Walk the Line

2005
PG-13
2h 16m

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

270K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,401

Home Video Trailer from 20th Century Fox

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18 Videos

99+ Photos

Tragic Romance Biography Drama Music Romance

A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Pres... Read allA chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

270K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

2,401

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 45 wins & 48 nominations total

Photos449

+ 442

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
When Johnny Cash wakes up on the tour bus, just after the Folsom Prison performance, he walks past guitarist Luther Perkins, who is passed out with a lit cigarette in his mouth, and puts the cigarette out. Perkins died a few months after the "At Folsom Prison" recording and performance. He fell asleep in his Tennessee house with a lit cigarette in his mouth, and died from injuries sustained in the resulting fire.

Goofs
Johnny is shown touring with Elvis, Jerry Lee, and June for Sun Records early in the movie. In fact this could not have happened. By the time Jerry Lee Lewis was signed to Sun Records. Elvis Presley was already recording for RCA, and touring on his own.

Quotes
[after record producer Sam Phillips stops Cash's band a couple of verses into their audition]
Sam Phillips: You know exactly what I'm telling you. We've already heard that song a hundred times. Just like that. Just... like... how... you... sing it.
Johnny Cash: Well you didn't let us bring it home.
Sam Phillips: Bring... bring it home? All right, let's bring it home. If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing *one* song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you're dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin' me that's the song you'd sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it's real, and how you're gonna shout it? Or... would you sing somethin' different. Somethin' real. Somethin' *you* felt. Cause I'm telling you right now, that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothin to do with believin' in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin' in yourself.
Johnny Cash: [after a pause] I got a couple of songs I wrote in the Air Force. You got anything against the Air Force?
Sam Phillips: No.
Johnny Cash: I do.

Crazy credits
In the opening credits, Robert Patrick's name appears to pass through the prison bars, like his T-1000 character did in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Alternate versions
Originally released on DVD in its theatrical incarnation. An extended cut, adding about 16 minutes worth of additional footage into the movie, was released later on. The French Blu-Ray version contains the extended cut, while the American version contains the theatrical version.

Connections
Featured in HBO First Look: Walk the Line (2005)

Soundtracks
Cocaine Blues
aka "Transfusion Blues"
Written by Red Arnall (as T.J. Arnall)
Performed by Joaquin Phoenix

User reviews1K

Review

Featured review

10/10

And The Oscar Goes To......

Wow, what a film. I had been waiting to see this movie since I read that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon were cast in the lead roles. I was not sure what to expect when I heard they were going to do their own singing, but was I ever impressed. Their performances in this movie were brilliant, and I had chills down my spine. It was truly amazing how much Phoenix sounded like Johnny Cash-this was a role he was born to play, and he was mesmerizing. Totally sizzling. Witherspoon was positively radiant as June Carter, and talk about chemistry between the two actors. Talk about lightning striking! I only hope they are rewarded for their efforts come Oscar time. This was a truly amazing movie, filled with great music, a top-notch supporting cast and a terrific script which was wonderfully directed.