The Rose (1979)

Director:

Mark Rydell

Writers:

Bo Goldman (writer)
Bill Kerby (story)
(more)

Release Date:

7 November 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

She gave and gave, until she had nothing left to give

Plot:

The story of the tragic life of a self destructive female rock star, modeled after Janis Joplin.

Plot Keywords:

Adultery | Artist | Drunkenness | Lesbian | Pop Singer

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Mary Rose Foster
Alan Bates	...	Rudge Campbell
Frederic Forrest	...	Huston Dyer
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Billy Ray
Barry Primus	...	Dennis
David Keith	...	Pfc. Mal
Sandra McCabe	...	Sarah Willingham
Will Hare	...	Mr. Leonard
Rudy Bond	...	Monty
Don Calfa	...	Don Frank
James Keane	...	Sam
Doris Roberts	...	Mrs. Foster
Sandy Ward	...	Mr. Foster, Rose's Father
Michael Greer	...	Emcee
Claude Sacha	...	Female Impersonator
Michael St. Laurent	...	Female Impersonator
Sylvester	...	Supremes-Drag Queen (1 of 3)
Pearl Heart
Butch Ellis	...	Waiter
Richard Dioguardi	...	Trucker
John Dennis Johnston	...	Milledge
Jonathan Banks	...	Television Promoter
Jack O'Leary	...	Short Order Cook
Luke Andreas	...	Trucker
Harry Northup	...	Skinny Guy
Cherie Latimer	...	Secretary
Seamon Glass	...	Trucker
Pat Corley	...	Police Chief Morrison
Dennis Erdman	...	Billy Ray's Kid
Hugh Gillin	...	Guard
Joyce Roth	...	Waitress in Airport
Frank Speiser	...	Reporter at Rose's House
Constance Cawlfield	...	Reporter
Annie McGuire	...	Don Frank's Wife
Hildy Brooks	...	Arlene
Jack Starrett	...	Dee
Dimo Condos	...	Reporter
Lorrie Davis	...	Reporter
David Garfield	...	Reporter
Kathryn Grody	...	Reporter
David Hollander
Sandra Seacat	...	Reporter
Chip Zien	...	Reporter
Ted Harris	...	Reporter
Victor Argo	...	Lockerman
Kelly Boyd	...	Blonde Girl in Leonard's
Cyndi Gottfried	...	Redhaired Girl in Leonard's
L.D. Frazier	...	Doorman at Nightclub
Larry Guardino	...	Cop at Police Station (as Lawrence Guardino)
Tom Kubiak	...	Cab Driver
Phil Rubenstein	...	Pot Belly
Charlie McCarthy	...	Cop in Luxor Bath
Danny Weis	...	Danny - Band Leader and Guitarist for The Rose Band
Louis Buchanan	...	The Rose Band
Norton Buffalo	...	Harmonica / Trombone Player
Steve Hunter	...	The Rose Band
Jerry Jumonville	...	The Rose Band (as Jerome Noel Jumonville)
Mark Leonard	...	The Rose Band
Mark Underwood	...	The Rose Band
Whitey Glan	...	Drummer, The Rose Band (as Pentti [Whitney] Glan)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Allison Caine	...	Additional Voice
Cathi Peyton Erman	...	Blonde Hippie Girl at Concert (as Cathi Loper)
Jack Hollander	...	Reporter
Al Irizarry	...	Reporter / soundperson
Harold Jurkiewicz	...	Reporter
Ralph Roberts	...	A doorman
Kenny Sacha	...	Female Impersonator / The Rose
Ken Weiner	...	Concert Fan
Byron Berline	...	Country Band Member (uncredited)
Doug Dillard	...	Country Band Member (uncredited)
Rodney Dillard	...	Country Band Member (uncredited)
Dian Van Patten	...	Hippie (uncredited)
Eric Voge	...	Fan (uncredited)
Jeffrey Weissman	...	Audience Rocker (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Rydell

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Cimino		uncredited
Bo Goldman		writer
Bill Kerby		story

Produced by
Anthony Ray	....	executive producer (as Tony Ray)
Aaron Russo	....	producer
Marvin Worth	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul A. Rothchild

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Carroll Timothy O'Meara		(as C. Timothy O'Meara)
Robert L. Wolfe

Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
Richard Macdonald

Art Direction by
James L. Schoppe		(as Jim Schoppe)

Set Decoration by
Bruce Weintraub

Costume Design by
Theoni V. Aldredge

Makeup Department
Jeff Angell	....	makeup artist
Hazel Catmull	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Ira Loonstein	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Larry J. Franco	....	assistant director (as Larry Franco)
Barry Primus	....	second unit director
Chris Soldo	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Scott W. Leslie	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Clayton Collins	....	sound editor
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer
Stephen Katz	....	sound consultant
Chris McLaughlin	....	sound
Kay Rose	....	supervising sound editor
Victoria Rose Sampson	....	sound editor
James E. Webb	....	sound (as Jim Webb)
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jay King	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Byrne	....	additional photographer: concert scenes
Lowell Crisp	....	electrician
Curtis Foster	....	rigging gaffer
Michael Gershman	....	first assistant camera
Conrad L. Hall	....	additional photographer: concert scenes (as Conrad Hall)
Jan Kiesser	....	additional photographer: concert scenes
László Kovács	....	additional photographer: concert scenes (as Laszlo Kovaks)
Steve Lydecker	....	additional photographer: concert scenes
Michael D. Margulies	....	additional photographer: concert scenes (as Michael Margulies)
Nick McLean	....	camera operator
David Myers	....	additional photographer: concert scenes
Tim Phelps	....	rigging gaffer
J.B. Richner	....	best boy electric
Owen Roizman	....	additional photographer: concert scenes
Tim Ryan	....	dolly grip
Haskell Wexler	....	additional photographer: concert scenes
Randy Nolen	....	panaglide operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrea E. Weaver	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Chris Wajshonig	....	assistant editor

Music Department
William Gazecki	....	assistant music supervisor (as Bill Gazecki)
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar

Transportation Department
James Nordberg	....	driver: prop truck

Other crew
Toni Basil	....	choreographer
Ron De Biasio	....	concert supervisor
Julia Tucker	....	script supervisor
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  color by (as DeLuxe)

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Spain:13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/18 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

The movie was originally entitled "Pearl", which was a biographical movie based on Janis Joplin's life. When approached with the script for "Pearl", Bette Midler believed it was too soon after Joplin's death to portray her life in a movie. Rewrites were then made, with Midler's guidance, that deleted some portions of the original script and embellished other parts of the story. Then the rewritten script was named "The Rose" and Bette Midler agreed to the lead role.

Quotes:

Rose: Where you going...? Where's everybody going...?
[she collapses onstage]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: Bette Midler" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Compelling and Emotional story about a female rock legend.

Bette Midler was awesome. A sad but compelling story with great rock music and Bette is awesome in the concert scenes. She is a woman that can sing any kind of music beautifully. Her portrayal as a high energy rock singer was perfect with her stage presence and personality. Superb movie.