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Bookmark this pageThe Rose (1979)
Director: Mark Rydell
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The Rise to Fame; the Stab in the Back; the Tragic Demise... With its ageless conventions and stylish history, the musical biopic is Hollywood's haiku, and the last two years have seen two of its finest examples: The Buddy Holly Story and Coal Miner's Daughter. But The Rose mixes its models and pays the price, stumbling awkwardly between a historical portrait (of Janis Joplin and other shooting stars of '60s rock) and a concert movie showcase for Bette Midler. Even her fiery mix of raunch'n'tease, though, can't make up for a bubblegum plot and sentimentality on parade. Only Alan Bates, surprisingly well cast as the Rose's ruthless manager, and Harry Dean Stanton (confirming himself as the grittiest sourpuss actor in Hollywood) raise a frown or a smile. The rest of it will just have you yawning in the aisles.Author: CA
User reviews of this film
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- Louis Burns said...
- Posted on Sep 08 2009 16:32 Bette Midler triumphs in this Oscar nominated performance as The Rose. She is larger-than-life in this Rock and Roll gem of a movie. No one but Ms. Midler could have done this movie, and pulled off The Rose with such gutsy and true musical flavor. Bette Midler is superb here. See it just to see Ms. Midler master a surprisingly wonderful rock score.
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Cast & crew
Director: Mark Rydell
Producer: Marvin Worth
Cast: Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Barry Primus, David Keith, Sandra McCabe full cast
Genre(s): Musicals
Duration: 134 mins
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