Nashville (1975)
Robert Altman's landmark ensemble film weaves 24 characters through the country music world in a piercing satire of American ambition and spectacle.
Nashville - Movie Information
- Original Title: Nashville
- Release Year: 1975
- Directed by: Robert Altman
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Music
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 40m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): June 11, 1975 (Sweden - 11), June 11, 1975 (United States - R), March 12, 1976 (Germany - 12), November 19, 1975 (France - U), September 26, 1975 (Australia - PG), February 6, 1976 (Italy), June 15, 1976 (Spain)
- Alternative Titles: 내슈빌 (KR), 普世欢腾乐满城 (CN)
- Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, ABC Entertainment, Jerry Weintraub Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Nashville - Plot
The intersecting stories of twenty-four characters—from country star to wannabe to reporter to waitress—connect to the music business in Nashville, Tennessee.
Nashville - Trailer
Watch the official trailer for Robert Altman's sprawling American masterpiece:
The damndest thing you ever saw.
Where to Watch Nashville
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Nashville - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Robert Altman
Main Cast
- David Arkin
- Barbara Baxley
- Ned Beatty
- Karen Black
- Ronee Blakley
- Timothy Brown
- Keith Carradine
- Geraldine Chaplin
- Robert DoQui
- Shelley Duvall
Writers
- Joan Tewkesbury
Producers
- Robert Altman
- Robert Eggenweiler
- Scott Bushnell
Nashville - FAQs
What is Nashville (1975) about?
Nashville follows 24 interconnected characters navigating the country music scene in Tennessee over five days. Robert Altman weaves together stories of stars, wannabes, journalists, and political operatives, building toward a chaotic rally that exposes the fragile myths of American celebrity and democratic idealism.
Is Nashville a satire of American politics?
Absolutely. Altman uses a fictional presidential campaign as a backdrop to skewer celebrity worship, political manipulation, and the American Dream itself. The film draws sharp parallels between the entertainment industry and political spectacle, suggesting the two are far more intertwined than most people care to admit.
Where can you stream or watch Nashville?
Nashville is currently available to buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's not on a subscription streaming service at the moment, but renting or purchasing digitally is straightforward on any of those platforms.
What does the ending of Nashville mean?
The film's shocking finale—a shooting at a political rally—functions as a brutal punctuation mark on Altman's critique of American society. Rather than despair, the crowd is quickly rallied back into song, suggesting a disturbing national capacity to absorb tragedy and carry on with performance, spectacle, and denial.
Who are the main cast members in Nashville?
The ensemble is enormous and impressive. Standouts include Ronee Blakley as fragile country star Barbara Jean, Henry Gibson as the pompous Haven Hamilton, Keith Carradine as a womanizing folk singer, Karen Black, Ned Beatty, Geraldine Chaplin, Shelley Duvall, Jeff Goldblum, and Barbara Harris, among many others.
Did Nashville win any major awards?
Nashville won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Keith Carradine's “I'm Easy” and earned four additional Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Robert Altman. It also swept the New York Film Critics Circle awards and is widely regarded as one of the greatest American films ever made.
Is Nashville considered a classic film?
Without question. Nashville consistently appears on critics' all-time greatest films lists, including Sight & Sound's prestigious poll. Roger Ebert called it a masterpiece, and its influence on ensemble filmmaking, political satire, and the American New Wave cinema of the 1970s is immeasurable and still felt today.
How was Nashville made and who wrote it?
Joan Tewkesbury wrote the screenplay after Altman sent her to Nashville to absorb the culture. Much of the dialogue and all of the songs were created by the actors themselves. Shot on a modest $2.2 million budget, the film used overlapping dialogue and improvisational techniques that became hallmarks of Altman's style.
More About Nashville
Explore further details about Nashville on these authoritative resources.