Walk the Line

James Mangold's "Walk the Line" tells the life story of country music legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), focusing primarily on the long courtship he had with June Carter (Reese Witherspoon). The film touches on his childhood, relating a horrific early incident from his life and establishing the troubled relationship he would have with his father (Robert Patrick). Cash joins the military and leaves home. During his time in the armed services he begins writing songs and romances a hometown girl (Ginnifer Goodwin). After the end of his duty he settles down and attempts to begin a music career, but his wife has trouble adjusting to his dreams. Cash auditions for Sam Phillips (Dallas Roberts), signs to Sun Records, and soon finds himself on tour with a roster of young soon-to-be legends that includes Elvis Presley (Tyler Hilton) and Jerry Lee Lewis (Waylon Malloy Payne). On this tour he meets June Carter, the daughter of the famous Carter family, and they take a liking to each other, although she refuses any serious advances from him. Cash gains world-wide fame thanks in part to the inspiration he gets from June, but eventually his marriage crumbles and he develops a serious drug addiction. The film is based on Cash's autobiographies.

• Directed By

  James Mangold

• Written By

  Johnny Cash, James Mangold, Gill Dennis

• Produced By

  Cathy Konrad, James Keach

• Cast

  Shelby Lynne, J. Allen Scott, J.D. Evermore, James Deforest Parker, Alan Gardner, Wyatt Entrekin, Clare Johnson, Dan John Miller, Delaney Marie Keefe, Hailey Anne Nelson, Dolan Wilson, Tim Ware, Tyler Hilton, Tracee Miller, Tony Roach, Victoria Hester, Bob King, John Carter Cash, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Waylon Malloy Payne, Amy Kudela, Bobby Stewart, Carter Thrower, Davielle Boyce, Deborah Rawlings, Dave McPhail, Clay Steakley, Carly Nahon, Danny Vinson, Dan Beene, Dallas Roberts, Brian Deas, Glenda Pannell, James Keach, Jim Wright, Jeff Bailey, Helen Ingebritsen, Helen Ingerbritsen, Jean-Paul McNeely, Marc Farley, Michael Ingersoll, Kerris Dorsey, Lucas Till, Natalie Canerday, Johnathan Rice, Larry Bagby, McGhee Monteith, Johnny Holiday, Shooter Jennings, Rhoda Griffis, Ross Harkins, J.W. Williams, Ridge Canipe, Shane Bowen, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Patrick