I Saw the Light

2015
R
2h 3m

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

8.4K

YOUR RATING

Tom Hiddleston in I Saw the Light (2015)

The story of the country western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his meteoric rise to fame and its ultimately tragic effect on his health and personal life.

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Biography Drama Music Romance

The story of the country-western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his rise to fame and its tragic... Read allThe story of the country-western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his rise to fame and its tragic effect on his health and personal life.The story of the country-western singer Hank Williams, who in his brief life created one of the greatest bodies of work in American music. The film chronicles his rise to fame and its tragic effect on his health and personal life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.8/10

8.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Tom Hiddleston performed all his own vocals. During the concert sequences he sings to his own pre-recorded tracks, but on the numbers "I Saw the Light" and "Your Cheatin' Heart" he sings live on camera.

Goofs
During the Universal newsreel segment, the copyright is MCMXL, which is 1940. It should be MCML, 1950.

Quotes
Hank Williams: Everyone has a little darkness in them. They may not like it. They don't know about it, but it's there. And I'm talking about things like anger, misery, sorrow, shame. And they hear it. I show it to them. And they don't have to take it home.

Connections
Featured in The Graham Norton Show: Tom Hiddleston/Samuel L. Jackson/John Malkovich/Sara Pascoe/Chvrches (2016)

Soundtracks
The Wedding
Written by Aaron Zigman

User reviews84

Review

Featured review

7/10

See ISTL for Tom Hiddleston's great performance and for Hank's eternal songs

It's a shame that some of this film's structural flaws will keep many from seeing one of the best on screen performances I've seen in years. Hiddleston's Hank Williams is a masterful creation: haunting, driven and soulful with the added bonus of Hiddleston doing his own singing and playing (no lip-syncing) including Hank's famous yodel.

While the film would have benefited with less marital squabbling and more music, it nonetheless takes one on an gripping journey of an American music icon's tragic life and short but amazing career.

Elizabeth Olson as Audrey, William's headstrong wife, does a fine job but I could have done with less of their relationship story and more about Hank's musical process. Cherry Jones is also excellent as Hank's bossy mom.

The stellar singing in the opening segment is worth the price of admission.