Mr. Movie: Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson, who died recently, was Texas to the core. He was a heralded country music composer and singer. In the 1970s, he was a founder of the outlaw branch of country music, a rawer, more authentic sound than Nashville slickness.

But this is a movie column — and Kristofferson had a sterling movie career as well. 

He burst onto the scene in Blume In Love (1973) as Elmo, the slacker boyfriend of Nina (Susan Anspach). She is divorced from Stephen Blume (George Segal) after he was unfaithful to her. Blume wanders about Venice, site of the Blumes’ honeymoon, musing about why he was such a bad husband and how much he misses Nina. He tries to reconnect with her, which starts badly. But Elmo bows out of this somewhat messy picture, true to his slacker persona, with his exit line: “It’s time to move on.” There’s a Hollywood ending without Kristofferson.

In the same year, 1973, Kristofferson killed the title role in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. No, he wasn’t Garret, that was James Coburn. Kris played Billy. Garrett is sent to get rid of Billy by the governor. Though he and Billy are old friends, he reluctantly takes the job. After lots of fun chases and gunfights, Billy is captured. But he escapes with a hidden pistol and shotgun loaded with “sixteen thin dimes.” He shotguns deputy sheriff Bob Olinger and yells “keep the change, Bob.” If you get to see this one, keep your eyes peeled for Bob Dylan, who wrote the music and had a small part also. Dylan’s character is named Alias.

Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia (1974) is a very violent western directed by Sam Peckinpah and starring Warren Oates as El Jefe, a Mexican cartel chief. His daughter, Teresa, is impregnated by Alfredo Garcia, who was being groomed as the successor to El Jefe. El Jefe is infuriated by thie scenario and places a $1 million dollar reward on Garcia’s head. He takes off, and so does Teresa. In her wanderings, she encounters a couple of outlaw bikers, one of whom is Kristofferson. Not a great part or a great movie, but he does his best.

A better part in a better movie for Kristofferson in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Any More (1974). Ellen Burstyn is Alice, whose husband is killed in an accident and who has tried to make it as singer. She decides to try again and moves with her son Tommy to the desert southwest. David (Kristofferson) is a divorced, successful local rancher who forms an on-and-off relationship with Alice.

The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea (1976) is in fact Kristofferson as Jim Cameron, second mate of a large merchant ship. The film is from a story by Japanese author Yukio Mishima, relocated to a British coastal town. Sara Miles portrays Anne Osborne, a widow with a 14-year-old son, Jonathan. She becomes romantically involved with Cameron and Jonathan is insanely jealous. He and his renegade friends hatch a plot to do away with Jim the next time he docks.

All of these films are for grown-ups. All are available somewhere. Next time: Kris part 2.