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Movie misses because it didn't capture the full awfulness of Audrey

posted 8 years ago by hobartz
9 replies | jump to latest

You're Hank Williams. You have poor self-esteem going all the way back into your impoverished childhood. You manage to score a smoking hot babe, which Audrey was. And then she turns into a shrill harridan because she thinks she's smarter than you, pretty much looks down on you, and even thinks she can sing better than you. So she starts wearing you down. Little digs, little jibes, little slights, little insults, little rejections that keep you feeling tense and on the verge of not being loved. Soon enough, you're miserable beyond belief. The only saving grace is that you have the ability to translate the feelings she causes into some of the best music ever created on this Earth.

Because the real Audrey was a bully by nature. An egomaniac who loved the cash #1 was rolling in, but hated being #2. Convinced that she was better than Hank in all ways: looks, brains, talent. And the more she was rebuffed by people the more furious she became.

The woman truly had less musical talent than most people who sing karaoke today. She nearly ruined Hank's live performances every chance she got. Their marriage ended when her ability to get her way on stage ended due to Hank's uniquely huge talent.

[–] captskidmarkgoatcabin 8 years ago

Totally agree with every word you wrote. Audrey may have been a babe in her day but her singing skills were deplorable. People forget Hank was only 29 when he died...29!!! Geez he looked so much older in every picture I've ever seen.

[–] Devans00 8 years ago

captskidmarkgoatcabin
People forget Hank was only 29 when he died...29!!! Geez he looked so much older in every picture I've ever seen.

Still boggles my mind. Even in the videos of Hank Williams performing, he moves like a stiff old man. Just goes to show how poverty can age someone so prematurely. I think he looks in his 50s.

Thank goodness his Williams' brain, to write lyrics/arrange music, and his voice, to sing, worked just fine.

Since his grandson, Hank Williams III, has his looks and physique, we can see how Hank Williams probably would have aged if he had been healthier and lived decades longer. At least to his 40s. Do you know if Hank 3 has the same singing voice? Or song writing skills?

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] hobartz 8 years ago

In significant ways, Hank III seems to be the latest generation of the issues that have faced at least 4 generations of the Williams males.

Lon, Hank's father, sustained a head injury during WWI in France... from being hit in the head by a wine bottle during an argument over a prostitute (he was married to Hank's mother at the time). He spent most of Hank's childhood in and out of various VA and mental asylums, pretty much not present.

Hank was uniquely talented, but suffered physical and emotional effects of poverty and a hardscrabble childhood. Alcohol and various potions, partially to alleviate the pain of his spina bifida, did not help him sustain good health. Marriage to Audrey was a mostly a dark place for Hank. For what it's worth, an early working title for "I'll never get out of this world alive" was "I'll never get out of this lovin' alive", which was autobiographical regarding the effect Audrey had on him as marital began to anagram to martial.

Hank Jr... what a life. Both of luxury and well being and of emotional torment. I think the song "Satisfied Mind" describes Hank Jr. quite well. Women issues plagued him like they did his father. Hank III's mother was quite a piece of work, in the vein of Audrey. If you'll check out his autobiography you'll find some good descriptions of just how awful she was. Good looking, but awful.

Hank III. Now there's a quandary. One would be inclined to think he has the talent of his grandfather and father. But his upbringing was such a mess due to his mother's ways after Hank Jr. and she divorced that it's very easy to clearly discern the rage he carries inside. It's affected him to such an extent that I find his music odious. I can't stand his songs. His biggest presentation problem is vocal. He's an aficionado of screaming genres of music, so his voice has been wrecked for country music. In order to make money, he's attempted to sing a bit of country but seems to have no real feel or even liking for it. He's so inept and out of his depth in the country genre, that he had to have Wayne "The Train" Hancock show him what to do. So he actually sounds more like Wayne Hancock (who really loves and performs well traditional country music, btw)rather than his father or his grandfather. So, I really can't say what he has for talent or capability. The psychological issues, the vocal issues, the attitude issues pretty much obscure that assessment. All I can say is, try to listen to him yourself and see what you think.

[–] Devans00 8 years ago

hobartz
In significant ways, Hank III seems to be the latest generation of the issues that have faced at least 4 generations of the Williams males.

Thanks for breaking it down, hobartz. All three Williams men seem to have a lot in common although with different outcomes. All are uniquely talented, with various levels of success. Interesting that they all chose to go into entertainment. No accountants or Pepsi delivery guys in that family.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] Devans00 8 years ago

I've been thinking about the character of Audrey ever since I saw this movie. What was she trying to accomplish to force Hank to "back her up" about her singing? He could have praised her to high heaven, that still wouldn't make people like her singing.

Pouting and making Hank feel bad when she couldn't attend certain events definitely wasn't helping.

She was definitely annoying.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] hobartz 8 years ago

For all her good looks and sexiness, she was an irrational, illogical, egomanical bully. She's not the first woman (or man) to be perfectly content to ruin others out of spite rather than gracefully acknowledge her limitations. A more contemporary parallel would be the competitor involved in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan that spawned the term "tonyaharding", which means being miserable in the joy of others. It's the flip of "schadenfreude" which is taking joy in the misery of others. Audrey displayed both characteristics.

If you're interested in learning just how bad a person she really was, you might want to check out Jett Williams book. Audrey was front and center in the machinations of having Hank's other child shunted off into obscurity after his death. Many other sources cite how much of a cnnt and b!tch she was. I personally talked after a show in San Antonio in the 'late 80's with the surviving Drifting Cowboys who told me she more than anything else was responsible for Hank's decline. They autographed my Hank William's original 78's, too. Great guys.

[–] Devans00 8 years ago

hobartz
If you're interested in learning just how bad a person she really was, you might want to check out Jett Williams book. Audrey was front and center in the machinations of having Hank's other child shunted off into obscurity after his death. Many other sources cite how much of a cnnt and b!tch she was. I personally talked after a show in San Antonio in the 'late 80's with the surviving Drifting Cowboys who told me she more than anything else was responsible for Hank's decline. They autographed my Hank William's original 78's, too. Great guys.

In a way, you could feel bad for Audrey. She was born at a time in history where creative and business outlets for non-rich women were very limited. No doubt that's why she was so angry and bitter all the time.

The best she could hope for was to either attach herself to a rich and powerful man who would indulge her. Or latch herself to genuinely talented man and push him to the success she couldn't get first hand. Unfortunately, she pushed Williams so hard, she helped make him (and his kids) miserable and break him.

On the other hand, being petty and cruel didn't help her cause. Someone in her position could used all the friends and allies she could get in the country music scene of the 1940s & 50s. Tons of people who couldn't make it on stage had a behind the scenes careers. I guess her ego was too big to accept that fate.

Congrats on meeting some of the guys who played with Hank Williams. They are an important part of American music history.

No two persons ever watch the same movie.

[–] ccheck123 8 years ago

To anyone who has been married to a narcissistic bully (or is still sadly married to one), they can relate to how hobartz has described how they control and degrade anyone they attach themselves to. "Little digs, little jibes, little slights, little insults, little rejections that keep you feeling tense..." Such abuse goes much deeper, though. It will make you wonder who you are after a while. It can totally destroy you and your sense of self, calling, gifts, and purpose.

Thanks hobartz.

To those who whine that this movie showed to much of Williams' problems and not enough music, I disagree. As the poster said, the pain is what turned him to his songwriting for escape. However, a man does not need demons to be productive...so it's sad he didn't get away sooner.

The music was beautiful and I learned a lot from this movie.

Hiddleston is a remarkable talent.

[–] HarlowMGM 7 years ago

I agree with most of what you say other than her ruining his live performances. I don't think she was allowed on stage most times. A lot of clubs simply would not have allowed it. Country singers had very little clout at the time to stand up to management (note how the Opry management controls Williams in the movie) and female country singers were not popular in the 40's and very early 50's, even good ones. Audrey loved money more than glory and I think she knew when not to go too far in pursuing her own singing career lest she hurt Hank's career. But she was indeed by most accounts a much harsher woman than this movie portrays and frankly Hank doesn't much resemble the real man either.