1979. Directed by Mark Rydell, story by MICHAEL CIMINO. - The tragic life of a self-destructive female rock star who struggles to deal with the constant pressures of her career and the demands of her ruthless business manager. Bette Midler plays The Rose, a female rock star strikingly similar to Janis Joplin. This movie follows her career during her last tour, as she's determined to return to her hometown in Florida. Although a success, she's exhausted and lonely, but is forced to continue working by her gruff and greedy manager. Though loud and brassy, she is an insecure alcoholic and former drug user, who seems to crave approval in her life. She begins a romance with a limo driver, who is actually an A.W.O.L. Sergeant from the Army. Her musician lifestyle of "sex, drugs, and rock and roll", along with the constant touring, leads her to an inevitable breakdown. Nominated for FOUR Academy Award OSCARs including Best Actress (Bette Midler) and Best Supporting Actor (Frederic Forrest). BEHIND THE SCENES TRIVIA : Loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin. The movie was originally titled "Pearl", which was a biographical movie based on Janis Joplin's life. When approached with the script for "Pearl", Bette Midler believed it was too soon after Joplin's death to portray her life in a movie. Re-writes were then made, with Midler's guidance, that deleted some portions of the original script, and embellished other parts of the story. Then the re-written script was named "The Rose", and Midler agreed to the lead role. Mark Rydell would only agree to direct if he could cast Bette Midler in the lead. Before that, Midler had only appeared in bit parts, and was known primarily as a nightclub singer. According to the book "The Academy Awards: The Complete Unofficial History", Bette Midler "nixed" parts in Rocky (1976), Nashville (1975), and Foul Play (1978) in order to play the lead character in this movie, which would make her "an instant screen icon". Cast includes Bette Midler, Alan Bates, Frederic Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton, Doris Roberts, Don Calfa, Barry Primus, David Keith, Rudy Bond, Jonathan Banks, Jack Starrett.