Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story

I've seen this TV movie biography of the life of singer Barbara Mandrell a few times and it's actually quite good. Maureen McCormick, forever known to legions of TV fans as Marcia Brady, does a credible job in the title role (her scenes following the car accident that nearly took Barbara's life are especially well-played) and she's backed by a capable supporting cast that includes Mandrell's own daughter, Jamie Nicole, as Irlene Mandrell, Barbara's youngest sister. Well-done and suitably involving.

The main reason I watched this was because I thought Maureen McCormick would be so awful it would be camp. Actually, she did a decent job. It wasn't a challenging role. The story is pretty dull and bland. Mandrell seems to be a decent and level headed person who was smart or lucky enough to marry a good man. She had none of the severe ups and downs of other country queens such as Patsy, Loretta, Tammy or Dottie. Of course her life wasn't easy. She worked hard and she suffered a terrible car accident.

I think this TV movie is strictly for Mandrell and McCormick fans.

Maureen McCormick, probably best known for her role as teenager Marsha Brady, demonstrates an impressive range of acting chops portraying Barbara Mandrell. She doesn't resemble Mandrell, but McCormick seems very comfortable and confident with her role. Her dialogue, full of music and music business vocabulary and references, seems genuine. She's rarely off screen and carries the movie.

This made-for-TV movie presents key points of Mandrell's life from childhood to her show business comeback. Her auto accident, recuperation, and show business re-emergence provide the climax. Most of her life events are presented succinctly and without too much detail. Examples: as a teenager she's already playing multiple instruments; her family tours, she marries, she has children; she gets a record deal, she's number one, she's entertainer of the year, she gets a TV show; and so forth. In addition, at these significant life events topics are spoken to, and about, as if the audience should know what actually happened in her timeline, or to imply the chain of events that propelled Mandrell to another peak or valley. With that said, even with the brisk pace and compressed telling, there are still aspects of her life to learn about. One particular aspect of her life I appreciated as portrayed in the movie, was the importance of faith and family to the entire extended Mandrell family.

Produced 1997, it coincided with Mandrell's retirement from performing. Casual fans might enjoy seeing McCormick in an adult role. Dedicated fans of Mandrell should enjoy the story, as well as the music - which is provided by Mandrell. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 3/28/2021.

The Bottom line is that Maureen McCormick in the lead role to this film at long last manages to break free of her Marcia Brady mold and/or typecast.In this 1997 TV-Movie.Yes and I'm very Impressed to see that she has in fact done so at long last if not sooner or later.But to me as with most people I'll still always as anyone best/most recognize her as Marcia Brady.But in getting to the Heart of the picture.It's a very good documented follow-up on The Famous Country Singer Barbara Mandrell from start to finish including when they changed scenes from Maureen McCormick singing to the real Barbara Mandrell singing too.I also first recall watching this on a Sunday night in 1997 along with looking forward to seeing it once I'd heard that it was going to be on that very night too.I was also glad to see how Barbara said that she was going to sue but only because it's the law in Tennesee.

Truthfully,

Stephen "Steve" G. Baer a.k.a. "Ste" of Framingham,Ma.USA

I was a big fan when she had her TV show and was active. Maurine McCormick is NOT believable and was a very poor choice. Surely she wasn't the only option? I have no problem with Maurine McCormick but playing Barbara Mandrell is ridicules! Plus the fact that Barbara was drop dead gorgeous! I was glad to see they put the real Barbara on at the end. The whole 3 minutes of it. I thought it came off as kind of sappy. Barbara came off quite the opposite. She came off as a very genuinely sweet and lovely person with a lot of talent. Not hung up on herself like in the movie. Wonder what input she had in choosing the lead role.