MORE SPACEK

HBO’s “A Private Matter” marks Sissy Spacek’s return to television. One of her early television movies and many of her well-known feature film performances can be seen on video:

The violent 1972 melodrama Prime Cut (CBS/Fox) marked Spacek’s screen debut. Gene Hackman stars as the rather perverted owner of a Kansas City slaughterhouse who sells more women than cows. Lee Marvin is a hit man hired by angry factory owners to teach Hackman a lesson. Spacek co-stars as Poppy, one of Hackman’s “women.” Michael Ritchie directed.

During the early ‘70s, Spacek appeared in several TV movies, including the 1973 ABC movie The Girls of Huntington House (International Video). Spacek plays a pregnant teen-ager living at a house for unwed mothers who is befriended by unmarried teacher Shirley Jones.

Terrence Malick’s acclaimed Badlands (Warner Home Video), released in 1973, changed Spacek’s life and career. While making the movie, she met, fell in love with and later married production designer Jack Fisk. “Badlands” also gave Spacek her first substantial part. She stars as a childlike woman who goes on a killing spree with a charismatic man (Martin Sheen) who thinks he looks like James Dean. Based on the famed Starkweather-Fugate killing spree of the late ‘50s.

Spacek received her first Oscar nomination for her work in Brian DePalma’s chilling 1976 thriller Carrie (MGM/UA), based on Stephen King’s book. Spacek is sympathetic and moving as a teen-age misfit who uses her telekinetic powers to seek revenge on the high school students who humiliated her at the prom. Piper Laurie also received an Oscar nomination as Spacek’s religious-fanatic mother. The final scene is a corker.

The actress was born to play Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter (MCA), Michael Apted’s 1980 adaptation of the country-Western singer’s amazing life story. Spacek, who did her own singing in the film, won the Oscar for her richly detailed performance. Tommy Lee Jones, Beverly D’Angelo and Levon Helm are all excellent in support.

Spacek’s husband, Jack Fisk, made his directorial debut with the 1981 drama Raggedy Man, and he elicited a fine performance from his wife. Spacek plays a small-town divorcee with two children living in a small Texas town during World War II. Unfortunately, “Raggedy Man” is marred by a violent, melodramatic finale.

Costa-Gavras’ 1982 political thriller Missing (MCA) is melodramatic and manipulative, but it works thanks to the Oscar-nominated performances of Spacek and Jack Lemmon. Spacek plays the liberal wife of an American (John Shea) missing in Latin America, based on a true story. Jack Lemmon stars as the young man’s conservative father who refuses to believe the American government is not telling him the truth about his son. Spacek and Lemmon’s volatile scenes together are a not-to-be-missed experience.

Two years later Spacek received her fourth Oscar nomination for her strong, believable turn as a farm wife in Mark Rydell’s drama The River. Mel Gibson, in his first American role, plays the Southern farmer trying to keep his family together.

Despite the presence of Oscar-winners Spacek, Jessica Lange and Diane Keaton, 1986’s wacky comedy Crimes of the Heart never really comes to life. Spacek does breathe some life into the belabored proceedings, and received an Oscar nomination as the craziest of the siblings who just shot her husband.

Spacek basically has the supporting “wife” role in Oliver Stone’s acclaimed, controversial 1991 political drama, J.F.K. (Warner Home Video). To her credit, she tries to make the most of her slim role as the wife of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner).