler Alan Bates Frederic Forrest |
| Music by | Paul A. Rothchild (Mendelssohn – Piano concerto no 1, 2nd movement, the Rose) |
| Cinematography | Vilmos Zsigmond |
| Edited by | Robert L. Wolfe |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 134 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $9.3 million[3] |
| Box office | $29.2 million (US/Canada)[4] |
Originally titled Pearl (after Janis Joplin's nickname, which was also the title of her last album), the film's screenplay was revised and fictionalized after her family declined to allow the producers the rights to her story.[5]
The Rose was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Midler, in her screen debut), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Frederic Forrest), Best Film Editing and Best Sound.[6] Midler performed the soundtrack album for the film, and its title track became one of her biggest hit singles.
Plot
In late 1969, Mary Rose Foster is a famous rock and roll diva known as "The Rose." In spite of her success, her personal life is lonely and exhausting. She is exploited and overworked by her gruff, greedy manager and promoter Rudge Campbell. Though forthright and brassy, Rose is an insecure alcoholic and former drug user who seems to crave approval in her life. As such, she is determined to return to her Florida hometown, now as a superstar, and perform for the people from her past.
After a performance in Texas, Rose has the opportunity to meet country music star Billy Ray, whom she idolizes and whose songs she often covers in live shows. Billy Ray cruelly demands that she never perform his music again, and rudely dismisses her. After dsicovering that Rudge arranged the meeting because he wants to sign Billy Ray to his label, Rose defiantly flees with a limousine driver named Huston Dyer. The two take a cross-country trip to New York City, where Rose is scheduled to complete recording sessions, and begin a whirlwind romance.
Rudge assumes that Huston is just another hanger-on, but Rose feels she has finally met her true love. Huston eventually admits to her that he is actually an AWOL sergeant from the Army, and she tells him of her past in Florida. The couple's relationship grows turbulent amidst Rose's reckless lifestyle and constant touring. In Memphis, Rose is met by Sarah, a former lover of hers. When Huston walks in on the two women kissing, he and Rose get into a violent fight, after which Huston flees.
Determined to reunite with Huston, Rose searches for him in a red light district of Memphis with PFC Mal, a military member whom she met in Texas. She subsequently appoints Mal as her security escort, and the two travel to Rose's hometown of Jacksonville, where Rudge has booked her a hometown reunion show. Upon arriving, Rose shows Mal her childhood home, her high school, and other local landmarks from her childhood. Arriving at the stadium for afternoon rehearsals for her concert, Rose repeats her intention to take a one-year break from performing, leading Rudge to tell her she will be in breach of contract. Rudge proceeds to fire her, though unbeknownst to Rose, this is only a ploy to ensure that she performs the show. A distraught Rose is met by Huston, who has traveled to Jacksonville to reunite with her.
Believing her concert is cancelled, Rose decides to run away and start a new life with Huston. That night, she takes Huston on a tour of local bars and clubs she used to frequent prior to becoming famous, recklessly drinking and indulging in barbiturates and heroin. At one bar, Huston becomes jealous when a male patron harasses Rose as she performs, and begins a fight. After, Rudge reaches Rose on her car phone and convinces her to return for the concert. She acquiesces, and her decision to appease Rudge causes Huston to give up on the relationship and leave town. Later that night, after performing the opening song of her long-awaited homecoming concert, Rose collapses onstage and dies of an overdose.
Cast
- Bette Midler as Mary Rose "The Rose" Foster
- Alan Bates as Rudge Campbell
- Frederic Forrest as Huston Dyer
- Harry Dean Stanton as Billy Ray
- Barry Primus as Dennis
- David Keith as PFC Mal
- Sandra McCabe as Sarah Willingham
- Will Hare as Mr. Leonard
- James Keane as Sam
- Doris Roberts as Mrs. Foster
- Danny Weis as Danny, The Rose Band leader
- Mark Leonard as The Rose Band bassist
- Steve Hunter as The Rose Band guitarist
- Sylvester as drag queen
- Michael Greer as Emcee ("Baby Jane")
Production
Conception
The film was originally offered to Ken Russell, who chose instead to direct Valentino. Russell has described this decision as the biggest mistake of his career.[7] At one point, Michael Cimino was also slated to direct, but he chose to direct Heaven's Gate instead. Cimino did, however, make uncredited contributions to the script.[8]
Casting
Suzy Williams was originally offered the title role, but turned it down for personal reasons, instead suggesting it to Bette Midler.[9]
Filming
The Rose was completed in time for a scheduled release in April 1979; however, 20th Century-Fox elected to postpone release til autumn 1979:(Mark Rydell quote:)"[at] Easter time...the public seems to like frothy films."[10]
Reception
The Rose has a 78% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 18 reviews.[11]
The film opened in New York City on Wednesday, November 7, 1979 and grossed $793,063 in its opening weekend from 44 screens, the second highest-grossing opening weekend on under 50 screens behind Star Wars (1977).[12] The film went on to gross $29.2 million in the United States and Canada.[4]
Awards and nominations
Others
The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
- 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
Home video
The Criterion Collection released the film on Blu-ray and DVD on May 19, 2015.[14]
See also
References
- The Rose at the American Film Institute Catalog
- "The Rose". Variety. December 31, 1978. Archived from the original on August 16, 2020.
- Solomon 2002, p. 259.
- "The Rose". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
- Elan, Priya. "Is the Janis Joplin biopic finally going to be filmed? Don't hold your breath", The Guardian, August 7, 2010. WebCitation archive.
- "The 52nd Academy Awards (1980) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-10-07.
- Gray, Sadie. "Ten big things I have learnt from my mistakes - Times Online". The Times. Registration required
- Stempel, Tom (2000). Framework: A History of Screenwriting in the American Film. ISBN 9780815606543.pages 228-229
- "Suzy Williams Official Bio". Laughtears. 2018.
- Cedar Rapids Gazetter 1 January 1979 "Show Business Beat" by Marilyn Beck p.7C
- "The Rose (1979)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2015-08-05.
- "All-Time Opening Weekends: 50 Screens or Less". Daily Variety. September 20, 1994. p. 24.
- "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs" (PDF). American Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-08-05.
- "The Rose (1979)". The Criterion Collection. Retrieved 2015-02-17.
Sources
- Solomon, Aubrey (2002). Twentieth Century-Fox: A Corporate and Financial History. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8108-4244-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- The Rose at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Rose at AllMovie
- The Rose on IMDb
- The Rose at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Rose: High Tragedy on Tour an essay by Paula Mejia at the Criterion Collection
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