User Reviews

This 71-minute retrospective documentary offers a wealth of fascinating information on the making of Robert Altman's stunning seriocomic epic "Nashville." Ronee Blakley considers the film a homage to country music and reveals that she not only came up with the scene in which Barbara Jean breaks down on stage, but also patterned Barbara Jean after Loretta Lynn. Michael Murphy points out that the movie offers a spot-on incisive commentary on the relationship between politics and entertainment. Allan Nicholls relates a funny story on how he found out that Cristina Raines was cheating on his character with Keith Carradine when he saw the dailies. Carradine describes the picture as the essence of the American psyche and admits that he's proud to be a part of it. Screenwriter Joan Tweskebury talks about visiting Nashville twice as research for her script. Moreover, we also learn that Altman didn't believe in having people do auditions, Karen Black only worked for one week and came to town in a limo, Opal's bus speech was improvised, Allen Garfield didn't get along with Altman, Gwen Welles took singing lessons, the first cut was over five hours long, and it rained on the day the big climactic concert set piece was filmed. Essential viewing for fans of the film.