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Songwriter

Play trailer Poster for Songwriter R,  1984,  1h 34m,  Musical Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 88% 8 Reviews Tomatometer 43% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is a country music star who's become fed up with the industry. With some help from Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson), his old partner, and Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren), a rising star he's been mentoring, he tries to get back at Rodeo Rocky (Richard Sarafian), a ruthless promoter who's swindled him out of the publishing rights to his songs. Doc also sets out to get back together with his kindly ex-wife, Honey (Melinda Dillon).

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker Sep 13, 2023
Songwriter is a satirical comedy about an artist trying to break free of the crooks who are binding him, but it never loses its sense of perspective on what a wily, frisky old pirate Doc himself is. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Oct 23, 2004
3.5/4
It's about spending some time with some country musicians who are not much crazier than most country musicians, and are probably nicer than some. It also has a lot of good music. Go to Full Review
Edward Morris Billboard Mar 28, 2023
Nelson and Kristofferson do quite well imparting interest in the frail script they have to work with. But it is Rip Torn who comes close to stealing the show... Go to Full Review
Michael Lasky Bay Area Reporter Apr 30, 2020
The pacing is flash. bang. pop, with nonstop singing, talking, and carrying on, suggesting the manic pace entertainers on the road must endure. Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dec 8, 2009
B
If you're fans of country music and especially of Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, you should love this free-wheeling road film. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 3, 2005
C+
Original, if flawed film Go to Full Review
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Songwriter

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Cast & Crew

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Alan Rudolph

Director

Willie Nelson

Doc Jenkins

Kris Kristofferson

Blackie Buck

Melinda Dillon

Honey Carder

Rip Torn

Dino McLeish

Lesley Ann Warren

Gilda

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Songwriter

Songwriter (1984) Songwriter (1984) Songwriter (1984) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Doc Jenkins (Willie Nelson) is a country music star who's become fed up with the industry. With some help from Blackie Buck (Kris Kristofferson), his old partner, and Gilda (Lesley Ann Warren), a rising star he's been mentoring, he tries to get back at Rodeo Rocky (Richard Sarafian), a ruthless promoter who's swindled him out of the publishing rights to his songs. Doc also sets out to get back together with his kindly ex-wife, Honey (Melinda Dillon).
Director
Alan Rudolph
Producer
Sydney Pollack
Production Co
TriStar Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Musical
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 14, 1984, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 24, 2020
Runtime
1h 34m
Sound Mix
Surround
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