Bette Midler as The Rose
Betty Spanjaard

Translated from Dutch by Sara van Bussel


A Double Portrait
From the very start when the Divine Miss M stood before the cameras, she showed such a astounding acting talent that she often got spontaneous applause from the members of the movie crew, who aren't surprised that easily. And the first rough takes indeed show that 'The Rose' was almost made for Bette Midler.  "I see Rose as somebody who lives emotionally close to the edge," says Bette herself about her part. 

The movie is the sad story of a pop singer from the sixties - the name Janis Joplin has been heard in this context more than once - and also a portrait of the United States and the identity crisis the country experienced due to the Vietnam War. There is an obvious similarity between Rose's character and the country.  Behind her bravado and almost fanatical single-mindedness is a big terrain of venerability. As a clear link to the whole Vietnam thing is the role of her friend, the deserter Dyer, played by Frederic Forrest, who also played a Vietnam soldier in Coppola's 'Apocalypse Now'. Neither Dyer nor Rose are fanatical anti-war activists however. But the songs that she sings and his desertion from the army are very characteristic of the mood that prevailed in America with regard to the war in Asia at that time, especially at the end of the sixties. The other manly main character, Rudge, is played by Alan Bates, who is very popular with the female audience in America since his part in 'An Unmarried Woman'. Bates: "When I first was approached for this part I almost said no, because I felt that the part of Rudge should be played by an American. But then I thought that the English played a mayor role in the rock scene of the sixties. Beatles, Rolling Stones, you can name more. And this also gave me the chance to work with Bette Midler,  who is one of the most unbelievable talents of this time in my opinion." 

Talent and hard work
The fact that there is very clearly talent present in Bette Midler doesn't mean that she thinks she doesn't have to work for it.  On the contrary. She works hard and loves it. For this part for example she filmed a lot on location at night in Los Angeles, and the next day she was rehearsing the ten songs she sings with the band In the movie.   

Her legendary energy never wavered during the 4 weeks the filming took. And when she wasn’t on the set she was rehearsing at home for the next day. And everything with an equal amount of enthusiasm.  Bette, who is named after Bette Davis, says this about It: "I am totally addicted to my work. I love it very much and I am always working. When I stop thinking it is like I am dead. My brain has to be in a constant state of arousal, that's when I feel the best," she continues. "I am always thinking about how I am going to do something.  Where can I learn something and what brings me a step further. I know it sounds stupid, but that's left over from my drama studies In Hawaii, and I never stopped doing it. I continue to think very seriously about my work." 

Warmth
Because of her sense of humor and self-mockery Bette became very popular on the set very quickly. Also the fact that she understood things quickly, and remembered names and conversations of crewmembers made a big impression. In short, the fact that despite her stardom she still has warm human curiosity and interest gains her a lot of respect.  It was these characteristics of her that, for a big part, made the filming have a positive work atmosphere that partly made this movie a big success. "It has been in one word a feast to work with her," says director Mark Rydell. "She is one of the most natural and striking movie talents that I ran across in years." One of Bates' motivations to work on 'The Rose'  anyway was the fact that this would give him the chance to work with Miss M, and also Forrest says:  "Bette is a fantastic person. She has such a strong natural intuition that when she is in front of the camera she acts like she never did anything else in her life. It all happens very spontaneous with her." Praising criticisms, not only of people working with her, but also from critics. It seems that everything Bette Midler touches becomes a success, and not in the least because of her own positive formula. "I just try to have a good a time as possible and let the viewer enjoy it with me."