Nashville Girl

Nashville Girl falls somewhere between an exploitation flick and a drama, but I'm not surprised that this is often considered an exploitation classic; as there are more than enough exploitative elements and the drama itself is interesting also. The film takes place in the Deep South and primarily focuses on the country music industry, although lots of other things come into play too. The main reason this film is so good is because of the way the narrative works; so many things happen in this film and it really doesn't become boring even for a minute, which is definitely much to its credit. The main character is Jamie Barker; a young country girl living in a no good town. She's out skinny dipping one day and attracts some unwanted attention from a no good hick type who proceeds to go ahead and rape her. The young girl is upset and confused and after an argument with her parents, decides to go to Nashville in order to find fame and fortune. So she sets off hitch hiking and gets a lift with two truckers before eventually reaching Nashville and finding that the way to the top is not always paved with gold.

Monica Gayle takes the lead role and does excellently with it. She really convinces as the naive young girl at the film's centre and her likable persona is a real credit to the film. There's really nothing wrong with her performance and I'm surprised the actress didn't go on to make more films. Gus Trikonis (who would go on to direct the low budget horror The Evil a couple of years later) directs this film well; creating just enough of a sleazy atmosphere to please exploitation fans. The way that Nashville is portrayed is gritty and sleazy and while there's not much actual sleaze in the film, the atmosphere is a benefit to it. I can't say I'm a fan of this sort of music; but the songs featured are catchy enough and well sang. I don't know if Monica Gayle did her own singing; I'd like to think so, but she probably didn't. Anyway, this film is engrossing for its entire ninety minute runtime and it all boils down to a satisfying conclusion. Overall, Nashville Girl is an excellent little film that could do to be better known. Fans of seventies thrillers will want to check this little flick out!

This movie teams up two underrated talents from the 1970's. The first is director Gus Trikonis (the former Mr. Goldie Hawn) who directed big-screen exploitation flicks like "Swinging Barmaids" and "The Student Body", underrated horror fare like "The Evil", and superior made-for-TV movies like "The Darker Side of Terror". The second is actress Monica Gayle, a breath-taking natural beauty who spent a good portion of all her movies modeling her luscious birthday suit, and as a result perhaps was never really given her due as an actress. With the possible exception of "Strawberries Need Rain", this is her best film.

Gayle plays "Jamie", a sixteen-year-old runaway, who comes to Nashville to try to make it as a songwriter. Her character is not unlike the actress herself in that while she is actually genuinely talented, none of the loutish male agents and producers she interviews with seem to notice because they are all too busy trying to dip their wicks in her. One washed-up country music celebrity finally does take advantage of her MUSICAL talents, but he too eventually becomes possessed by her irresistible, nubile charms and for awhile this kind of turns into a low-budget, country-music version of "A Star is Born".

This is not exactly a feminist film. "Jamie" is forcibly raped twice, taken advantage of my every man she meets, and at one point even ends up in a juvenile detention center after she's caught in a massage parlor bust (while a client is giving HER a massage). And, of course, in the camp she falls prey to the stereotypical lesbian guard. Despite all the exploitative elements though, Trikonis crafts a fairly realistic movie that does really show the seedy side of Nashville. It's not "Coal Miner's Daughter", but it's not exactly trying to be either. It's also not Robert Altman's "Nashville", but I found it a lot more fun to watch. And I actually thought it was quite a bit BETTER than the 70's version of "A Star Is Born" (with the insufferable Barbra Streisand). The country music songs are quite good (although unlike Sissy Spacek, Karen Black, and a lot of the actresses in the aforementioned movies, Gayle's singing was quite obviously dubbed). I hadn't heard a lot of the songs before, but there is a good cover of the Bob Will's classic "Faded love". I'd definitely recommend this one.

An abused teen escapes her rednecked family and allows country music entertainer Jeb Hubbard to make her swoon when he sings "Hold On Tight" at a fundraiser for the Tennessee Memorial Hospital, his favorite charity. Thoroughly swept from her feet, Jamie allows the singer's cohorts to reinvent her as a rising music star from Wheeling, West Virginia, complete with new name. But could her name eventually surpass Jeb's? Will her past (depicted earlier in the movie) come back to haunt her? "Today You'll Do Better (Than You Did Yesterday)" Jamie sings of her life... but not before paying her dues, and then some. This vastly underrated and underproduced film is well directed, believably acted and is awash in rich, singable tunes befitting a much larger production. This is one of those rare pieces that sticks with you for life (including many of its songs), somehow, through its movie magic -- magic made because it simply works, despite its feeble budget and production woes. Monica Gayle is fantastic and extremely memorable. "Nashville Girl" should have been the dawn of her career, not the twilight. Footnote: Most know of "Nashville Girl" thanks to a Showtime Network executive who was a fan of the picture and insisted on running it ad nauseam during the early nineteen-eighties. I had to vote this movie a 10 on IMDb simply because it stuck with me for all these years... so it actually earned its own "10".

I was expecting just a straight exploitation movie. And while there are moments that feel that way this picture is so much more. The performances are all top notch here with an especially great performance by Glenn Corbett. This movie has a good story about a girl trying to make it in the country music industry. It's sad to think that Nashville is as bad as this movie portrays but the director did spend an extensive time there researching for this movie. There is also a lot of great country music in this movie if you are a fan of the genre. There are some really unpleasant moments and themes but if your down for the ride a great story with great performances. Highly recommend it.

So I hear Nashville Girl is a flick that all exploitation fans should enjoy. Well, after watching NG, I'd agree and disagree.

First the story, which revolves around young and innocent lovely deciding to run away from home and shoot for her dreams of becoming a country singer. It's a story-idea we've all watched before, from movie's about athletes reaching their goals to an actor hitting it big on the big screen. But with Nashville Girl this movie shows the oh-so real and seedy parts of the bizz. Which were all the reasons why this film is considered an exploit film. Sure it has some sleazy scenes, but nothing is graphic to the point of a double-take. That is where I disagree, the film barely felt like an exploitation classic. It felt like just a solid, well-made film. Obviously there are levels of exploitation when it comes down to an exploit flick, and I guess this is just one that measures a little low on the Sick Scale.

Nashville Girl overall though is a really good flick. With average to great acting by almost all involved the movie's emotional issues feel much more realistic. And with it's realistic approach, solid writing, and great soundtrack, the movie delivers far more than it fails to. If you're into exploit films and you're watching this for some heavy sleaze or violence, you may be slightly let-down. But don't dismay, Nashville Girl is a really good movie and one of the best "hicksploitation" flicks out there.