Welcome to Screen Gems, our weekend dive into queer and queer-adjacent titles of the past that deserve a watch or a re-watch.
The Auspicious: The Rose
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice may think waving his dog’s butt in front of the state assembly will somehow get to Bette Midler. If Justice had any idea what woman he was messing with, he might think twice.
(Side note: Justice and his English bulldog “Babydog” are living proof that pets often take on characteristics of their owners. We can barely tell the two apart, especially where their asses are concerned. Moving on…)
For Midler at her most formidable–and one of the most impressive screen debuts in recent memory–look no further than Midler’s first movie, 1979’s The Rose.
The Rose borrows heavily from the life of Janis Joplin to tell the story of Rose Foster (Midler), a bisexual, full-throated 1960s rock diva with an explosive personality and a nasty attraction to booze and drugs. Though an international superstar, men in the music biz (particularly her nasty manager, Rudge, played by Alan Bates), treat Rose like an animal, overworking her and dismissing her talent.
After one particularly nasty fight, Rose flees a concert venue with Huston (Frederic Forrest), a limo for hire driver. The two form an ironic bond together, and begin to fall in love. Rose begins to fantasize about returning to her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida to celebrate her success with a concert. But old demons die hard, and Huston may not be prepared for the firebrand woman he’s fallen for.
It’s hard to overstate the risk that director Mark Rydell–and Midler–took with The Rose. Prior to the film, Midler had only ever appeared as a bit part extra. Though she’d acted in small parts on Broadway, she’d earned her most fame as an Amy Schumer-type raunchy comedienne, performing for gays in bathhouses and telling dirty jokes. If Midler had not the charisma to carry the film, it would have sunk the whole production and likely doomed any future movie prospects she might have.
Fortunately, the gamble paid off. The Rose still ranks as Midler’s best performance, offering her a plumb role to show off her comic timing, dramatic chops, and her vocal power. Watching the movie today, it’s hard to imagine raspy-voiced rocker we see would go on to record “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “From a Distance.” For that matter, the chilling darkness Midler channels with her performance evokes troubled divas of both the past (Judy Garland, Billie Holiday) and the future (Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston). Midler’s Rose has an uncanny authenticity to it; no wonder she scored a Best Actress Oscar nomination. (She also won a Golden Globe, and gave one of the best acceptance speeches ever.)
The Rose doesn’t break new ground in terms of effed-up movies about effed-up rockstars. It does, however, have a megawatt performance from Midler, as well as Frederic Forrest, who matches her intensity in every scene. Before he decides to mock Ms. M any further, we recommend Gov. Jordan go back and have a look at this firebrand work by the Grand Diva. Any woman who can pull off a performance like this could surely hand him his behind…not to mention his dog’s.
Streams on Vimeo. Also available on DVD.
bachy
I read about Midler’s stunning NYC home in Architectural Digest several years back. When asked by the interviewer if she hosted many guests and enormous dinner parties there, I’ll never forget the smirking, clear-eyed remark she made about life at the top:
“The worst part of success is to try finding someone who is happy for you.” – Bette Midler.
jlicks
As much as I love Sally, Bette should have taken home T Oscar.
Also, The movie should have been a true bio pic about Janis and used her music.
s b
It started that way (titled “Pearl”, but Middler thought it was too soon after Joplin’s death, and Joblin’s family refused permission.
barryaksarben
SHe should have won. as for that inbred gov his dogs ass was better looking than the govs face. We are tired of the backwards meth addicted white welfare queens who continue to vote these pols who sell out the second they are elected to any and all corporations
s b
Rose Foster could also have been Judy Garland or Edith Piaf.
Joshooeerr
Bette Midler was much more than “an Amy Schumer-type raunchy comedienne” before The Rose. She’d had a string of successful albums, several high profile TV specials, had toured the world several times and her “Live At Last” album was already legendary. And not to diss Amy Schumer, but Midler’s comedy was not merely raunchy, but ground-breaking in a way that Schumer certainly never was. She completely changed the landscape for female comics and singers. The Rose added to her fame, but it wasn’t at all her breakthrough moment.
Jim
Good response. When I was reading the article I was wondering who they were talking about.
Zoomers need to do their research before writing articles.
Gadfeal
Don’t touch the Bette. She’s a most courageous “oddball” who did not change her appearance to “fit in”, but, instead, educated others that she had an inner incandescence. When she was at her most out of control, I feared that she might not have survived – but she did. What’s more, at an age when most are “falling apart”, she looks stunningly good.
If this “man” had any culture, he would have known better than to mess with the most salty, irreverent personality with millions of followers in the last generation.
winemaker
Does anyone here see the similarity in looks between Bette Middler and joyless behar of that waste of time, intelligence and one hour of life that can’t be recouped, the ‘view’?
Cam
The obsessed right wing troll will use ANY reason to attack Joy Behar.
Hey Meghan, if that is you, your crazy is showing.
ggontarek
Why do you watch the View then?
bsg1967
Back in the day Bette was a balls to wall entertainer and ally, she should have won best actress that year was completely robbed I’ve seen all the nominated films and Middlers performances was light years ahead of the competition. As for who she is now not a fan but hey we all change as we get old
Jim
I love the Divine Ms. M. and while her performance was good; crying, yelling, gaining weight, losing weigh, using an accent, dying of a fatal disease etc. are not reasons for an Oscar.
Good acting is subtle.
As someone said acting is what’s going on behind the eyes.