Synopsis:
Shortly after marrying singer Audrey Williams (Susan Oliver), country musician Hank Williams (George Hamilton) rises in fame and fortune — but his alcoholism poses a threat to his marriage, career, and health.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
• Biopics
• George Hamilton Films
• Musicians
• Red Buttons Films
• Rex Ingram Films

Review:
George Hamilton was cast as the lead in this biopic about famed country-western singer Hank Williams after befriending Williams’ widow, who was also interested in advocating on behalf of her son (Hank Williams, Jr.) dubbing the singing. The resulting film — a surprise hit for MGM — is a highly dramatized but reasonably powerful overview of this young star’s too-short life (he died at just 29 years old), which seems to have been dominated by tensions between his own wish to live a simple existence:

… and his wife’s desire for money and fame. We don’t see when or how Hank’s alcoholism first began, but it quickly overshadows all other considerations — and we can clearly see the writing on the wall of his downfall.

Arthur O’Connell plays Fred Rose, co-creator of Nashville’s first music publishing company, Acuff-Rose Music, which helped bring Williams to fame:

… and Red Buttons stars as a (fictional) loyal friend of Hank’s to the end.

I didn’t leave this film feeling like I learned very much about Williams, other than being reminded that he was behind such hits as “Hey, Good Lookin'”, “Cold, Cold Heart” and — of course — the title song; but it should be noted that a more recent attempt at telling his life story apparently wasn’t all that successful, either.

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• George Hamilton as Hank Williams
  

Must See?
No, but it’s worth a one-time look. Listed as a Sleeper in the back of Peary’s book.

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TV Guide Review
• TCM Article