7.5
The story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters. Includes never-before-seen footage and photographs of Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, as well as footage featuring Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Robbins, Whoopi Goldberg, John C. Reilly and many more.
Johnny Cash
Self (archive footage)
Reese Witherspoon
Self (archive footage)
Joaquin Phoenix
Self (archive footage)
John C. Reilly
Self (archive footage)
Ginnifer Goodwin
Self (archive footage)
Holly Hunter
Self (archive footage)
Tim Robbins
Self (archive footage)
Ryan Phillippe
Self (archive footage)
Whoopi Goldberg
Self (archive footage)
Peter Falk
Self (archive footage)
Lucille Ball
Self (archive footage)
Kris Kristofferson
Self (archive footage)
Elvis Presley
Self (archive footage)
Kristen Wiig
Self (archive footage)
Desi Arnaz
Self (archive footage)
Shelley Winters
Self (archive footage)
Jimmy Dean
Self (archive footage)
Bob Dylan
Self (archive footage)
Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage)
Dinah Shore
Self (archive footage)
Kevin Fonteyne
Self (archive footage)
Willie Nelson
Self (archive footage)
David Letterman
Self (archive footage)
Sheryl Crow
Self (archive footage)
Larry King
Self (archive footage)
Dick Clark
Self (archive footage)
Tex Ritter
Self (archive footage)
June Carter Cash
Self (archive footage)
Merv Griffin
Self (archive footage)
Mike Douglas
Self (archive footage)
Jerry Lee Lewis
Self (archive footage)
Patsy Cline
Self (archive footage)
Brian Williams
Self (archive footage)
Tennessee Ernie Ford
Self (archive footage)
Midge Ware
Self (archive footage)
Rosanne Cash
Self
Tara Cash
Self
Kathy Cash
Self
Carl Perkins
Self (archive footage)
Cay Forester
Self (archive footage)
Rodney Crowell
Self (archive footage)
Hank Snow
Self (archive footage)
Dustin Tittle
Self (archive footage)
Little Jimmy Dickens
Self (archive footage)
Anna Grace Stewart
Self (archive footage)
Tommy Cash
Self (archive footage)
Jimmy Tittle
Self (archive footage)
Director
Matt Riddlehoover
September 10, 2024
9
The largely unknown story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and mother of his daughters.
The documentary is well-written and well-told by her daughters, hundreds (if not thousands) of letters between Miss Vivian and Johnny, and historical footage.
It's almost like Johnny Cash had a secret life, a mostly good one until he got hooked on drugs.
Miss Vivian's life story, as shared with us by her daughters, is complex and melancholy.
She met Johnny when they were both very young and impressionable. They fell in love in the way that seemed so easy and natural for their ages and the time they grew up in.
But what started out as a fairy tale love story morphed into real world heart break and a haunting tale of things unsaid and unknown.
The pitfalls of fame...
There was an accusation that Miss Vivian was "negro" after she was photographed in public with Johnny Cash, an accusation that threatened to derail Johnny Cash's career. It resulted in a huge campaign to declare her as caucasian, of Italian heritage.
Today we know that both things were true. She was of Italian heritage, on her father's side. She was also Black, thanks to her mother's heritage.
In America, there is a saying: it only takes "one drop" to make you Black. Today, Miss Vivian would have been considered light-skinned.
This revelation isn't covered in the film because it wasn't known until after she died. The discovery was made by her daughter Roseanne. (https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/rosanne-cash-mom-vivian-liberto-black-ancestry-finding-your-roots-rcna86672)
The heartache that she endured when Johnny Cash struggled with addiction, his infidelity, the divorce that followed -- her daughters detail it all in candid detail.
It truly is their story as well. It is evident that these women loved their mother deeply despite her flaws.
She made the best life she knew how, despite the hardships she endured.
Rest peacefully beautiful lady.