In 1930s Texas, pulp fiction master Robert E. Howard is introduced to Novalyne Price, a teacher with aspirations of becoming an author herself, and they begin a unique relationship filled with conversation and imagination. Although the possibility exists for romance, Howard's obsession with his work and dedication to his sick mother leads Price to look elsewhere for love, leaving Howard feeling betrayed and alone.
Vincent D'Onofrio
Robert E. Howard
Renée Zellweger
Novalyne Price
Ann Wedgeworth
Mrs. Howard
Harve Presnell
Dr. Howard
Benjamin Mouton
Clyde Smith
Helen Cates
Enid
Leslie Buesing
Ethel
Chris Shearer
Truett
Sandy Walper
Mammy
Marion Eaton
Woman on Bus
Dell Aldrich
Mrs. Hemphill
Libby Villari
Etna Reed Price
Michael Corbett
Booth Adams
Antonia Bogdanovich
Teacher
Elizabeth D'Onofrio
Mrs. Smith
Stephen Marshall
Director
Bridgett
Wolf
Director
Dan Ireland
Book
Novalyne Price Ellis
Screenplay
Michael Scott Myers
September 12, 2018
8
Dating Conan the Barbarian’s creator in the heart of Texas in 1934-1936
Released in 1996, the movie focuses on budding writer Novalyne Price Ellis (Renée Zellweger) and her experiences with famous pulp writer, Robert E. Howard (Vincent D'Onofrio), creator of Conan the barbarian and other characters, like Kull, Solomon Kane and Red Sonya. The events take place in central Texas (Cross Plains and Brownwood) during the last two years of Howard’s life, 1934-1936, and are based on Novalyne’s memoirs “One Who Walked Alone” and “Day of the Stranger: Further Memories of Robert E. Howard.” Ann Wedgeworth is on hand as Robert’s sickly mother.
Howard’s great imagination and expertise with words made him “the greatest pulp fiction writer in the whole wide world,” as he was known. Unfortunately he died way too young at the age of 30 but, thankfully, he was prolific and so we have a lot of material by him to enjoy. It has always been a mystery to me why this talented man died the way he did, but this film gives life to REH’s last two years and helps the viewer understand what happened.
This is a true-life drama with elements of romance consisting of the simple way of life of a writer, his parents and friends in the plains of central Texas in the mid-30s. Most of the sequences take place at the quaint Howard abode, the theater in Brownwood, the school where Novalyne taught and, mostly, Robert & Novalyne driving the desolate landscapes or walking and talking, sometimes in conflict. In other words, this is a simple drama. The potency comes with the subject matter, Robert E. Howard. I found the drama gripping as insights emerge in the dialogues and other sequences.
The film runs 1 hour, 51 minutes and was shot in the heart of Texas (Austin, Bartlett, Bastrop and Rockne).
GRADE: A-