Before Crazy Heart, I Walk the Line, Tender Mercies, Coal Miner's Daughter, and Nashville there was Payday, a small, sharp, incisive film that's less commercial and less sentimental, but that has far greater impact. It's a road movie that chronicles the last 36 hours in the life of country western-singer Maury Dann as his life spins out of control and he takes refuge in the backseat of his chauffeur-driven Cadillac where most of the action takes place. Director Daryl Duke achieves an almost documentary type realism with authentic backgrounds and convincing performances from a well chosen supporting cast in which the late Ahna Capri as Dann's mistress, and Elayne Heilveil as an innocent groupie are memorable. But the film belongs to wild man Rip Torn who's at his peak as Maury Dann. Unfortunately, Payday is largely unknown because it was released sporadically over a period of several years. They just don't make 'em like they used to!
