Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers:

Loretta Lynn (autobiography)
Thomas Rickman (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

7 March 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

She was married at 13. She had four kids by the time she was 20. She's been hungry and poor. She's been loved and cheated on. She became a singer because it was the only thing she could do. She became a star because it was the only way she could do it.

Plot:

Biography of Loretta Lynn, a country and western singer that came from poverty to fame.

Plot Keywords:

Loretta Lynn | Teenage Pregnancy | Songwriter | Mental Breakdown | Honkytonk

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Sissy Spacek	...	Loretta Lynn
Tommy Lee Jones	...	'Mooney' Lynn
Levon Helm	...	Ted Webb
Phyllis Boyens	...	'Clary' Webb
Bill Anderson Jr.	...	Webb child
Foister Dickerson	...	Webb child
Malla McCown	...	Webb child
Pamela McCown	...	Webb child
Kevin Salvilla	...	Webb child
William Sanderson	...	Lee Dollarhide
Sissy Lucas	...	Loretta & Mooney's child
Pat Patterson	...	Loretta's child
Brian Warf	...	Loretta & Mooney's child
Elizabeth Watson	...	Loretta & Mooney's child
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Patsy Cline
Robert Elkins	...	Bobby Day
Bob Hannah	...	Charlie Dick
Ernest Tubb	...	Himself
Jennifer Beasley	...	Patsy Lynn
Jessica Beasley	...	Peggy Lynn
Susan Kingsley	...	Girl at fairgrounds
Michael Baish	...	Storekeeper
David Gray	...	Doc Turner
Royce Clark	...	Hugh Cherry
Gary Parker	...	Radio station manager
Billy Strange	...	Speedy West
Bruce Newman	...	Opry stage manager
Grant Turner	...	Opry announcer
Frank Mitchell	...	Washington neighbor
Merle Kilgore	...	Cowboy at Tootsie's
Jackie Lynn Wright	...	Redhead at Tootsie's
Rhonda Rhoton	...	Lizzie
Vernon Oxford	...	Preacher
Ron Hensley	...	John Penn
Doug Bledsoe	...	Cowboy at Grange Hall
Aubrey Wells	...	Red Lynn
Russell Varner	...	Bidder at pie auction
Tommie O'Donnell	...	Teacher at pie auction
Lou Headley	...	Teacher at pie auction
Ruby Caudill	...	Teacher at pie auction
Charles Kahlenberg	...	Business manager
Alice McGeachy	...	Woman with doll
Ken Riley	...	Road manager
Jim Webb	...	Bus driver
Dave Thornhill	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Don Ballinger	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Zeke Dawson	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Gene Dunlap	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Durwood Edwards	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Chuck Flynn	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Lonnie Godfrey	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Bob Hempker	...	The Coal Miner's Band
Danny Faircloth	...	The Patsy Cline Band
Charles Gore	...	The Patsy Cline Band
Doug Hauseman	...	The Patsy Cline Band
Mike Noble	...	The Patsy Cline Band
Daniel Sarenana	...	The Patsy Cline Band
Billy West	...	The Patsy Cline Band
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brad Baker	...	Miner (uncredited)
Allison Caine	...	Additional Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Minnie Pearl	...	Herself (uncredited)
Jimmy Yates	...	Janitor (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Apted

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Loretta Lynn		autobiography
Thomas Rickman		writer (as Tom Rickman)
George Vecsey		autobiography

Produced by
Zelda Barron	....	associate producer
Robert E. Larson	....	executive producer (as Bob Larson)
Bernard Schwartz	....	producer

Cinematography by
Ralf D. Bode		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Arthur Schmidt

Casting by
Michael Chinich

Production Design by
John W. Corso

Set Decoration by
John M. Dwyer

Costume Design by
Joe I. Tompkins

Makeup Department
Albert Jeyte	....	assistant makeup artist
Mark Reedall	....	makeup artist
Lorraine Roberson	....	hair stylist
Martin Samuel	....	assistant hair stylist (as Martin Samuels)

Production Management
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	production manager (as Wallace Worsley)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Katy Emde	....	second assistant director
Dan Kolsrud	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sam Adams	....	construction crew
Al Bilof	....	swing gang
Dimitri Bulgarcic	....	construction crew
Jim Callan	....	construction crew (as James Callan)
Terry Feller	....	construction crew
Kirk D. Hansen	....	construction crew (as Kirk Hansen)
Andy Hawkes	....	construction crew
Ray LaPorte	....	painter
Richard Leon	....	assistant propmaster
Louis M. Mann	....	set designer (as Lou Mann)
Jon Marsala	....	construction crew (as John Marsala)
Peg McClellan	....	illustrator
Frank Mitchell	....	greensman
Bob Nohles	....	construction coordinator
Andy Pedroza	....	construction crew
Victor E. Petrotta Sr.	....	property master (as Victor Petrotta)
H. John Ramos	....	assistant propmaster
Bion Roberts	....	construction crew
Joseph R. Savko	....	swing gang (as Joe Savko)
Jack Smith	....	construction crew
Barton M. Susman	....	leadman (as Bart Susman)
Marty Urner	....	construction crew
Greg Villalva	....	construction crew
Ken White	....	construction crew
Robert Misetich	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Agalsoff Jr.	....	playback (as John Agalsoff)
James R. Alexander	....	sound (as Jim Alexander)
Lon Bender	....	sound editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Gordon Ecker	....	supervising sound editor (as Gordon Ecker Jr.)
Alsie L. Florence	....	sound recordist (as Alsie Florence)
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound re-recordist (as Roger Heman)
Joseph Holsen	....	sound editor
Andrew London	....	sound editor
John McDonald	....	boom operator
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recordist
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tom Del Genio	....	special effects (as Tom Delgenio)
Floyd Van Wey	....	special effects

Stunts
Mags Kavanaugh	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Abbott	....	electrician
William Birch	....	camera operator: second unit
Timothy Brennan	....	second grip (as Tim Brennan)
Roy Collodi	....	assistant camera
John T. Dustin	....	camera operator: second unit (as John Dustin)
Mike Heath	....	grip
Marc Hirschfeld	....	assistant camera
David Jarrell	....	best boy
Harry Jukes	....	generator operator
Ray Kinzer	....	key grip
George Kohut	....	assistant camera
Ann Lukacs	....	assistant camera
Alberto S. Ramos	....	dolly grip (as Albert Ramos)
Don Smetzer	....	still photographer
Mark Stanley	....	grip
Michael Stone	....	camera operator (as Mike Stone)
Ted Varnadoe	....	electrician
Melinda Wickman	....	still photographer
Robert Woodside	....	gaffer (as Bob Woodside)

Casting Department
Sandra Dawes	....	casting assistant (as Sandy Dawes)
Jo Doster	....	casting associate
Olivia Maggard	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lucille Clark	....	costumer: women
Michele Dittrick	....	costumer: women (as Michelle Dittrich)
Barry Downing	....	costumer: men
Hugo Peña	....	costumer: men (as Hugo Pena)
Ervin W. Rose	....	costume supervisor (as E.W. Rose)
Pamela Wise	....	costume supervisor (as Pam Wise)

Editorial Department
Tom Finan	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Owen Bradley	....	music supervisor
George Brand	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Richard Austin	....	transportation captain (as Dick Austin)
Bill Bilyeu	....	driver
Jim Burris	....	driver
Bill Essenpreis	....	driver
Jim Johnson	....	driver
Calvin Masoner	....	driver (as Cal Masoner)
Mike Robinson	....	driver: cast
Eugene Schwartz	....	transportation captain (as Gene Schwartz)

Other crew
Nick Chiarolanzio	....	location auditor
Sue Dwiggins	....	production associate
Bob Forrest	....	script supervisor
Russ Harling	....	production assistant
Jim Jones	....	wrangler
Bob McPherson	....	craft service
George Osaki	....	title designer
Brad Siniard	....	paramedic
David Skepner	....	technical advisor
Barney Thebiay	....	projectionist
Arthur Wilde	....	publicist
Danny Young	....	timekeeper

Thanks
Bud Armes	....	thanks
Vince Bohannon	....	thanks
Charles R. Campbell	....	thanks
Delmar Kincer	....	thanks
Kent Rigg	....	thanks
Johnny Rosen	....	thanks
Sally Webb	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1982) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• DiscoVision (USA) (laserdisc)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:PG | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bee, Virginia, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Although Loretta Lynn handpicked Sissy Spacek to portray her on screen, the first director of the film was against the casting, feeling that Spacek didn't have enough of a resemblance to Lynn. Universal Pictures felt otherwise, bought out the director's contract and hired Michael Apted to direct.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Doo and Loretta are driving to radio stations, the centerline in the road is yellow. For that time period, they should be white.

Quotes:

Patsy Cline: People are wantin' to know who you've been sleepin' with to get on the Opry so quick.
Loretta Lynn: Well, I never... who would say such a thing?
Patsy Cline: All those girl singers who've been sleepin' with everybody and *still* ain't got on the Opry.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Skydivers (#7.9)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Satisfied Mind

From 13 year old bride, to becoming a Country Music Legend. A perfect biographical film.

Biographical films that are done right can be a thing of beauty. They can enlighten us by giving us perspective and insight into people that we may recognize by name but yet know little of the circumstances that have made up the fabric of their lives. And if the life they led is as fascinating as that of Loretta Lynn, they can also entertain us in the process.

Based on Lynn's autobiographical novel of the same name, Coal Miner's Daughter is easily one of the best films of this genre. It is the story of how Loretta Lynn became one of the most successful Country & Western vocalists in recording history despite having been raised in the poverty stricken hills of Butcher Holler, Kentucky, marrying at the age of 13, and having several children to boot.

The first half of Coal Miner's Daughter is a fascinating look at a life foreign to most of us. As the daughter of Ted Webb (Levon Helm) and Clara Webb (Phyllis Boyens), Loretta (Sissy Spacek)seems destined to live her life just as all who those who live in Butcher Holler eke out an existence. It seems predetermined that she will probably marry one day, that her husband will be a coal miner just as her own father is, and she will have a caboodle of young 'uns running around the hills barefoot. One day, on a trip into town with her father, Loretta meets the irrepressible Mooney Lynn (Tommy Lee Jones) who has just come home form the service. It isn't long before Mooney convinces the 13 year. old Loretta that they are in love and need to be married. After convincing Ted and Clara to give their blessing, the wedding takes place, and although it isn't apparent for many years, it's a decision that will forever alter the course of her existence.

One of the reasons this film succeeds on the level that it does, is because Director Michael Apted never falls into the trap of making the film judgmental about many of the events that occur in Loretta's life. He let's the events of the film unfold naturally, and we either accept them for what they are or we don't. For instance, many Directors would have felt the need to implant some nefarious motive behind Mooney's relationship with Loretta. The events that happen in Loretta's childhood were what they were, and though letting a child of thirteen marry may be foreign to us, it was obviously something that may not have been extraordinary unusual back in Butcher Holler.

There is another reason why Coal Miner's Daughter succeeds on all levels. Sissy Spacek plays Loretta Lynn as if she were cloned from her. Not only is their resemblance strikingly uncanny, her speaking voice, her singing voice, her mannerisms will have you believing that it is Loretta herself starring in this film. As if this isn't enough, Spacek was required to play a character that starts out as a naive thirteen year old girl, and ends as an adult woman who suffers through many painful and tumultuous events in her life. Not an easy task at all, but it is the stuff for which actresses win Academy Awards, and Spacek certainly earned hers.

If Spacek's performance was exceptional, the rest of the cast would merely need to be adequate to make the film succeed, but they are every bit as impressive. Given the difficult role of playing Mooney, Tommy Lee Jones brings the character to life. While never making Mooney appear sympathetic, he does show us that Mooney is after all a human being, subject to the same foibles and temptations as the rest of us. Most of all, despite his failings, Jones lets us know that Mooney did indeed care a great deal for Loretta, even if such outward expressions of love were foreign to him.

There's more. Levon Helm as Ted Webb gives one of the best supporting performance ever in a film. As Ted, he gives us a father who cares deeply about his family, doing for them what he can with what little money he can scrape by on from his earning. He is a man who has obviously been beaten down by the drudgery and day to day existence of spending most of his life with a pick and a shovel mining coal. It is this existence that eventually forces Mooney into his decision to not become a victim of the coal mines.

Last but certainly not least, is Beverly D'Angelo as Patsy Cline, who not only befriends Loretta, but helps to teach her the ways of the world. Her performance is so good in fact, that although her scenes aren't many, D'Angelo leaves an indelible mark that made it difficult to accept Jessica Lange in the same role. I do not know why Jones, Helm, and D'Angelo were not recognized when Awards time rolled around as they were all at least deserving of a nomination if not a win. Perhaps Spacek's performance was so powerful that it overshadowed the fine work done by the rest of the cast. Then again, I quit trying to figure the reasoning behind awards a long time ago.

There is no doubt however, that Coal Miner's Daughter is one of the best biographical films ever. It is one of those rare times when cast, director, writer, all came together to make a very special film. And when they all do that I have no choice but to give them my grade which for Coal Miner's Daughter is an A+.