Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story (1983)

Thanks for the memories!

Strong and Moving!

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

This is an exceptional biographical film about a very gifted musician, singer, and songwriter, Hank Williams Jr., who was always in his father's shadow. Miss Audrey Williams, Hank Jr.'s mother, was possibly the worst singer ever to cut a record (with the possible exception of Mrs. Miller and Leonard Nemoy). Yet she was an extremely domineering bitchy woman who thought her talents were at least equal to those of her ex-husband's and their son's. She was also a materialistic person who wanted all that was coming to her and more from the royalties of her late ex, who was a country music icon, and from controlling and managing Hank Jr.'s early career. "Living Proof" partly centers on the efforts of Hank Jr. to live his own life and to sing and make his own music. Stepping from the shadow of Hank Sr. not only involved breaking free from his father's music but also to break free from the "family tradition" of pills, booze, and women.Richard Thomas had to step out of the shadow of John Boy Walton to make this movie. He succeeds as far as the acting goes--he, in fact, gives an outstanding performance--but he fails as far as the music goes. When he tries to sing Hank Sr.'s songs there is no soul, no feeling to his music. It is as if he is merely singing notes to words on paper. Then when Hank Jr. starts performing his own music rather than his father's, the real Hank Jr. takes over and dubs for Thomas. What a difference and what an improvement! Too bad the producers didn't let Hank Jr. dub the music from the start. I have heard but have been unable to document it that Hank Jr. refused to sing his father's music in the made-for-TV film for it was a time in his life when he was definitely doing his own thing in the music industry. Other than this one flaw, the movie is excellent in its acting and in its presentation of Hank Jr.'s life from the time of his father's untimely death up to the point where he almost dies from a fall while on a mountain climbing venture in Montana. His whole face had to be reconstructed and one of his eyes was nearly gone, hence the reason for the dark glasses and beard. The soundtrack is a gem containing some of Hank Jr.'s best songs, including "The Blues Man." Not only does Richard Thomas do an admirable acting job, the entire cast is great with Merle Kilgore playing himself. It must have been strange for Merle to reenact what really happened, for example when he found Hank Jr. nearly dead in the pool from a drug overdose.If you can find "Your Cheatin' Heart" playing on a satellite station, it is interesting to watch it back to back with "Living Proof." They are excellent musical biographies of a father and a son, both gifted and talented performers. I don't think either is available on DVD or VHS.

Better or worse; same song...same verse. Richard Thomas is unlikely cast as Hank Williams Jr. and actually makes the best of it. This TV docudrama depicts the rise of Bocephus as he overcomes alcoholism, a near fatal accident and most of all the long shadow of his beloved father. Factual or not, believe it or not this is an interesting story about a colorful character taking his own place in the history of Country Music. Fine supporting cast featuring: Clu Gulager, Allyn Ann McLerie, Merle Kilgore and Ann Gillespie. Of note is the small roles of Christian Slater and Naomi Judd. Of course Thomas "lip syncs" the singing voice of the real Hank Jr.

Richard Thomas is at his very best. This is a must see for Thomas fans as well as Hank Williams,JR. fans. I had never listened to his music but after Thomas' excellant portrayal of this tormented man I headed straight for the music stores.

In 1964 George Hamilton was oddly, yet effectively, cast as Hank Williams Sr in 'Your Cheatin' Heart'.In 1983 Richard Thomas was oddly, yet effectively, cast as Hank Williams Jr in 'Living Proof:The Hank Williams Jr Story'.Young Hank had to deal with being the son of a country music legend, who was also one of America's greatest songwriters, and living in the giant shadow of his dimunitive father.Hank Jr toured endlessly from early childhood.As a young child He was often dressed like a Mini-Me of Hank Sr. while on stage and would sing Hank Sr's greatest hits.As he grew into a young man, he was conflicted over honoring his father's memory and a desire to follow his own path in music.In the film, Thomas is able to capture this quite well.He never attempts to mimic Hank Jr's mannerisms but, seems to draw from his own emotion to recreate Hank's.Touchingly done is the accident which nearly killed him in 1971.This tragedy disfigured his facial features (His beard and sunglasses hide many of the resulting scars).He went through an extended period of physical recovery and, many reconstructive surgeries to repair his ravaged face.Thomas was able to make this process believable and infuse theses scenes with Hank Jr's resolve and strength.After his recovery, Hank Jr became his own man.His music, while a respectful nod to the greatness of his father, is his own.The film is well scripted and acted.You will also notice and young, unknown, and very fetching Naomi Judd as a groupie who seduces our young hero.This film is well worth your time.