Tennessee's Partner
Encyclopedia
Tennessee's Partner is a Western
film starring Ronald Reagan
in what Peter Bogdanovich
calls his "most likeable performance." It co-starred John Payne
as Tennessee.
It was directed by Allan Dwan
, who lived to be 96 and had a 52-year directorial
career.
"Tennessee's Partner" is also one of the greatest short stories of Bret Harte
's fiction career. The story is significantly different from the movie which came out many years later. Harte lived from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century, and this film is based upon his work. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures, which was then owned by industrialist Howard Hughes
, who was known for his support of political conservatives.
This film inspired one of the greatest hits of The Four Seasons. As the character based on Bob Gaudio
explains in the musical Jersey Boys
, "I'm watching the million dollar movie. Some cheesy John Payne western. He hauls off and smacks Rhonda Fleming across the mouth and says, 'What do you think of that?' She looks up at him defiant, proud, eyes glistening - and she says, 'Big girls don't cry.'"
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
film starring Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
in what Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich
Peter Bogdanovich is an American film historian, director, writer, actor, producer, and critic. He was part of the wave of "New Hollywood" directors, which included William Friedkin, Brian De Palma, George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Michael Cimino, and Francis Ford Coppola...
calls his "most likeable performance." It co-starred John Payne
John Payne (actor)
John Payne was an American film actor who is mainly remembered as a singer in 20th Century Fox musical films, and for his leading roles in Miracle on 34th Street and the NBC western television series The Restless Gun.-Background:Payne was born in Roanoke, Virginia...
as Tennessee.
It was directed by Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan
Allan Dwan was a pioneering Canadian-born American motion picture director, producer and screenwriter.-Early life:...
, who lived to be 96 and had a 52-year directorial
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
career.
"Tennessee's Partner" is also one of the greatest short stories of Bret Harte
Bret Harte
Francis Bret Harte was an American author and poet, best remembered for his accounts of pioneering life in California.- Life and career :...
's fiction career. The story is significantly different from the movie which came out many years later. Harte lived from the 19th to the beginning of the 20th century, and this film is based upon his work. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures, which was then owned by industrialist Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
, who was known for his support of political conservatives.
This film inspired one of the greatest hits of The Four Seasons. As the character based on Bob Gaudio
Bob Gaudio
Robert John "Bob" Gaudio is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.-Early career:...
explains in the musical Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys is a jukebox musical with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. It is a documentary-style musical, based on one of the most successful 1960s rock 'n roll groups, the Four Seasons...
, "I'm watching the million dollar movie. Some cheesy John Payne western. He hauls off and smacks Rhonda Fleming across the mouth and says, 'What do you think of that?' She looks up at him defiant, proud, eyes glistening - and she says, 'Big girls don't cry.'"