“Norwood” is an American comedy film from 1970 in which the two main actors from “The Marshall”, Glen Campbell and Kim Darby, reunite and Joe Namath can also be seen. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Charles Portis (who also wrote The Marshall), but was set from the 1950s to 1970.
The film marked the penultimate screen appearance of actor Jack Haley, father of director Jack Haley Jr.
“Norwood” – Road movie with Glen Campbell in his only leading role
There is only one reason to see this film at all: Glen Campbell in his only leading role. That happened in 1970, a year after the country star, who died in 2017 at the age of 81, shone alongside John Wayne in “The Marshal.” Wayne won the Oscar for it and Campbell got his own film – again based on a novel by Charles Portis, which provided the basis for “The Marshal”.
As if that wasn’t enough, director Jack Haley, Jr. (“100 Years of Hollywood Westerns”) also brought in screenwriter Marguerite Roberts and actress Kim Darby, who were also on “The Marshal.” A safe number? Not at all! “Norwood” was a huge flop and was never released in cinemas in Germany and was apparently never broadcast on German television.
Traveling with the guitar
After their deployment in Vietnam, the two US Marines Norwood Pratt (Glen Campbell) and Joe Reese (Joe Namath) return home. Norwood initially stays with his sister Vernell (Leigh Feench), but quickly becomes annoyed by his brother-in-law Bill (Dom DeLuise).
Since Norwood dreams of appearing as a singer on the Louisiana Hayride radio show, he grabs his guitar and dares to escape.
Along the way, Norwood meets a wide variety of people such as the cheating Grady (Pat Hingle), the prostitute Yvonne (Carol Lynley) and the starlet Marie (Tisha Sterling). But when he meets Rita (Kim Darby), his life is over. But Rita initially rejects Norwood because she is pregnant and unmarried, which embarrasses her. Nevertheless, she sticks by him and accompanies him to his destination, where Norwood can fulfill his dream in the KWKH studio.
“Norwood” – A forgotten film from the poison cabinet
The story promises more than the film gives. Glen Campbell is portrayed as a desirable bachelor who has women at his feet. Through the ranks, attractive female colleagues were placed at his side. But you don’t believe for a second that Campbell is an incorrigible womanizer who is only sort of reformed by Kim Darby.
In “The Marshal,” Derby played the teenage girl who hires John Wayne, aka Reuben “Rooster” Cogburn, to avenge her father’s murder. Campbell played a Texas Ranger who accompanied the two in their search for the murderer. In “Norwood” Darby and Campbell come together as lovers who still have to jump over seemingly insurmountable moral hurdles in 1970. At times it still works quite well, not least thanks to the innocent smile of the then 22-year-old Kim Darby.
On the other hand, this leads to endless dialogues that don’t advance the plot. That’s actually the biggest problem with this film. Road movies must develop a driving urgency that leads to a goal in the truest sense of the word. But there is neither speed nor dramaturgy here. Ultimately, you don’t care about the characters, and what they want and pursue no longer matters at some point. “Norwood” quickly disappeared into the poison cabinet after its premiere on May 21, 1970 in Dallas, Texas. That’s where it should stay, especially since the film didn’t bring any luck to either director Jack Hailey Jr., Kim Darby and certainly not Glen Campbell.
Glen Campbell and the end of his film career
Nevertheless, “Norwood” is a must for every Glen Campbell fan. After a success (“The Marshal”) and a flop (“Norwood”), the country star, who sold more than 45 million albums during his lifetime and had his biggest hit with the song “Rhinestone Cowboy,” decided to pursue acting more or less left alone.
He made guest appearances in, among other things, the Clint Eastwood film “At Full Throttle to San Fernando”.
As the star of the film, he had to carry “Norwood” on his underpowered shoulders. He often seems clumsy and probably unknowingly indulged in unintentionally funny scenes. For example, when he sings a song on his guitar in the convertible at full speed. Although his songs are probably the best thing in this film. With seven songs, Glen Campbell provides the soundtrack almost single-handedly. He sings about women (“Marie”), makes musical declarations of love (“I’ll Paint You a Song”) and describes his life situations (“Me and My Guitar”). In fact, the film music was released on vinyl at the time, but apparently never later on CD. In this respect, a sought-after collector’s item for every fan.
Conclusion:With “Norwood” they certainly wanted to build on the success of the western “The Marshal”: the same authors, the same actors. But the calculation didn’t work out. As a road movie, “Norwood” is simply too lame, and Glen Campbell recognized his acting limitations and preferred to stick to music from then on.
