The Cinema of Dolly Parton

In this video I talk about the filmography of Dolly Parton: the kinds of roles she played, why she wanted to act, and how her persona fit in the landscape of 1980s American cinema.

More on Dolly:

Steel Magnolias is currently streaming on Netflix, along with Heartstrings and Christmas in the Square.

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Music from Epidemic Sound

[jamestyler]

I've read multiple accounts from different sources about filming Steel Magnolias and how the women were all complaining about having to film in the Louisiana heat and usually in heavy thick outfits, and either Julia Roberts or Sally Field went up to Dolly who was sitting contently by herself and asked her "Dolly aren't you so hot in this heat, why aren't you complaining?" to which Dolly allegedly said "Well, sure, darlin'. It's hot, but I won't complain about a little heat. When I was a little girl, I wanted so badly to be in the movies. And I promised myself that if I ever got here, I wouldn’t complain."

[nocchi.]

“If Madonna is the Wicked Witch of pop music, Dolly Parton is surely Glinda the Good Witch.”

THE WAY I HOLLERED 💀

[thms]

“If you’re any kind of director, you’ll make it look like I’m acting.” ICONIC

[barakasalumu]

One thing I’ve always admired about Ms Parton is that she’s a true “girl’s girl”. She’s always leapt at the chance to support/be around/work with other women. She’s never felt intimidated, there’s never been stories of feuding, even within country music (I mean helloooo the Trio album!) It makes perfect sense that her best performances were in all female ensembles!

[gooderambles]

The joke about Carl Dean as the best husband ever for his absence in the public limelight made me laugh out loud.
Thank you.

[GlamorousGamine]

I remember a review of 9 to 5 that compared Dolly Parton to Marilyn Monroe in that they had an undeniable Star quality. No matter where they were in a scene, they seemed to draw all the light towards them (helps that they’re both platinum blondes). I wonder if in a kinder world, Marilyn could’ve known the happiness Dolly does.

[Windthroughcedars]

Dolly was one of the first women I remember seeing that didn’t seem to struggle being herself. Like there was no false modesty, or pretense of being “natural”, but also having such a firm separation between what she wore and her inner life . She was just unashamedly herself and proud of the way she looked, and proud of how much work she put into it.

This isn’t a judgment of anyone else! Just I remember being a large chested teenager in the nineties and seeing an interview with her. It was a just such a relief. It made me feel better about wearing the shirts I liked even if they where low cut, and that didn’t make me a shallow or vapid person.

I have loved her since. I think there are a lot of big busted girls in America that she helped feel a bit more comfortable in our skins.

Edit:grammar

[cinemaocd]

Imagine a Rolling Stone critic questioning an artist's actual humanity because they don't like that they've crossed over to a different genre. Every BKR video has at least one insane critic being outed and this is one of the worst.

[alysaurusrex]

Im from the same town as Dolly. The world loves Dolly. But the people of Sevierville, Tennessee LOOOOVE Dolly. And most people around town work for one of her businesses in some capacity. And she’s always been good to us. She started the imagination library here. When the area was ripped up by fires, she gave all the families affected $1000 a month for a year, she partially funded our hospital and fully funded the maternity ward, she built a senior center and called it My People. And she comes to town a few times a year and is exactly as kind and charming in person as she is in interviews.

[beckstheimpatient]

Dolly is wonderful, and she is ABSOLUTELY an example of straight drag. They actually had the contestants on Drag Race dress up as her recently in 'The Night of a Thousand Dolly Partons' and it was SO fun. Everyone loves Dolly.

[lindamarshall]

I was a young woman working in an office when 9 to 5 came out - a bunch of us from the office went to see it. And of course, it's a fantasy farce, but it also had a whole lot of "Oh, I feel seen!" moments. There were just not a lot of movies focusing on women in the workplace at that time. Or since, really.

[matthewdenny]

Dolly seems to be a genuinely good, humble person. She donated large amounts of money for the vaccine (that you of course mentioned), waited for it to be available to everyone before receiving her own dose, and then did it publicly to encourage others to get it as well. She seems to exists in a bipartisan space, neither clearly on one side or another politically. People needed to see someone like Dolly endorse the vaccine because she doesn't feel like she has any ulterior motive beyond caring. Did not know her production company did
oh, and thank you!

[calebcostigan]

Here in Tennessee we are so proud of her. She has (somehow) remained an island of tranquility in a world that currently seems to thrive on chaos.

She is the class act of class acts. 💙

[sterlingross]

Only you could include a newspaper article with the headline “Jane Fonda joins militant secretaries” in a video about Dolly Parton…. this is truly the greatest YouTube channel of all time. It’s the You Must Remember This of YouTube.

[jadesmyspiritanimal]

"Steel Magnolias" is one of my ultimate comfort movies. Dolly makes the movie as warm as a blanket on a rainy day. "Whorehouse" is also great and campy just enough.

[mattbernabe]

I've always liked Dolly. I'm not a fan of Country music, and I don't know very many of her songs, but I still like her. Her presence, persona and attitude towards everything just seems genuine. She comes across as being very likeable and real.
This year, I gained a lot of respect for her for telling voters not to inducte her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her explanation was that she's not Rock and Roll, she's Country. And she said another artist or group deserves that spot rather than her.
So much respect and admiration for her, especially for that.

[danielwall]

Interesting how she starts in one segment by confessing that she didn't understand how they shoot the movies (a kind of incompetence) while ending the narrative by describing herself as knowing the script better than everyone else (a competence). It's a great soft-sell. You don't even notice the brag because it's buried in self-deprecating humor.

[madego]

Here's my Dolly Parton story. I took my sister to see "Steel Magnolias" and when it was over I asked her if she cried. Her response? "I was doing okay until Dolly started crying...and then I lost it!"

[domenicaausdenweiden]

The "photo not available" while "I'll always love you" is played on a kazoo (?) is perfect editing.

[blackamerican]

The fact that all 4 main actors from 9 to 5 are still alive is amazing and a blessing.