Like a lot of old time movie fans I've got a residual affection for George Hamilton - he seems like such an engaging con man, so apparently honest in his pursuit of a tan, blondes and the finer things in life, plus he gave a great performance in Love at First Bite. So I'd love to report that he knocks this film - probably his one big "serious" role, playing Hank Williams - out of the park. But he doesn't, not really.
Oh he's not that bad and in some moments quite effective but he's not very good either. He's never convincing as a star, singer, writer or doomed person. Admittedly he's not helped by the slack direction or poor script, which consists of a lot of drunken acting and squabbles with his wife, played without much flair by Susan Oliver.
Maybe I'm just not into country music that much, or maybe it's the subject matter. Hank Williams was a great singer-songwriter and died at 29 so no doubt the movie makers thought "great - a natural subject for a film". But as depicted here he's such a douche, crapping on, boozing, and fighting with his pushy wife who just seems to want him to make money. The material defeats support players like Red Buttons and Arthur O'Connell (who made a career out of supporting 50s/60s teen heart-throbs - he also did stints with Elvis, Fabian and Pat O'Boone).
There are some good bits, though - like the songs sung by Hank Williams Jnr and the finale where the audience is told of Hank Williams' death.
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