Honkytonk Man (1982)

As the film opens on an Oklahoma farm during the depression, two simultaneous visitors literally hit the Wagoneer home: a ruinous dust storm and a convertible crazily driven by Red, the ... See full summary »

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Clancy Carlile (novel), Clancy Carlile (screenplay)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, Kyle Eastwood, John McIntire

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Red Stovall
Kyle Eastwood	...	Whit
John McIntire	...	Grandpa
Alexa Kenin	...	Marlene
Verna Bloom	...	Emmy
Matt Clark	...	Virgil
Barry Corbin	...	Arnspriger
Jerry Hardin	...	Snuffy
Tim Thomerson	...	Highway Patrolman
Macon McCalman	...	Dr. Hines
Joe Regalbuto	...	Henry Axle
Gary Grubbs	...	Jim Bob
Rebecca Clemons	...	Belle
Johnny Gimble	...	Bob Wills
Linda Hopkins	...	Blues Singer

Storyline

As the film opens on an Oklahoma farm during the depression, two simultaneous visitors literally hit the Wagoneer home: a ruinous dust storm and a convertible crazily driven by Red, the missus' brother. A roguish country-western musician, he has just been invited to audition for the Grand Ole Opry, his chance of a lifetime to become a success. However, this is way back in Nashville, Red clearly drives terribly, and he's broke and sick with tuberculosis to boot. Whit, 14, seeing his own chance of a lifetime to avoid "growing up to be a cotton picker all my life," begs Ma to let him go with Uncle Red as driver and protege. Thus begins a picaresque journey both hilarious and poignant.

---

Plot Keywords:

audition | tuberculosis | ends with funeral | nashville tennessee | cult film | 

---

Taglines:

The boy is on his way to becoming a man. The man is on his way to becoming a legend.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Western

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 December 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Última Canção

Filming Locations:

Gardnerville, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$667,727, 19 December 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$4,484,991

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Malpaso Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Clint cast his own son Kyle as 'Whit' [nicknamed 'Hoss'], due Kyle's interest in making a movie with his legendary father. Clint was tickled pink over the idea, and had longtime girlfriend Sondra Locke coach Kyle during production.

---

Goofs

The guitar Red Stovall is playing is a Gibson L-5C manufactured around the 1970s. Although Gibson launched the L-5 in 1922, the particular instrument Red plays in the movie is definitely not from the era the movie was set in. The L-5P was launched in 1939 and was superseded by the L-5C in 1948. The letter "C" in L-5C stands for "cutaway" whereas the letter "P" in L-5P stands for "premiere". The tuners and the "Gibson" logo on the guitar's headstock are distinctly 1970s.

---

Quotes

Red Stovall: What's so damned funny? That was my new shirt.
Grandpa: [laughs] When you was climbing that ladder, that bull's horn missed your asshole so far!

---

Connections

References West Point of the Air (1935)

---

Soundtracks

Honkytonk Man
Sung by Marty Robbins and Clint Eastwood

User Reviews

minor classic

Despite almost every critic I've read, I think this is a real gem by Clint Eastwood. A honest, sensitive effort in the road movie tradition. The minor tone, the naive sequences soothe Red Stovall's journey to his fate. The movie also displays a touching view of the depression era in USA. Like animated Roy Emerson Stryker's pictures the photography is remarkable as well as the sound track. I've learned about lots of singers and musicians that recorded only to give a final testimony of their art. I guess stories like these deserved a movie like Honkytonk Man. Long life to Clint, one of the most underrated talents not only in Hollywood but in the rest of the world.