by Barb Lentz.
The five movies Bob provided for me from which to choose were these:
Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
The Great Escape (1963)
The Killers (1946)
On the Beach (1959)
They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)
I chose Coal Miner’s Daughter from this list because I missed it when it was first released and I had heard it was good. Even though I don’t like country music very much I do like some of Loretta Lynn’s songs, and we had yet to watch a musical.
I found the film to be a very realistic portrayal of rural Appalachian life, and the director (Michael Apted) did a nice job of avoiding common hillbilly stereotypes and clichés. The importance of strong family ties is emphasized again and again; it devastates young Loretta Webb (Sissy Spacek) to leave home, even after she falls in love with war veteran Doolittle Lynn (Tommy Lee Jones). Much later, when she returns to Butcher Hollow for her father’s funeral she never wants to leave again, and it was wonderful that Doolittle gave her the choice of following her burgeoning singing career or remaining home caring for their kids. On the other hand, I didn’t like it when Doolittle called her stupid or broke his promises to her father to treat her right and never hit her. But even that made the story honest.
It was great that both Sissy Spacek and Beverly D’Angelo (as Patsy Cline) sang their own songs; I wouldn’t be able to tell Spacek from Lynn or D’Angelo from Cline, which is the whole point. I also noticed that the only music in the movie comes from their performances, other live music performances, or source music, like a radio. It just makes the movie even more natural.
My top five moments of the movie are:
1. When Doolittle first arrives in Butcher Hollow in his Jeep, trying to make money by wagering that he can drive it up any hill. It’s obvious that Loretta is interested in him at first sight because he is so charismatic.
2. When Loretta first sings at the honky tonk. Doo has to prod her up on stage and she’s so nervous — it’s that moment that is do or die for her future career. But she comes through with flying colors and her triumph is heartwarming.
3. When Doo puts his own work on hold because he believes in Loretta’s future as a singer. He spends nights typing letters and sending out records to radio stations, then taking Loretta on the road to promote herself. Without his help she wouldn’t have made it, yet her success changes their relationship forever.
4. When Loretta first sings at the Grand Ole Opry. Loretta is even more nervous than she was at the honky tonk, and with good reason, but she again proves that she belongs there. It added realism to see Ernest Tubb and Minnie Pearl on stage there, too.
5. When Loretta finds a true friend in Patsy Cline. Loretta isn’t seen with any other woman — or with any friends at all — until she meets Patsy Cline at the hospital. Loretta and Patsy bond immediately and Patsy teaches her how to be herself and stand up for herself, even against Doo. That was my favorite part of the movie.
Even though Coal Miner’s Daughter isn’t a traditional musical, it has a lot of really good music, actually sung on film, not lip-synched. It’s not a comedy, and yet it is very amusing at times, like having Doolittle and Loretta have a heart to heart talk about her singing while he’s driving a bulldozer! It’s not a tragedy, and yet the protagonist survives marriage before 15, a honeymoon rape, estrangement from her husband, separation from her family, spousal infidelity and abuse and eventually suffers a nervous breakdown on stage. It’s not a lot of things, and yet it covers a great deal of ground as a real story about real people. Its candor rings true throughout.
Is Coal Miner’s Daughter a classic? Yes. The acting (and singing) is tremendous by Sissy Spacek and Beverly D’Angelo, and Tommy Lee Jones is pretty good as well. I really liked Loretta’s parents (Levon Helm and Phyllis Boyens), who kept her grounded, but couldn’t prevent her from leaving with Doo. It’s such an improbable story that Loretta, who couldn’t cook and was so naïve, would become such a famous and talented singer, but that’s why the story has such power.
BRL 24 June 2014.
Coal Miner’s Daughter (March 7, 1980) Universal.
Directed by Michael Apted.
Produced by Bernard Schwartz, Bob Larson and Zelda Barron.
Screenplay by Tom Rickman, based upon the autobiography by Loretta Lynn.
Principal Cast (character, performer):
Loretta Lynn Sissy Spacek
Doolittle Lynn Tommy Lee Jones
Ted Webb Levon Helm
Clary Webb Phyllis Boyens
Patsy Cline Beverly D’Angelo
Lee Dollarhide William Sanderson
124 minutes. Color. Widescreen (1.85:1). Rated PG.