Clint Eastwood directed this low-key road movie, a deliberate change of pace from his dark and violent screen persona. Eastwood is Red Stovall, an amateur country singer/songwriter in the Depression-era 1930s, who dreams of singing success in Nashville. Red's death-rattle cough makes him realize that his time is running out; after sleeping off a one-day drunk, he announces to his family that he plans to head off to Nashville and try to make it to the Grand Old Opry. He and his nephew Whit (Kyle Eastwood) pile into his touring car, along with Grandpa (John McIntire), who wants to visit some folks in Tennessee. They drive off down the road and, after visiting a gambling house, pick up a young woman, Marlene (Alexa Kenin), who joins the traveling show onward to Nashville, where Red hopes to audition at the Opry and make a recording.