Hard to Hold (1984)

User Rating:

4.1/10   

Director:

Larry Peerce

Writers:

Thomas Hedley Jr. (screenplay)
Thomas Hedley Jr. (story)

Release Date:

29 June 1984 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

Love is hard to find, when the whole world is watching.

Plot:

Details the efforts of a pop-rock star (James Roberts / Rick Springfield) to win the love of a woman he meets in a car accident...

Plot Keywords:

Semi Autobiographical | Groupie | Fame | Concert Scene | Rock Band

Cast

Rick Springfield	...	James Roberts
Janet Eilber	...	Diana Lawson
Patti Hansen	...	Nicky Nides
Albert Salmi	...	Johnny Lawson
Gregory Itzin	...	Owen
Peter Van Norden	...	Casserole
Tracy Brooks Swope	...	Toby
Heather Devore-Haase	...	Cal Mussetter
Carole Tru Foster	...	Mrs. Mussetter
Garry Goodrow	...	Maitre d'
Frank Ronzio	...	Flower Vendor
Charles Sweigart	...	Punk Leader
Selma Archerd	...	Mrs. Adilman
Paul Jenkins	...	Hawker
Warren Miller	...	Cab Driver

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:Atp | UK:15 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:7 | USA:PG

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Tiffany Helm's film debut.

Quotes:

Diana Lawson: Will you stop harassing me? I know who you are, you're a rock person of some sort.
James Roberts: Do you like my music?
Diana Lawson: No, I don't like your music.
James Roberts: Why?
Diana Lawson: It's bubblegum!
James Roberts: Yeah? Well 21 million Americans seem to think different!
Diana Lawson: Well, bully for them!
James Roberts: *Bully* for them? What kind of word is "bully"? What kind of music do you like?
Diana Lawson: Tony Bennett.
James Roberts: Jesus...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hell (1984) (V)

Soundtrack:

When The Lights Go Down

Hard to Watch!!!!

James Roberts (Rick Springfield) is the lead singer of a successful band. The band also has his ex-girlfriend Nicki (Patti Hansen) who has a nasty disposition and temper. Roberts than meets cute Diana Lawson (Janet Eilber) in a car accident...and immediately falls in love. Naturally she doesn't know who he is...or care. Totally predictable complications ensure.

Caught this drivel in a movie theatre way back in 1984. Springfield was big with teenage girls back then and the theatre was packed with them. More than half walked out before the movie was half over! It's truly that bad! The script is moronic and painfully obvious--all the characters act like idiots. Also the acting wavers. Hansen and Eilber are actually pretty good but Springfield....OK--he tries. He REALLY tries and it gets embarrassing to watch. He just can't act but, back then, he was a very attractive man so at least he was fun to look at.

The movie does have its bright moments--Springfield bares his butt two or three times (within PG boundaries) and I DO like the soundtrack. At that time the song "Love Somebody" was a monster hit and it's played twice in the movie. Also the concert sequences work very well. But the sappy love story and bad acting by Springfield do make this a chore to watch sometimes. I can honestly only give it a 3. It's not the worst movie I've ever seen but it's definitely down there. And--really--teenage fans of his walked out on this!