I'll give Sonny credit for a much better job in this than any of his other acting roles. And Lee Purcell has pretty good chemistry with him. BUT the heart and soul of this movie is not the leads. It's the supporting cast. Claude Akins routinely elevates whatever he is a part of, and this is no exception. Romantically paired with the lovely and talented Belinda Montgomery, he shines as the retiring country music star who has found the love of his life. Belinda plays the genuinely loving wife who is poised to win country music's highest award for a new artist. Until...but hey, I'm not telling. That would spoil the whole thing. The lovers are backed up by some of country music's most enduring stars: Ray Stevens, Larry Gatlin, Mel Tillis, Ronnie Milsap and Charlie Daniels. And I believe Claude does his own singing in this one. Veteran actress Lucille Benson makes the most of a small role here. It's not Citizen Kane, but it's not supposed to be. It's a movie of the week. And a darn good one. Grab some popcorn and a soft drink and give this one a try.
