# The Rose (film)

The Rose is a 1979 American musical drama film directed by Mark Rydell, and starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Barry Primus, and David Keith. Loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, the film follows a self-destructive rock star in the late 1960s, who struggles to cope with the pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager.
Originally titled Pearl (Janis Joplin's nickname and the title of her last album), the film's screenplay was revised and fictionalized after the Joplin family declined to allow producers the rights to her story.
The Rose was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 52nd Academy Awards (1980), including Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Midler, in her screen debut), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Frederic Forrest), Best Film Editing and Best Sound. Midler performed the soundtrack album for the film, and its title track became one of her biggest hit singles.

## Plot

In late 1969, Mary Rose Foster is a famous rock and roll diva known as "The Rose." In spite of her success, her personal life is lonely and exhausting. She is exploited and overworked by her gruff, greedy manager and promoter Rudge Campbell. Though forthright and brassy, Rose is an insecure alcoholic and former drug user who seems to crave approval in her life. As such, she is determined to return to her Florida hometown, now as a superstar, and perform for the people from her past.
Following a performance in New York City, Rose meets with country music star Billy Ray on Long Island, whom she idolizes and whose songs she often covers in live shows. Billy Ray cruelly demands that she never perform his music again and rudely dismisses her. After discovering that Rudge arranged the meeting because he wants to sign Billy Ray to his label, Rose defiantly flees with a limousine driver named Huston Dyer. The two return to New York, where Rose is scheduled to complete recording sessions. They begin a whirlwind romance.
Rudge assumes that Huston is just another hanger-on, but Rose feels she has finally met her true love. Huston eventually admits to her that he is actually an AWOL sergeant from the Army, and she tells him of her past in Florida. The couple's relationship grows turbulent amidst Rose's reckless lifestyle and constant touring. In Memphis, Rose is met by Sarah, a former lover of hers. When Huston walks in on the two women kissing, he and Rose get into a violent fight, after which Huston flees.
Determined to reunite with Huston, Rose searches for him in a red light district of Memphis with PFC Mal, a military member whom she met in Texas. She subsequently appoints Mal as her security escort, and the two travel to Rose's hometown Jacksonville, where Rudge has booked her a hometown reunion show. Upon arriving, Rose shows Mal her childhood home, her high school and other local landmarks from her childhood. Arriving at the stadium for afternoon rehearsals, Rose repeats her intention to take a one-year break from performing, leading Rudge to tell her she will be in breach of contract. Rudge proceeds to fire her, though unbeknownst to Rose, this is only a ploy to ensure that she performs the show. A distraught Rose is met by Huston, who has traveled to Jacksonville to reunite with her.
Believing her concert is cancelled, Rose decides to run away and start a new life with Huston. That night, she takes Huston on a tour of local bars and clubs she used to frequent prior to becoming famous, recklessly drinking and indulging in barbiturates and heroin. At one bar, Huston becomes jealous when a male patron harasses Rose as she performs, and he begins a fight. After, Rudge reaches Rose on her car phone and convinces her to return for the concert. She acquiesces, and her decision to appease Rudge causes Huston to give up on the relationship and leave town. Later that night, after performing the opening song of her long-awaited homecoming concert, Rose collapses onstage and dies of an overdose.
The movie ends with a closing scene of Rose's parents and Mal at a garage, following a member of the press who is following Rose's tragic death. After taking pictures from Rose as a kid, and some clips she gathered from Billy Ray, Mal turns the lights off as they leave and the garage, along with Rose's memories and photographs, goes dark.

## Cast

* Bette Midler as Mary Rose "The Rose" Foster
* Alan Bates as Rudge Campbell
* Frederic Forrest as Huston Dyer
* Harry Dean Stanton as Billy Ray
* Barry Primus as Dennis
* David Keith as PFC Mal
* Sandra McCabe as Sarah Willingham
* Will Hare as Mr. Leonard
* James Keane as Sam
* Sandy Ward as Mr. Foster
* Doris Roberts as Mrs. Foster
* Danny Weis as Danny, The Rose Band leader
* Mark Leonard as The Rose Band bassist
* Pentti "Whitey" Glan as the Rose Band drummer
* Steve Hunter as The Rose Band guitarist
* Sylvester as drag queen
* Michael Greer as Emcee ("Baby Jane")

## Production
### Conception

The film was originally offered to Ken Russell, who chose instead to direct Valentino. Russell has described this decision as the biggest mistake of his career. At one point, Michael Cimino was also slated to direct, but he chose to direct Heaven's Gate instead. Cimino did, however, make uncredited contributions to the script.

### Casting

Suzy Williams was originally offered the title role, but turned it down for personal reasons, instead suggesting it to Bette Midler.

### Filming

The Rose was completed in time for a scheduled release in April 1979; however, 20th Century-Fox elected to postpone release til autumn 1979:(Mark Rydell quote:)"[at] Easter time...the public seems to like frothy films."

## Reception

The Rose received a mixed to positive critical reception. The film has a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 23 reviews. Among the positive reviews were Siskel & Ebert, who on their program Sneak Previews, both gave the film a collective "Yes".
The film opened in New York City on Wednesday, November 7, 1979 and grossed $793,063 in its opening weekend from 44 screens, the second highest-grossing opening weekend on under 50 screens behind Star Wars (1977). The film went on to gross $29.2 million in the United States and Canada.

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Academy Awards | Best Actress | Bette Midler | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Frederic Forrest | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Film Editing | Robert L. Wolfe and Carroll Timothy O'Meara | Nominated |
| Academy Awards | Best Sound | Theodore Soderberg, Douglas Williams, Paul Wells and Jim Webb | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Bette Midler | Nominated |
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Sound | Theodore Soderberg, Douglas O. Williams, Paul Wells and James E. Webb | Nominated |
| César Awards | Best Foreign Film | Mark Rydell | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Bette Midler | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Frederic Forrest | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Song – Motion Picture | "The Rose" – Amanda McBroom | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Female | Bette Midler | Won |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Actress | Bette Midler | 3rd Place |
| National Society of Film Critics Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Frederic Forrest | Won |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actress | Bette Midler | Runner-up |
| New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Frederic Forrest | Runner-up |
| SESC Film Festival | Best Foreign Film | Mark Rydell | Won |

### Others

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
* 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
** "The Rose" – #83

## Home video

The Criterion Collection released the film on Blu-ray and DVD on May 19, 2015.