Film Snail

My Darling Vivian
My Darling Vivian

7.5

My Darling Vivian

NR·2020·89m

Summary

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.

Cast

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

Self (archive footage)

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Self (archive footage)

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix

Self (archive footage)

John C. Reilly

John C. Reilly

Self (archive footage)

Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer Goodwin

Self (archive footage)

Holly Hunter

Holly Hunter

Self (archive footage)

Tim Robbins

Tim Robbins

Self (archive footage)

Ryan Phillippe

Ryan Phillippe

Self (archive footage)

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg

Self (archive footage)

Peter Falk

Peter Falk

Self (archive footage)

Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball

Self (archive footage)

Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson

Self (archive footage)

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Self (archive footage)

Kristen Wiig

Kristen Wiig

Self (archive footage)

Desi Arnaz

Desi Arnaz

Self (archive footage)

Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters

Self (archive footage)

Jimmy Dean

Jimmy Dean

Self (archive footage)

Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan

Self (archive footage)

Johnny Carson

Johnny Carson

Self (archive footage)

Dinah Shore

Dinah Shore

Self (archive footage)

Kevin Fonteyne

Kevin Fonteyne

Self (archive footage)

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson

Self (archive footage)

David Letterman

David Letterman

Self (archive footage)

Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow

Self (archive footage)

Larry King

Larry King

Self (archive footage)

Dick Clark

Dick Clark

Self (archive footage)

Tex Ritter

Tex Ritter

Self (archive footage)

June Carter Cash

June Carter Cash

Self (archive footage)

Merv Griffin

Merv Griffin

Self (archive footage)

Mike Douglas

Mike Douglas

Self (archive footage)

Jerry Lee Lewis

Jerry Lee Lewis

Self (archive footage)

Patsy Cline

Patsy Cline

Self (archive footage)

Brian Williams

Brian Williams

Self (archive footage)

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Tennessee Ernie Ford

Self (archive footage)

Midge Ware

Midge Ware

Self (archive footage)

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne Cash

Self

Tara Cash

Self

Kathy Cash

Self

Carl Perkins

Carl Perkins

Self (archive footage)

Cay Forester

Cay Forester

Self (archive footage)

Rodney Crowell

Rodney Crowell

Self (archive footage)

Hank Snow

Hank Snow

Self (archive footage)

Dustin Tittle

Self (archive footage)

Little Jimmy Dickens

Little Jimmy Dickens

Self (archive footage)

Anna Grace Stewart

Self (archive footage)

Tommy Cash

Self (archive footage)

Jimmy Tittle

Self (archive footage)

Crew

Director

Matt Riddlehoover

Reviews

F

FelicityBliss

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.

Media

Status:

Released

Original Language:

English

Budget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Keywords

race politics
melancholy
interracial marriage
biting
cynical
interracial couple
shocking
interracial family
cautionary
mild racism
depressing
audacious
complicated
informative
sympathetic
deep south racism