Main Cast: Clint Eastwood, Kyle Eastwood, John McIntire, Alexa Kenin, Verna Bloom
Release Year: 1982
Country: US
Run Time: 122 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
Clint Eastwood put his tough-guy image on hold for this personal project, which follows a musician taking one final chance at the big time. Red Stovall (Eastwood) is a would-be country singer who has been bouncing around the margins of the music business for years. With nowhere in particular to go, Red arrives at the failing Oklahoma farm of his sister for an extended visit, where her son Whit (Kyle Eastwood) quickly bonds with his uncle. However, it's obvious that Red is in very poor health, drinking heavily and breathing with difficulty, and when Red is invited to audition for the Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Whit tags along for the road trip to keep an eye on his ailing uncle. En route, Red and Whit are joined by Whit's grandfather (John McIntire) and another hopeful vocalist, Marlene (Alexa Kenin), who like Red is chasing her own dreams of stardom on the Opry. Clint Eastwood performed his own vocals and guitar work for Honkytonk Man, and a number of Nashville legends appear in cameo roles, including Marty Robbins, Porter Wagoner, Ray Price, Merle Travis, and Johnny Gimble. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Matt Clark - Virgil; Barry Corbin - Arnspriger; Linda Hopkins - Blues Singer; Susan Arnold; Jim Boelsen - Junior; Rebecca Clemons - Belle; DeForest Covan; Charles Cyphers - Stubbs; Bob Ferrera - Eldest Son; Bette Ford - Lulu; David Frizzell - Singer at Grand Ole Opry; R.J. Ganzert; Johnny Gimble - Bob Wills; Gary Grubbs - Jim Bob; Jerry Hardin - Snuffy; Roy Jenson - Dub; Macon McCalman - Dr. Hines; Lloyd Nelson; Susan Peretz - Miss Maud; Joe Regalbuto - Henry Axle; Marty Robbins - Smoky; Tim Thomerson - Highway Patrolman; Merle Travis; Porter Wagoner - Dusty; Tracey Walter - Pooch; Shelly West - Singer at Grand Ole Opry; Robert V. Barron - Undertaker; George Orrison; John Russell - Jack Wade; Glenn Wright; Frank Reinhard; Phyllis Huffman; Kelsie Blades; Rozelle Gayle; Hugh Warden; Ray Price - Bob Wills Singer
Credit
Tony Brown - First Assistant Director, Clint Eastwood - Director, Joel Cox - Editor, Ferris Webster - Editor, Michael Kelly - Editor, Fritz Manes - Executive Producer, Steve Dorff - Composer (Music Score), Edward C. Carfagno - Production Designer, Steve Perry - Production Designer, Bruce Surtees - Cinematographer, Clint Eastwood - Producer, Don Johnson - Sound/Sound Designer, Clancy Carlile - Screenwriter, Clancy Carlile - Book Author
Honkytonk Man is a 1982drama film set in the Great Depression. Clint Eastwood, who produced and directed the film, stars in the film with his son, Kyle Eastwood. Clancy Carlile's screenplay is based on his novel of the same name.
Plot
Clint Eastwood plays a would-be western singer named Red Stovall suffering from tuberculosis who is finally given an opportunity to make it big at the Grand Ole Opry. He is accompanied by his young nephew (played by Eastwood's son Kyle) to Nashville, Tennessee where he is supposed to record a song.
After a series of adventures which include the nephew's "coming of age" in a house of ill repute, he and Uncle Red finally arrive at Nashville, only to have the tuberculosis reach a critical stage in the middle of the recording session, where Red's lines are filled in by a side guitarist (played by Marty Robbins). Red finally succumbs while his nephew vows to tell the story of his uncle. Red's vintage touring auto, prevalent throughout the movie, finally 'dies' at the cemetery where Red is laid to rest.
This was Marty Robbins last appearance before he died.
Locations
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. Extras were locally hired and many of the towns residents are seen in the movie.
