Honkytonk Man

Plot

Itinerant western singer Red Stovall, suffers from tuberculosis but has been given an opportunity to make it big at the Grand Ole Opry. He is accompanied by his young nephew Whit, to Nashville, Tennessee. After a series of adventures which include the nephew's first sexual encounter in a brothel, he and Red finally arrive at Nashville. A fit of coughing in the middle of his audition at the Grand Ole Opry ruins his chance and his dream. But talent scouts for a record company are impressed enough to arrange a recording session, realizing that he has only days to live. The tuberculosis reaches a critical stage in the middle of this session, where Red's lines are filled in by Smokey, a side guitarist. Red eventually succumbs while Whit vows to tell his uncle's story. Red's vintage Lincoln Model K touring car, prevalent throughout the movie, finally 'dies' at the cemetery where Red is laid to rest.

Production

Filming took place over five weeks on location. The first part of the movie was filmed in Bird's Landing, California. However, the majority of this feature was filmed in and around Calaveras County, east of Stockton, California. Exterior scenes include Main Street, Mountain Ranch; Main Street, Sheepranch; and the Pioneer Hotel in Sheepranch. The famous jail break scene was filmed in Dayton, Nevada at the corner of Pike Street (the Lincoln Highway) and W Main Street. The vintage brick building the movie-built jail was attached to is the Odeon Hall, where Marilyn Monroe's paddle ball and bar interior scenes were shot in The Misfits (1961). Extras were locally hired and many of the towns residents are seen in the movie.

Cast

Reception

Honkytonk Man received critical acclaim, and has a score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. The New York Post wrote, "The pace is slow, very country, but it rises to touching moments...not all perfect by any means, but ultimately a story of occasional awkward truths." The film grossed $4.5 million at the United States box office. The film was nominated for a Razzie Awards for Worst Original Song for No Sweeter Cheater than You.