Coal Miner's Daughter
Short description
Coal Miner's Daughter tells the story of Loretta Lynn, a country singer who rose from a hardscrabble childhood in rural Kentucky to become one of the most successful women in country music. She marries young, starts a family while still a teenager, and seems set for a life of housework and child-rearing, but her husband notices her talent and encourages her to sing. That encouragement leads to songwriting, a first record, and a move toward Nashville, where her career takes off. The film is based on Lynn's autobiography and follows her journey from poverty to stardom while balancing a demanding marriage and family life.
Michael Apted directed the film, the second of nineteen features in his career, following Agatha and preceding Continental Divide. Thomas Rickman wrote the screenplay, and Bernard Schwartz produced it for Universal Pictures. Sissy Spacek plays Lynn, with Tommy Lee Jones as her husband, Mooney, and Beverly D'Angelo as fellow singer Patsy Cline.
Released in March 1980, the film had a budget of 15 million dollars and earned 67 million dollars worldwide. On IMDb and TMDB, audience ratings sit in the low seven range, while the critics' average of 8.1 from 63 reviews is noticeably higher. That gap suggests reviewers responded more strongly than general viewers, though both measures point to a solidly received film.
What's left behind the scenes
- Filming took place in the state of Virginia.
- Concert scenes were filmed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, a concert hall that hosted the "Grand Ole Opry" show from 1943 to 1974—a concert-format show featuring country music stars.
- The film emphasizes that Loretta Lynn married at the age of 13, but this is not true. In May 2012, the Associated Press found and published Loretta Lynn's birth certificate, which revealed that she had been lying about her age for many years. She was 16 years old at the time of her marriage.
- The story of Patsy Cline (1932-1963) was told in Karel Reisz's drama "Sweet Dreams" (1985) starring Jessica Lange. Bernard Schwartz (born Tony Curtis, 1918-2010) was the producer of both films.
- Loretta tells Patsy she is pregnant, and a few days later, Patsy dies in a plane crash. Patsy Cline died in March 1963, and Loretta gave birth to twins in August 1964, which is 17 months later.
- It is claimed that Loretta Lynn fainted when she saw Levon Helm (1940-2012) in makeup – he reminded her of her father.
- During the filming of Ted Webb's funeral, actor Levon Helm refused point-blank to deliver a speech while lying in the coffin. Director Michael Apted even had to lie in the coffin himself to show the actor that there was nothing to be afraid of. He finally agreed, and the scene was shot in one take.
- Throughout the entire filming period, even when she wasn't on camera, Sissy Spacek remained in character.
- In preparation for the role, Sissy Spacek went on one of her character’s concert tours to better get into the part.
- Meryl Streep also auditioned for the role of Loretta. Spacek, in turn, was considered for the role of Violet in John Wells’ drama “August” (2013) and the witch in Rob Marshall’s musical “Into the Woods” (2014). Meryl Streep played both of those roles.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
