Product Details

• Actors: Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Melinda Dillon, Rip Torn, Lesley Ann Warren
• Directors: Alan Rudolph
• Writers: Bud Shrake
• Producers: Sydney Pollack
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Sony Pictures
• VHS Release Date: August 6, 1996
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302860202
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,419 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Overlooked Gem, January 12, 2007

By 

Stanley H. Nemeth (Garden Grove, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songwriter (DVD)

Perhaps unwarranted negative expectations about the cast (Willie and Kris) and the supposed subject matter of this clever and winning film (country music) can explain why so few movie lovers - who would surely recognize its merit - appear to have seen it. Far from being just another southwestern guy buddy picture, it's in fact a sharp, satiric comedy about rascally but talented artists, exploited by greedy entrepreneurs and managers who deserve and finally get witty comeuppances.
Nelson and Kristofferson are both strongly engaging actors here, while Leslie Ann Warren as a drunk chanteuse who becomes a celebrity and Rip Torn as a shameless promoter but good family man have never been better.
The film has a skillful screenplay by Bud Shrake which succeeds in the difficult job of balancing wit and commendable sentiment, so that the film's narrative and dialogue, at once funny and moving, are never corny.
Directing this first-rate comic script, the elsewhere inconsistent Alan Rudolph has here one of his finest achievements.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Songwriter" an interesting glimse of music industry, March 6, 2000

By 

Brad Moffitt - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriter [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I was in a Nashville music establishment in February of 2000 and heard legendary singer/songwriter Joe Sun talking about the movie "Songwriter" with Willie and Kris. I jumped on Amazon and ordered a copy. "Songwriter" is a look at the music industry through the escapades of two ornery music industry insiders (Willie and Kris) and the trail of schemes they leave behind. Willie is lovable as a singer-turned-con man. It's a fun movie to watch for music fans and fans of Willie and Kris. Real songwriters, singers, and producers will find it a little far fetched..... or simply a parady of experiences. The sound track is excellent, and Kristofferson fans will notice an early version of the song "Under the Gun" which appeared on his late 90's album "A Moment of Forever." Rip Torn and Leslie Ann Down are very entertaining in roles as dastardly promoter and a binge drinking singer respectively.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars We love it!, November 6, 2003

By 

Bert Brand (CASINO, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songwriter [VHS] (VHS Tape)

My wife and I like to open a few stubbies of beer and settle back to watch/listen to Willie and Kris and the cast having a lot of fun. Unfortunately we have to hire it, and always have our eyes open for a copy. The script, music, acting appeals to us. Definitely one our our favourite films.