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The Rose

Play trailer Poster for The Rose R,  1979,  2h 14m,  Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 73% 22 Reviews Tomatometer 81% 5,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
73% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Rose (Bette Midler) is a passionate 1960s rock star who pours herself into every performance despite her demanding manager, Rudge (Alan Bates), who encourages her to tour excessively. While singing is her greatest love, the rock 'n' roll lifestyle takes its toll as Rose succumbs to drug and alcohol abuse. Only Rose's kind-hearted boyfriend, Dyer (Frederic Forrest), tries to save her from falling victim to her own success in this drama loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

Critics Reviews

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Gary Arnold Washington Post May 9, 2018
It's impossible to watch this peculiarly unstirring account of the collapse of a bedraggled, bedrugged rock star... without getting many a giggle out of the abundant cliches and superfluous howlers. Go to Full Review
Melissa Anderson Artforum May 22, 2015
The Rose isn't big but enormous. Go to Full Review
Noel Murray The Dissolve May 18, 2015
4/5
The Rose wouldn't work without the full commitment of Midler, who always seems poised between a bawdy guffaw and thick mascara tears. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jan 1, 2026
3/4
Bette Midler's turn as the self-destructive yet sympathetic Rose is a tour de force, and there are nice contributions from Frederic Forrest and, in one powerhouse scene, Harry Dean Stanton. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jan 17, 2024
The biggest surprise of The Rose is that Bette Midler is possibly a better actress than singer... In three minutes, Midler goes from tawdry to servility to humiliated to desperate, with chameleon-like nuance. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Michael Bronski Gay Community News (Boston) Aug 19, 2022
Bette Midler’s acting and singing have a truth and realness that give the film a center. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Feb 2, 2019 The best movie song ever sung: the title song!
Feb 2, 2019 Bette Midler convincingly as The Rose is definitely very good performance I've seen this movie at least 100 time and just as excited to see it again See more
Theodore M Aug 27, 2018 The only character I liked in this film was Frederic Forrest's Huston Dyer. What a great actor! Stole the scene each time.
Rey W Jul 23, 2017 An occasionally touching drama that allows you to sympathize with its lead character with a certain ease, although in the end Mark Rydell's The Rose employs endless cliches and serviceable supporting characters that are just there for dialogue but end up being effective in touching the audience. See more
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The Rose

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Mark Rydell

Director

Bette Midler

Mary Rose Foster

Alan Bates

Rudge Campbell

Frederic Forrest

Huston Dyer

Harry Dean Stanton

Billy Ray

Barry Primus

Dennis

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The Rose

The Rose (1979) The Rose (1979) The Rose (1979) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Rose (Bette Midler) is a passionate 1960s rock star who pours herself into every performance despite her demanding manager, Rudge (Alan Bates), who encourages her to tour excessively. While singing is her greatest love, the rock 'n' roll lifestyle takes its toll as Rose succumbs to drug and alcohol abuse. Only Rose's kind-hearted boyfriend, Dyer (Frederic Forrest), tries to save her from falling victim to her own success in this drama loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.
Director
Mark Rydell
Producer
Marvin Worth, Aaron Russo, Anthony Ray
Screenwriter
Bo Goldman, Bill Kerby
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 1979, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 1, 2016
Runtime
2h 14m
Sound Mix
Surround
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