i saw this film in college for $ 1 in 1980 and never really appreciate it until now . it be amaze to note that this be the same bette midler who do all those disney or touchtone movie ( down and out in beverly hill and etc . ) . this be not a happy film . it have no happy end . most of the film be dark and add to the dreariness of the story . but you just watch bette watch houston dyer leave her because he couldn not put up with her life . watch him a he pause before he get into the tractor trailer that he just hitch a ride with and watch him a he look back at her and almost reflect and thinking and for just a moment and reconsider his choice and and then make the decision to live with the choice and get on the truck and go god only know where and leave her . camera go back to bette and on the ground and wailing in agony and despair and and sadness . you just watch bette sing stay with me and baby at the end of the film at the concert when she go back to her hometown . how many take before they get it right . once . 37. she on her knee and she cradle the microphone and her eye be blacken with the makeup that have mingle with the tear . watch david keith applaud from offstage a he watch her give the performance of her life and know that that applause be ad libbed and that he be completely knock out by her performance . and then come back and tell me that this film be crap . i have see norma rae and always believe that sally field deserve her oscar but i no longer think that . bette be rob and plain and simple .