Watch Your Cheatin' Heart For Free

the audience applauded

Excellent but underrated film

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Ultimately Unsatisfying and Tepid Biography of Hank Williams Sr. It Suffers from a Low-Budget Look but Remains Interesting and inspirational Mainly because of the Mythological Implications and the Genius of the Singer/Songwriters Legacy. Justifiably Considered one of the Best and Influential Recording Artists of the Twentieth Century Williams Combined Blues and Hillbilly into a Template of Rustic Simplification of White Poor Folks Woes that was to Become the Nucleus of Country Music as it is Known Today.The Movie without Doubt leaves a lot to be Desired. George Hamilton gives it a Yeoman's Effort to bring a Pop Cultural God down to Earth but the Task was Beyond His Abilities. But it is not Awful and while Pedestrian is Substantial Enough to just be Passable. Historians are Quick to Point Out that the Film is Whitewashed and Almost Insignificant. Most Blame is put on Hank's First Wife Audrey who took Control of the Film's Production much like She did with Williams's Career. The Result, they Maintain, was almost Blasphemous in its Manipulation and Myth Making.In the End it is not a Worthless Movie. it can Inspire, mostly due to the Great Songs, to Invite the Uninitiated to the Man's Music and Talent. A Teen-Aged Hank Williams Jr. Provides the Vocals with Renditions of His Father's Most Famous Songs and Jr does a Fine and Heartfelt Labor of Love. Worth a Watch because of the Songwriting Creativity of the Artist and because there is Scant Little Else to Represent the Storytellers Life on Screen. That Needs to be Corrected ASAP.

I first saw this film at the old Fox Theater in Rawlins, WY. I was so impressed that I began collecting Hank's albums,remastered and released on 33 1/3 records. The more I got, the more I wanted. Recently, I discovered the movie was out on DVD and I bought it. I have watched it many times. I believe George Hammilton made an honest effort to get into Hank's mind and did a credible job. I love the movie and use it to introduce my kids and grandkids to this amazing man. I also bought Hank Williams, The Show He Never Gave and love it as a way to come a little closer to knowing Hank. I can't say I like one movie over the other. They are both VERY good.I agree with those who would like to see the movie made today along the line of Walk The Line and Ray. Hank was too important to not keep new generations up to date with his massive contribution to Country Music.

There's no doubt that GEORGE HAMILTON does one of the best acting jobs of his career as Hank Williams, lip-syncing the country music star's lyrics with a voice supplied by Hank Williams, Jr. SUSAN OLIVER is fine as the woman he marries, the woman who finds it a struggle to manage his career when he adopts a drinking pattern to forestall going on stage at concerts.The screenplay has taken liberties to stray somewhat from all of the actual events surrounding Williams' life and his early demise. In doing so, they haven't avoided the usual clichés about celebrity and fame and fortune destroying the soul of the artist. Williams obviously had deep-seated fears in connection with performing and was never able to fully resolve them.The musical selections include most of his most famous songs and credit must be given to Hank Williams, Jr. for effectively singing them. One has to wonder why the filmmakers couldn't have used the actual Hank Williams voice from his own recordings, unless there were legal issues to overcome.Summing up: Decent biography of the country singer is given a lift by his great songs.

If you are a songwriter or have ever written a song, you must marvel at the work of Hank Williams, and this movie shows us the magic of songwriting. Where do the greatest songs come from? And if we happen to write one, is it our responsibility to let the world hear it?Unlike so many other movies based on the lives of legendary musicians, this one is fun to watch (and not just listen). George Hamilton is great as Hank Williams, and it's his performance that saves the biopic from turning to a tiresome melodrama somewhere in the middle. You see, he doesn't seem to be all that serious even when the script calls him to be, and that my friend, however strange it may seem, is the key to success. So many biopics based on the stories of bitter ex wives and rivals suggest that our favorite artists never had a sense of humor.All the actors do a good job. Beautiful Susan Oliver plays a credible nag, and although the script doesn't put the blame on anyone (which is good), the performance allows us to question her motives from the get go.All the songs heard in this movie are classics. We hear two different versions of I saw the light, and the later one makes otherwise a sad ending the perfect ending.