First hour is quite good as the firm of Getchell, Wexler, Ashby and Carradine (respectively the screenwriter, DP, director and star of this movie) plunge the viewer into small town, Dust Bowl Texas with its twin miseries of poverty and boredom and then bring the viewer along with Woody as he hits the roads and rails of Depression Era America with their miseries of poverty and violence. Once we hit LA, though, and Woody starts to rise in fame and fortune, the movie's energy begins to flag as does its interest as the film makers appear to flail in their attempts to make us care about Woody's unhappy marriage or an affair he's having with a rich gal or his arguments with the producer of his radio show over standards and practices. And the film doesn't end so much as wind down with Woody rather undramatically deciding to go to NYC and Greenwich Village adoration, if not glory.
Consistently good, however, is David Carradine's performance which is definitely on the grainy, not especially likable side, as befits a guy who blithely abandons his wife and kids twice.
Give it a generous B minus for the first hour.
PS...Did you notice that Melinda Dillon played both Guthrie's wife and Memphis Sue, his go along to get along musical partner? First time I have ever seen an actor play a major and unrelated minor role in the same film. Very strange. Kinda like seeing Anthony Perkins play both Norman Bates and the John Gavin boyfriend of Janet Leigh role in "Psycho". Why did Ashby do it? Just for fun? Doesn't seem likely. Ashby is not a "just for fun" type director. Budget problems? More likely. If anyone knows could they please tell me? Can't find an answer on El Google.
Consistently good, however, is David Carradine's performance which is definitely on the grainy, not especially likable side, as befits a guy who blithely abandons his wife and kids twice.
Give it a generous B minus for the first hour.
PS...Did you notice that Melinda Dillon played both Guthrie's wife and Memphis Sue, his go along to get along musical partner? First time I have ever seen an actor play a major and unrelated minor role in the same film. Very strange. Kinda like seeing Anthony Perkins play both Norman Bates and the John Gavin boyfriend of Janet Leigh role in "Psycho". Why did Ashby do it? Just for fun? Doesn't seem likely. Ashby is not a "just for fun" type director. Budget problems? More likely. If anyone knows could they please tell me? Can't find an answer on El Google.