Special Theme: Big Country: ‘Country Biopics & Country Stars as Actors, Part One’
TCM, beginning at 7 p.m.
Turner Classic Movies goes country on Monday nights this month with lineups of films about country music and country performers, starring country stars or all of the above. Each block of movies features titles grouped by theme, and tonight’s initial lineup features two themes. First is “Country Biopics,” with two of most notable movies ever made about the lives of legendary country stars. First is Coal
Miner’s Daughter (1980), the Best Picture Oscar-nominated biopic about the life of country icon Loretta Lynn, portrayed by Best Actress Oscar winner Sissy Spacek. Spacek was personally chosen by Lynn to play her onscreen, and the actress truly does transform into the singer, even performing several of Lynn’s hits for the film and its best-selling soundtrack. Tonight’s second biopic is Your Cheatin’ Heart (1964), with George Hamilton as Hank Williams in the story of his rise to country-music immortality. While wanting to sing Williams’ songs himself for realism, Hamilton did agree to be dubbed in his performance scenes by Hank Williams Jr. The second half of tonight’s “Big Country” salute features two films with country-music stars in acting roles. First is Songwriter, a 1984 comedy/ drama starring Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson and loosely based on Nelson’s life, about a country/western composer seeking his artistic freedom. Kristofferson earned an Oscar nomination for Best Music, Original Song Score, and the musician/ actor returns in tonight’s second film, the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born (pictured).
Barbra Streisand stars as a young singer who meets and falls in love with an established music star (Kristofferson), only to find her career ascending while his goes into decline. Streisand and Paul Williams won an Oscar for their memorable original song “Evergreen (Love Theme From A Star Is Born).” — Jeff Pfeiffer