A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

A look at what goes on backstage during the last broadcast of America's most celebrated radio show, where singing cowboys Dusty and Lefty, a country music siren, and a host of others hold court.

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers:

Garrison Keillor (screenplay), Garrison Keillor (story),

Stars:

Woody Harrelson, John C. Reilly, Meryl Streep

3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marylouise Burke	...	Lunch Lady
Woody Harrelson	...	Dusty
L.Q. Jones	...	Chuck Akers
Tommy Lee Jones	...	The Axeman
Garrison Keillor	...	GK
Kevin Kline	...	Guy Noir
Lindsay Lohan	...	Lola Johnson
Virginia Madsen	...	Dangerous Woman
John C. Reilly	...	Lefty
Maya Rudolph	...	Molly
Tim Russell	...	Stage Manager
Sue Scott	...	Makeup Lady
Meryl Streep	...	Yolanda Johnson
Lily Tomlin	...	Rhonda Johnson
Tom Keith	...	Himself - Sound Effects Man

Storyline

"A Prairie Home Companion", hosted by humorist Garrison Keillor, is a down home radio variety show recorded and performed live in front of an audience in a theater in St. Paul, Minnesota. A show from another era, "A Prairie Home Companion" has been canceled. The regulars are performing on the last show, including Dusty & Lefty, singing/guitar playing cowboys with a risqué sense of humor, and the Johnson Girls, a sister singing duo of Rhonda and Yolanda who have a penchant for talking over each other. As the show goes on, the regulars, backstage, talk about their lives in relation to the show. Other goings-on include Yolanda and others trying to convince her shy somber daughter, Lola, to sing on this last show. As all this goes on, a mysterious woman in a white trench coat who is on a mission wanders around the theater, while the show's dim security guard, Guy Noir, who usually has nothing to do security-wise, follows.

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Plot Keywords:

singing | cowboy | radio | backstage | st. paul minnesota | 

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Taglines:

Live every show like it's your last.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for risque humor

Details

Official Sites:

Bac Films [fr] Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Norwegian

Release Date:

9 June 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Praire Home Companion - Bastidores da Rádio

Filming Locations:

Fitzgerald Theater - 10 Exchange Street E., St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£75,355 (UK) (5 January 2007)

Gross:

£75,355 (UK) (5 January 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Picturehouse Entertainment, GreeneStreet Films, River Road Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Reportedly Robert Altman didn't care for the character played by Virginia Madsen and had reduced the role considerably. When Madsen came on board, she persuaded him to make it a more central character.

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Goofs

While the movie takes place as a part of a fictional commercial radio station, WLT, the musicians music stands are emblazoned with the letters MPR which stands for Minnesota Public Radio from whence the actual program airs.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Radio Announcer: Market reports today, barrows and gilts uh two hundred twenty to two hundred sixty pounds, they're lower at forty dollars uh sows are steady three hundred five hundred pounds thirty four to thirty seven dollars going over to feeder cattle, beef steers - one hundred twenty to one hundred fifty dollars and two hundred to three hundred
[fade out]

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Crazy Credits

There is a credit for Sign Painter in the film, although it does not appear on the official site.

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Connections

Spoofs The Maltese Falcon (1941)

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Soundtracks

"Smooth Talker"
Music by Pat Donohue & Richard A. Dworsky (as Richard Dworsky)
Performed by Pat Donohue & Richard A. Dworsky (as Richard Dworsky)

User Reviews

Feb. 13th Berlinale showing of Altman's PHC a success

I saw "PHC" yesterday at the Berlinale: simultaneously laughing at the jokes and Guy's wonderful snarkiness, while - as a St. Paulite - blubbering, overcome with sentimental homesickness and memories of attending PHC broadcasts since the 70s. Thank you, GK, for bringing so much enjoyment to so many people for so many years.

I was dismayed to see that the film pressed the "Christian"-button so often. Is this a real representation of the PHC radio audience and/or the PHC staff? It disturbed me; seemed forced and fake. Are most PHC fans in this target audience? I think not.

The music was a hoot, of course, including all of its ragged edges and the Norwegian fish jingle. However it seemed too 'southern' to me. Where was the (non-southern) folk music that was such a main component of the show over the decades?

Kevin Kline, as always: a marvel and a delight. So fine to hear his melted-butter voice over the opening scene of Mickey's...."in a city that knows how to keep its secrets..."!

The livestock price reports in the opening 'roving across your radio dial' sequence were a cute, true, detail. The big stars attempting local (or Oshkosh, Wisconsin) accents were not at all convincing, at least to this native. That bugged me. The radio evangelist with a southern accent in the opening radio bits also seemed quite out of place.

I wonder how much of the movie is understandable to people who know nothing about the PHC show. The Berlinale audience seemed to 'get' the humor and enjoyed the film.

All in all: a delight.