The Rose (film)

This article is about the 1979 U.S. film. For other shows, see Rose (disambiguation).
The Rose
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMark Rydell
Screenplay byBo Goldman
Bill Kerby
Michael Cimino (uncredited)
Story byBill Kerby
Produced byAaron Russo
Marvin Worth
Anthony Ray
StarringBette Midler
Alan Bates
Frederic Forrest
CinematographyVilmos Zsigmond
Edited byCarroll Timothy O'Meara
Robert L. Wolfe
Music byPaul A. Rothchild (Mendelssohn – Piano concerto no 1, 2nd movement, the Rose)
Distributed by20th Century-Fox
Release date
  • November 7, 1979 (1979-11-07) (New York City)[1]
Running time
134 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$9.3 million[3][4]
Box office$29.2 million (US/Canada)[5]

The Rose is a 1979 American musical drama film directed by Mark Rydell, and starring Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Barry Primus, and David Keith. Loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin, the film follows a self-destructive rock star in the late 1960s, who struggles to cope with the pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager.

Originally titled Pearl (Janis Joplin's nickname and the title of her last album), the film's screenplay was revised and fictionalized after the Joplin family declined to allow producers the rights to her story.[6]

The Rose was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 52nd Academy Awards (1980), including Best Actress in a Leading Role (Bette Midler, in her screen debut), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Frederic Forrest), Best Film Editing and Best Sound.[7] Midler performed the soundtrack album for the film, and its title track became one of her biggest hit singles.

  1. ^ The Rose at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
  2. ^ "The Rose". Variety. December 31, 1978. Archived from the original on August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Solomon 2002, p. 259.
  4. ^ Bette Midler Comes Up 'Rose' Mann, Roderick. Los Angeles Times 1 Mar 1979: f10.
  5. ^ "The Rose". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  6. ^ Elan, Priya. "Is the Janis Joplin biopic finally going to be filmed? Don't hold your breath", The Guardian, August 7, 2010. WebCitation archive.
  7. ^ "The 52nd Academy Awards (1980) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-10-07.