Heartworn Highways

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Heartworn Highways

Released Jun 1, 1976

1h 32m

Documentary

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Popcornmeter

100%

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6 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Filmmaker James Szalapski profiles country music "outlaws" Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe.

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Doug Freeman

Austin Chronicle

Heartworn Highways refuses that historicizing assessment, even resists it. The film would certainly not have become the canonical documentary it has without the subsequent success of its subjects, but their names are never the emphasis here.

Rated: 3.5/5

Feb 6, 2021

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Peter Margasak

Chicago Reader

Shot in 1975 but not released until 1981, this documentary by James Szalapski captures the nascent stages of a poetic country music played by Texas outsiders like Guy Clark, Steve Young, Townes Van Zandt, and a young Steve Earle.

Apr 14, 2016

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Nadine Smith

Nashville Scene

An essential artifact and document of that scene and sound is filmmaker James Szalapski's long-inaccessible documentary Heartworn Highways, a film with as much of a devoted cult as the music itself.

Sep 9, 2021

Full Review

James Clay

Fresh Fiction

HEARTWORN HIGHWAYS fell in line with the great hangout movies of the past 50 years when authority started to lose its power and a few moments of creativity was worth more than its weight in gold.

Rated: A

Feb 25, 2021

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

James Szalapski's documentary is very loose, with scant attention paid to these men's backgrounds, careers, or how they do/don't fit into the existing industry hierarchy.

Feb 12, 2021

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Michael J. Casey

Michael J. Cinema

The only thing flawed about "Heartworn Highways" is the people, and they're so likable you'll quickly look past their less desirable qualities or notions.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 3, 2021

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Audience Member

Definitely the greatest music documentary ever made. An original!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Documentário de performance genuíno e sem qualquer vergonha de ser puramente americano encontra os seus melhores momentos na folk e tropeça noutros mais chatos quando se aproxima da country. A naturalidade e alma de Townes Van Zandt e Larry Jon Wilson salvam-no de ser arruinado por um monstro foleirão chamado David Allan Coe.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

More documentary and less performances (a mixed bag themselves) would've given this mess some structure and intent.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

Anyone who likes music should watch this

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Audience Member

Excellent, you wont be sorry about buying this little jewell. The party at Guy Clark's house will take you back to the day...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

Entertaining, if meandering, look at some country musicians. Some nice moments all around in the film itself, but the bonus footage on the DVD is really special.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

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James Szalapski

Director

David Allan Coe

Self

Rodney Crowell

Actor

Steve Earle

Actor

James Szalapski

Writer

Graham Leader

Producer

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88%

88%

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Heartworn Highways: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Filmmaker James Szalapski profiles country music "outlaws" Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe.

Director: James Szalapski
Producer: Graham Leader
Screenwriter: James Szalapski
Production Co: Westport International Film, Inc.
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 1, 1976, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Feb 5, 2021
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 32m

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