Customer Reviews

The Nashville Chronicles: The Making of Robert Altman's Masterpiece

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For any fans of this film, and indeed, for its detractors also, this is a must have guide to learning more about the behind the scenes gossip. I am glad this book was not written/published until the 25th anniversary of the movie, as enough time has passed for an objective view of the film to be made. There is no denying that this is a powerful, interesting and even disturbing film. I am espcially pleased that a great number of the actors took part in this book. I have always wondered what happened to Ronee Blakley, (who played the fragile Barbara Jean to a T in the film). Do not miss this book if you love the film.

Robert Altman's Nashville is a movie that has been praised as one of the greatest American movies ever made and conversely has been derided as an overblown, preachy ego trip. Whatever side of the fence you may fall on, Jan Stuart has written an interesting, insightful account of the making of a complex film. Through interviews with just about everyone involved in the film, Mr. Stuart gives us an insider's view of not only the movie itself, but of the film's maverick director. We are transported back to the July & August, 1974 when the cast and crew invades the Music City. Mr. Stuart paints a vivid picture of the town at that time and the feelings of the city's residents towards the Hollywood people. We get detailed accounts of the origins of the film, the path screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury took to creating the 24 characters and writing the script, the casting choices for the roles (how some actors like Robert Duvall, Louise Fletcher and Susan Anspach backed out), the filming of the scenes and the mood off camera. Mr. Stuart offers so much detail that you feel as if you were actually on the set. As with any book written about a movie, Mr. Stuart obviously considers Nashville to be a masterpiece and Mr. Altman to be a genius. Although he does praise both, the book is not a gushing love letter towards them. He does not overtly interject his feelings and tempers the praise by detailing the criticism the film received. All in all, Mr. Stuart lives up to the high standards of the movie, by writing a superb book.

What a magnificent job Stuart has done with this intricate, intelligent history of one of the seminal films of the last century. Clearly possessing the diligence of a detective (or an archaeologist), Stuart has researched every aspect of "Nashville"'s creation and production, as well as its place in history, and has come up with a stylishly written, highly readable book. He makes a strong case for the film as a kind of happy accident in which a wild cast of characters--before and behind the camera--collided and created a masterpiece. Reading this book makes one want to weep for the state of the American film industry today, which could never produce another "Nashville" if it tried.

I had no idea that there was so much anecdotal material to be had from the making of Robert Altman's country and western music opus, NASHVILLE but Jan Stuart has managed to interview nearly everyone involved. He traces the film's origins right up to what everyone involved (including country music insiders) thinks of it now. This is an exhaustive, detailed account of every aspect of how Altman's film was made but written in a very entertaining, engaging style.

If you're a fan of Altman's films then this is definitely required reading as Stuart provides fascinating insights into how the man works and collaborates with others. The best thing I can say about this book is that it makes you immediately want to watch NASHVILLE all over again and appreciate how much hard work went into it. Great reading.

A creditable piece of work by Mr. Stuart. I would have liked a little more on the artistic process and a little less on the soap opera of the cast and crew. It IS interesting to see how people have such complete misapprehension of one another and the motives of others. I guess that's what "Nashville" is really about, too. Stuart also tells us what happened to the cast in subsequent years, which I've alway wondered about and was glad to know. You come away with a reality-tempered respect for Tewkesbury, the screenwriter, Altman, the director, and most of the cast -- who obviously threw themselves into the parts and did the best they knew how to do. For some, their best was transcendent, and Stuart gives us the story behind those moments. A fine book that was obviously a labor of love -- and just a lot of pains-taking labor -- for Stuart.

The 24 primary actors offscreen motives mirror the inspirations, for better or worse, of the 24 characters portrayed in the movie. I would have liked to have seen an Altman discussion of how he and his cast differed--if at all-- from the fameseekers so carefully-chronicled in his movie. This self-reference issue becomes particularly intriguing when one considers that Altman was encouraging his young actors to bring their own "baggage" to the lives of the characters. Overall, a very thorough discussion of a very brilliant movie.

Film critic Jan Stuart has written a wonderful behind the scenes expose of the movie "Nashville". John Leonard, a book critic for The Nation, media critic for CBS News "Sunday Morning and television critic of New York magazine writes: "Stuart reads everything and tells all, from the drunken cookouts to the vicious tongue-lashing temper tantrums, to what became of everybody in the afterlife of all this surprise and excess, to the scenes that wound up on the the cutting-room."

A must read for fans of Robert Altman, the movie Nashville, or movies in general.

Loved the movie. loved the soundtrack, although I wish live versions of the songs were included (especially Barbara Harris' "It don't worry me")
The book is merely the icing on the cake.

great book. job well done. thanks jan!