The movie Kris Kristofferson was “always” proud of
The Newport Folk Festival is most famous for the infamous Bob Dylan moment in which he decided to “go electric”. Boos rang around the gig as he took to the stage late and then delivered a helping of songs that the crowed weren’t the most receptive to. However, it wasn’t just Bob Dylan who reached fame because of Newport; other artists like Kris Kristofferson have also found their feet on the stage.
Kristofferson was incredibly nervous when he was getting ready to take to the stage at Newport as he was still relatively new in his career. He sat by the side of the stage, secretly sipping some alcohol in a bid to give himself a bit of courage before stepping in front of the crowd.
“The first time, I think, was when John [Johnny Cash] put me on at Newport,” recalled Kristofferson when talking about the gig that was instrumental in launching his career, “Everybody was trying to keep me from drinking but I snuck a couple of drinks […] There was no way I’d have gotten out there without them.”
This moment wouldn’t just be big in his career because it was one of his earliest gigs, but it was also significant because of the fact it helped him channel his character in A Star Is Born. Kristofferson was in the 1976 version of the movie alongside Barbara Streisand. His character, John Norman Howard, was a struggling musician who turned towards alcohol a great deal in a bid to get through his music career.
Kris Kristofferson’s breakthrough at Newport and in A Star Is Born
Kristofferson resonated with this character in a big way as he admitted that early in his career, “I don’t think I could have gotten up on a stage if I hadn’t had Dutch courage”.
It was this connection that led to Kristofferson having such a strong affinity for the film. This was important because of publishing issues; he wasn’t allowed to play his own music, as such, he couldn’t connect with the music he was playing because he was forced to perform other people’s songs; as such, he needed to find another way into the heart of the character.
“I had to sing other people’s songs that I couldn’t identify with,” he admitted.
He also liked the movie because he got to work alongside Barbara Streisand, which he saw as a real treat. The combination of the great film, great cast and relatable character made for a performance that Kristofferson was particularly proud of and wanted to be remembered for.
“I have always been proud of that one, but I give most of the credit to Barbara,” he said, “I thought the love story part worked, though, and the movie lifted me into a whole different tax bracket […] My music got more attention after A Star Is Born and that helped support me and my band during the lean years.”
Kristofferson clearly had good taste, as the film he said he wanted to be remembered for and that he found was timeless has had a successful remake recently. While the songs change alongside the actors, the heart of the story remains the same, and it remains something that people can connect with. If you haven’t seen the original movie, it’s worth watching it for Kristofferson’s appearance.
