Rambling Rose (film)
| Industry | Film production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Renny Harlin, Mario Kassar, Edgar J. Scherick (producers) |
| Products | Films |
Rambling Rose is a 1991 American dramatic film helmed by director Martha Coolidge and penned by Calder Willingham, adapted from his 1972 novel. The movie features performances by Laura Dern and Robert Duvall, supported by Lukas Haas, John Heard, and Diane Ladd. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in Georgia, the narrative delves into intricate family relationships.
Significantly, Dern and Ladd—mother and daughter in real life—both earned Academy Award nominations for their roles, competing for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. This marked the first occasion a mother-daughter pair received nominations for the same film in the same year. The production secured the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film, while Coolidge was honored with the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director.
The film was produced by Carolco Pictures alongside Midnight Sun Pictures, with a production budget of $7.5 million, ultimately grossing $6.3 million at the box office. Key production figures included producers Renny Harlin, Mario Kassar, and Edgar J. Scherick, complemented by a score from Elmer Bernstein and cinematography by Johnny E. Jensen.
Plot
In 1971, an adult Buddy revisits his childhood home and reminisces about his youth during the era of the Great Depression. At that time, Rose arrived at his unconventional family’s residence to escape a coerced life of prostitution in Birmingham, Alabama. The Hillyer family welcomes Rose as a housekeeper. She looks up to Mrs. Hillyer, who is working on her master's thesis and shares a similar orphaned past, while developing an infatuation with the kind Mr. Hillyer. Though Buddy, Mr. Hillyer, and the children perceive Rose’s feelings, Mrs. Hillyer remains oblivious due to her hearing impairment.
Rose initiates a kiss with Mr. Hillyer, who initially reciprocates but then pulls away. Buddy observes this interaction and later, during a nighttime conversation with Rose, she permits him to touch her breast and engage in manual sexual contact. Rose expresses remorse afterward and implores him to keep it confidential.
Tensions rise within the Hillyer household regarding Rose’s presence. Mr. Hillyer expresses concern over her sexual behavior potentially causing trouble, whereas Mrs. Hillyer interprets it as Rose’s search for affection. Unfamiliar men begin appearing near their home, sparking conflicts. Although Rose initially denies knowing these men, she later admits her acquaintance with them. Following Rose’s arrest for biting a policeman’s finger amid a bar altercation, Mr. Hillyer demands her dismissal despite leniency from law enforcement and Mrs. Hillyer.
Before he can act on this decision, Rose is hospitalized with pneumonia. A physician observes that her robust health contradicts her claims of a deprived upbringing. While recuperating, she develops an emotional attachment to the attending doctor who frequently visits her. Upon recovery, Rose behaves appropriately but is eventually discovered by Mr. Hillyer with another man; he terminates her employment and arranges for her to work on a dairy farm in Tennessee. When informed of this plan, Rose breaks down in tears, revealing she is pregnant and dreads bearing a child on a farm.
Mr. Hillyer doubts the pregnancy claim; medical examination reveals an ovarian cyst and confirms that Rose is sterile due to untreated gonorrhea contracted at age fifteen. A radical full hysterectomy is proposed as a means to curb her promiscuity by removing reproductive organs—though this procedure might alter her physical appearance and diminish libido. While initially consenting to this surgery, Mr. Hillyer is persuaded against it by Mrs. Hillyer’s intervention. Rose receives treatment and returns home, eventually marrying the policeman whose finger she had bitten.
Returning to 1971, Buddy discloses that Rose married three additional times before finding lasting happiness with her final husband over 25 years. He speaks with his father, who informs him that Rose passed away the previous week. As Buddy weeps, Mr. Hillyer offers comfort by assuring him that Rose will endure eternally in their memories.
Cast
- Laura Dern portrays Rose, an orphan working for the Hillyer family
- Diane Ladd appears as Mrs. Hillyer
- Robert Duvall takes on the role of Mr. Hillyer
- Lukas Haas plays Willcox "Buddy" Hillyer
- John Heard features as the adult Buddy Hillyer
- Lisa Jakub is cast as Frances "Dolly" Hillyer
- Evan Lockwood acts as Warren "Waski" Hillyer
- Kevin Conway plays Dr. Martinson
- Robert John Burke appears as Dave Wilkie, Rose’s initial husband
Production
Director Martha Coolidge highlighted that Lukas Haas was the perfect choice for Buddy, especially for a delicate scene involving intimacy with Laura Dern. She stressed that his youthful age was crucial in preserving the scene’s intended sensitivity, noting that Haas’s genuine first-time experience with such a moment added depth and realism to the film’s emotional resonance.
Reception
The film was met with extensive critical praise. It boasts a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 20 critics, described as "a poignant, bittersweet, and superbly acted motion picture." Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers referred to it as "a work of beauty," commending its narrative and performances. Roger Ebert rated it 3 out of 4 stars, appreciating its character-focused storytelling and talented cast. Both Ebert and Gene Siskel endorsed it on their television program. Entertainment Weekly’s Owen Gleiberman awarded a B grade, particularly applauding Dern’s nuanced emotional performance.
Awards and nominations
External links
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- Articles with short description
- 1991 films
- 1991 drama films
- American drama films
- Carolco Pictures productions
- 1990s English-language films
- Films with scores by Elmer Bernstein
- Films exploring sexuality
- Adaptations of American novels
- Films directed by Martha Coolidge
- Films set in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Films set during the 1930s
- Films set in the year 1971
- Films filmed in North Carolina
- Independent Spirit Award winners for Best Film
- 1991 independent films
- Films set in the 1970s
- Films addressing puberty
- 1990s American cinema
- 1990s coming-of-age dramas
- Films produced by Mario F. Kassar
- English-language independent films
- Carolco Pictures films
- Pages with reference errors