Songwriter (1984)
- Starring:
- Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, (more)
- Director(s):
- Alan Rudolph
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
A good ol' boy comedy-drama, Songwriter flashes enough substance between the songs and the hijinks to qualify as a sometimes astute look into the darker areas of the music business. Willie Nelson plays Doc Jenkins, the title character, who conspires with longtime pal Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson) to turn the tables on a shady promoter, Rodeo Rocky (Richard Sarafian), who has Doc signed to a contract that is one step short of indentured servitude. Lesley Ann Warren plays Gilda, an up-and-coming country chanteuse whom Doc is tutoring. The rest of the supporting cast is a mix of veteran character players (Rip Torn, Melinda Dillon) and musicians associated with Nelson (Mickey Raphael, Bee Spears, Jody Payne, Johnny Gimble). There are also plenty of musical numbers featuring Nelson and Kristofferson (solo and duets). The musicians/actors went on to co-star in two TV movies, A Pair of Aces and Another Pair of Aces, essentially playing the same kind of good ol' boy characters, though as detectives, not songwriters. ~ Tom Wiener, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 94 mins
Complete Cast:
- Willie Nelson - Doc Jenkins
- Melinda Dillon - Honey Carder
- Lesley Ann Warren - Gilda
- Rhonda Dotson - Corkie
- Sammy Allred - Disc Jockey
- Glen Clark - Paul
- Gailard Sartain - Mulreaux
- Jeff MacKay - Hogan
- Jackie King - Guitar Player
- Joe Keyes - Eddie
- John Shaw - Cashier
- Bob Nelson - Piano, Gilda's Band
- Catherine Molloy - Doc's Girl Friend
- Johnny Gimble - Fiddle Player
- Donnie Fritts - Roarers Band
- Cleve Dupin - Road Manager
- Kris Kristofferson - Blackie Buck
- Rip Torn - Dino McLeish
- Mickey Raphael - Arly
- Richard Sarafian - Rodeo Rocky
- Bee Spears - Bass, Gilda's Band
- Paul English - Drums, Gilda's Band
- Jody Payne - Guitar, Gilda's Band
- Booker T. Jones - Keyboard, Gilda's Band
- Sage Parker - Pattie McLeish
- Shannon Wilcox - Anita
- Poodie Locke - Purvis
- Stephen Bruton - Sam/Member of Roarers Band
- Grady Martin - Guitar, Gilda's Band
- Bob Gould - Ralph
- William Boyd - Blind Tommy's Brother
- Steve Fromholz - Engineer
- Director(s):
- Alan Rudolph
- Writer(s):
- Alan Rudolph, Bud Shrake
- Producer(s):
- Mike Moder, Sydney Pollack
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Language, Nudity, Profanity, Not For Children, Adult Situations, Violence)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions







