My Darling Vivian

My Darling Vivian

27/4/2020 1h 29m 6.8/10

Overview

The story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters. Includes never-before-seen footage and photographs of Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, as well as footage featuring Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Robbins, Whoopi Goldberg, John C. Reilly and many more.

Director

Matt Riddlehoover

Top Billed Cast

Holly Hunter

Holly Hunter

Self (archive footage)

Ginnifer Goodwin

Ginnifer Goodwin

Self (archive footage)

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix

Self (archive footage)

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon

Self (archive footage)

John C. Reilly

John C. Reilly

Self (archive footage)

Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash

Self (archive footage)

Reviews

Felicity

Felicity

9/10/2024

9/10

The largely unknown story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and mother of his daughters. The documentary is well-written and well-told by her daughters, hundreds (if not thousands) of letters between Miss Vivian and Johnny, and historical footage. It's almost like Johnny Cash had a secret life, a mostly good one until he got hooked on drugs. Miss Vivian's life story, as shared with us by her daughters, is complex and melancholy. She met Johnny when they were both very young and impressionable. They fell in love in the way that seemed so easy and natural for their ages and the time they grew up in. But what started out as a fairy tale love story morphed into real world heart break and a haunting tale of things unsaid and unknown. The pitfalls of fame... There was an accusation that Miss Vivian was "negro" after she was photographed in public with Johnny Cash, an accusation that threatened to derail Johnny Cash's career. It resulted in a huge campaign to declare her as caucasian, of Italian heritage. Today we know that both things were true. She was of Italian heritage, on her father's side. She was also Black, thanks to her mother's heritage. In America, there is a saying: it only takes "one drop" to make you Black. Today, Miss Vivian would have been considered light-skinned. This revelation isn't covered in the film because it wasn't known until after she died. The discovery was made by her daughter Roseanne. (https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/rosanne-cash-mom-vivian-liberto-black-ancestry-finding-your-roots-rcna86672) The heartache that she endured when Johnny Cash struggled with addiction, his infidelity, the divorce that followed -- her daughters detail it all in candid detail. It truly is their story as well. It is evident that these women loved their mother deeply despite her flaws. She made the best life she knew how, despite the hardships she endured. Rest peacefully beautiful lady.

Similar Movies

The Virgin Suicides

7.1

The Virgin Suicides

2000

Memoirs of a Geisha

7.6

Memoirs of a Geisha

2005

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

6.7

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

2004

Moments in a Stolen Dream

6.8

Moments in a Stolen Dream

1977

Ladies in Lavender

6.4

Ladies in Lavender

2004

The Way We Were

7.0

The Way We Were

1973

Monster's Ball

6.8

Monster's Ball

2001

My Blueberry Nights

6.4

My Blueberry Nights

2007

Notes on a Scandal

7.1

Notes on a Scandal

2006

When a Man Loves a Woman

6.6

When a Man Loves a Woman

1994

Bowling for Columbine

7.5

Bowling for Columbine

2002

Birdemic: Shock and Terror

2.2

Birdemic: Shock and Terror

2010

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids

6.8

Born Into Brothels: Calcutta's Red Light Kids

2004

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker

6.2

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker

2023

The Sea Recalls

0.0

The Sea Recalls

2018