Rambling Rose

1991
R
1h 52m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

5.6K

YOUR RATING

Clip: Daddy Hillyer chases a man off the yard

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Drama

A young woman who exudes sexuality battles temptation.A young woman who exudes sexuality battles temptation.A young woman who exudes sexuality battles temptation.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

5.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 6 wins & 15 nominations total

Top cast18

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Laura Dern

Rose

Robert Duvall

Daddy

Diane Ladd

Mother

Lukas Haas

Buddy

John Heard

Willcox Hillyer

Kevin Conway

Dr. Martinson

Robert John Burke

Dave Wilkie
(as Robert J. Burke)

Lisa Jakub

Doll

Evan Lockwood

Waski

Taylor Sutherland

Billy
(as Matt Sutherland)

D. Anthony Pender

Foster

David E. Scarborough

Horton

Robin Robertson

Young Salesman
(as Robin Dale Robertson)

General Fermon Judd Jr.

Shadrack

Richard K. Olsen

Chief of Police

Michael Mott

Man in Store

James Binns

Minister

John Ratch Hart

Crowd Person
(uncredited)

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Diane Ladd and Laura Dern's Oscar nominations mark the first time a mother and daughter ever received such an accolade for appearing in the same film. The only other time that a parent and child received acting nominations for the same film was when Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda were both nominated for On Golden Pond (1981).

Goofs
When Rose is in bed with Buddy, the shot of the two of them shows her left arm being under the covers, and immediately the next shot is a closeup of Rose and her left arm is up and behind her head.

Quotes
Daddy: Put your damn tit back in your dress. Replace that tit!

Alternate versions
In the UK, the BBFC removed around thirty seconds from the scene where 15 year-old Lukas Haas and Laura Dern are in bed together. This was judged to be in breach of the Protection of Children Act, which forbids the use of minors in sexual contexts on-screen. Despite this, the BBC have broadcast the uncut version several times and the cuts were later fully waived for the 2002 Guild DVD release.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Dogfight/Late for Dinner/Rambling Rose/Blood & Concrete (1991)

Soundtracks
Dixie
Music and Lyrics by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Performed by Louis Armstrong and The Dukes of Dixieland
Courtesy of MAJ Music, Inc.
Published by MAJ Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Administered by Larry Spier, Inc.

Buddy recalls the Great Depression when Rose (Laura Dern) came to work for his family. She escaped prostitution in Birmingham to be the domestic servant. Kindly mother Hillyer (Diane Ladd) is partly deaf and was orphaned young. Rose flirts with father Hillyer (Robert Duvall) but he rebuffs her. Young Buddy (Lukas Haas) has a sexual encounter with Rose. She is desperate to stay and convinces him to keep it a secret. She continues to be flirtatious with the town's men. Father wants to send Rose away while mother argues to keep her.

This is a nostalgic jazzy rambling reminiscence of a compelling character. My only problem is that this movie takes a light tone making this almost a fable. Despite the childhood point of view, it needs to go for a darker mood to fit this sexualized tragedy. Director Martha Coolidge is caught between making a kid's coming of age journey and a young woman's walk on a dangerous tight rope. The light airy mood keeps the darker material at a distance.