The Rose Details

Dated, but not bad

I first saw this film at the cinema with a girlfriend, way back in my teens. I understand that it's supposed to be based on Janis Joplin, but I can't comment on that as I know little of her. The film has a very dated feel, due to the style of dress and music, but then again it is 25 years old and supposedly set even earlier. I'm no fan of Ms Midler, but her performance carried this film, which otherwise would have been fairly poor. It's a tale of the rise and fall of a singer, with all the hazards of fame thrown in to illustrate how things can go wrong. Not bad, if you like that sort of thing. I loved the theme tune too.

This film is a strong indictment of the inhuman demands of the pop music industry. Bette Midler, in her first major film, is stunning as the tired, alcoholic and insecure pop star who is rapidly heading downhill. This theme may seem unattractive and I confess I am an opera buff rather than a rock n' roll fan. Nevertheless this film is worth watching for the raw and compelling energy of Bette Midler's singing and acting. She is ably supported by Adrian Bates as her hard nosed manager and Frederick Forrest as the boy friend she increasingly depends upon. A personal measure of the impact of this film is that, along with Clouzot's "The Wages of Fear" it has stuck in my memory for 25 years and more, long after I have forgotten most other films I have seen. Will Lord of the Rings stand that test? Probably yes!