Blue Valley Songbird

Starring:Dolly Parton, John Terry, Billy Dean (III), Beth Grant, Kimberley Kates, Peggy Walton-Walker, Christopher Strand, Ed Bruce, Teegan Eley, Mary Donnelly-Haskell, Bob Morrison (IV), Joe Keenan, Charlie Monk, Brian Mathis, Joe Tinoco, Daniel Butler, Deric Ruttan, William Barry Scott, Kyle Hudgens, John E. Cowan
Director: Richard A. Colla
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This thoroughly enjoyable 1999 television movie is an appropriately understated vehicle for country superstar Dolly Parton. Though a limited actress, Parton's key role as a saloon singer with suppressed ambitions makes for a perfect fit, neither overextending her lean thespian gifts nor inadvertently mocking her range. Parton sings, of course, yet even the hillbilly angel within yields to the script's focused tale of a love triangle involving underrated singer-songwriter Leanna (Parton), her longtime manager and boyfriend Hank (an outstanding performance by John Terry), and a restless musician (Billy Dean). Veteran director Richard A. Colla (Fuzz, Battlestar Galactica) approaches the material with grown-up sensitivity and understanding. As Jean Renoir said, everyone has their reasons, and that's certainly the case with these good people on screen. A subplot concerning Leanna's psychological mistreatment in youth by a wacked-out father is an unnecessary and redundant character note, but other than that misstep, Blue Valley Songbird is a pure pleasure. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Campy in the country.......2006-07-28

Like a drag queen,this movie is melodramatic,wears too much make-up&is over-the-top.Watching this movie before going to work at 4 in the morning,I found this a hoot.(If this movie were in theaters,people would be in tears---from laughing so hard!!)

One of the gems is when Dolly's controlling boyfriend drawls,"A man is supposed to go after the younger ones,not the woooman!" Put on a fake Texas accent&it works.

There's the Sappy Sequence in which Dolly meets with her mother,looks at photographs of herself,then gets a heart-to-heart with her pastor.Awwwwww...Did Thomas Kinkade ever get directing credits?

Of course,one must suspend disbelief when the Handsome Young Guitarist falls for Dolly.For someone somewhere,they're an archetypal couple.I haven't found that someone.The movie has a hilarious love triange,enough melodrama for 10 Lifetime films--and songs to tie in with the plot,no less!It's country-fried soap opera!Come 'an get it!

INSIRATIONAL @ FULFILLING.......2006-02-27

I THINK THIS MOVIE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH MAKING A LOT OF PERSONAL LIFE DECICIONS AND CAREER DECISIONS.I THINK IT WAS A REAL DOWN TO EARTH SYORY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENS IN OUR LIVES AND HARD THINGS WE FACE AND HAVE TO CHALLENGE EACH DAY AND IN OUR LIFE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.I BELIEVE THEY COULDNT HAVE PICKED A BETTER CAST FOR THIS DVD-ESPECIALLY--DOLLY PARTON,SHE IS ALWAYS HERSELF EVEN THOUGH ALL THE FAME AND GLORY IN HER LIFE --THATS WHAT MADE THAT PROGRAM-----YOU GO DOLLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THEY NEED TO MAKE MORE MOVIES CONCERNING REAL LIFE ISSUES JUST AS THAT WAS!!IT WAS REALLY GREAT I NEVER GET TIRED OF WATCHING IT -IT GETS BETTER EACH TIME AND I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME IVE WATCHED IT.THANK YOU FOR RELEASING THIS MOVIE ON VIDEO AND DVD

dolly's valley aint blue!.......2003-09-29

this movie was on lifetime and i thought it was great. then i bought the dvd and it's super-spectacular. she does a nice accoustic version of "wildflowers" and there's this weird easter egg where if you hilite her eyes and press enter then you hear only the music and the soundeffects. pretty strange.

Highlight for many occasions.......2003-06-02

This film is a blend of raw humanity and brutal honesty. It was so refreshing to see the issues delt with done with so much style and not the usual sentimental [stuff]. As a huge Dolly fan and a director of performance myself, I have only this to say: Yes, Dolly is not a Liz Taylor, but few performers has ever reached her level of honesty in character and emotion when it comes to playing any character. Instead of boring crocedile tears, Dolly shows us inner pain - as does this whole film. This is a movie for people that understand what it means to hide your pain so that the show can go on. Deeply moving and profoundly liberating if you are able to leave soap operas behind you for a minute or two.

"Two Thumps Up".......2003-04-07

This is a great movie....Dolly Parton goes through a journey with many ups ans downs. She is a singer that is trying to make it big. She performs at a friend, Ruby's, bar. Will she make it big, or be stuck in the wrong gear?..highly recommmended especially Dolly fans!!

Average customer rating:

Blue Valley Songbird
Starring: Dolly Parton
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Average customer rating:

Campy in the country
INSIRATIONAL @ FULFILLING
dolly's valley aint blue!
Highlight for many occasions
"Two Thumps Up"

Blue Valley Songbird [Region 2]
Starring: Dolly Parton , John Terry , Billy Dean (III) , Beth Grant , and Kimberley Kates
Director: Richard A. Colla
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items: