A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers (WGA):

Garrison Keillor (screenplay)
Garrison Keillor (story) ...

Release Date:

9 June 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Radio like you've never seen it before.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Backstage | Audience | Poetry | Performance | Orchestra

Awards:

3 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Marylouise Burke	...	Evelyn the Lunch Lady
Woody Harrelson	...	Dusty
L.Q. Jones	...	Chuck Akers
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Axeman
Garrison Keillor	...	GK
Kevin Kline	...	Guy Noir
Lindsay Lohan	...	Lola Johnson
Virginia Madsen	...	The Dangerous Woman
John C. Reilly	...	Lefty
Maya Rudolph	...	Molly
Tim Russell	...	Al
Sue Scott	...	Donna
Meryl Streep	...	Yolanda Johnson
Lily Tomlin	...	Rhonda Johnson
Tom Keith	...	Sound Effects Man

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for risque humor.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42472) | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | South Korea:12 | Sweden:Btl | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | Netherlands:AL | UK:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Hong Kong:IIA | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

GreeneStreet Films

Trivia:

Shot in high-definition video and then transferred to 35mm film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The second time the chessboard is seen, Black's bishop takes White's rook in the near corner. The third time the chessboard is seen, the rook is back on the board.

Quotes:

Garrison Keillor: The penguin joke? Two penguins are standing on an ice floe. The first penguin says, you look like you're wearing a tuxedo. The second penguin says, what makes you think I'm not?
Dangerous Woman: Why is that funny?
Garrison Keillor: I guess because people laugh at it.
Dangerous Woman: I'm not laughing.
Garrison Keillor: Well, you're an angel.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Prairie Home Companion: Exclusive Sneak Peek (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Goldwatch & Chain

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.