THE LETTER

This is the letter that John wrote to his mother on her 75th Birthday ! ! !

"My dear mother,

I have wanted to tell you today how very much I love you. I wanted you to know how much you are respected and appreciated by me. That I know how big your heart is, how much you feel and how much you care.

There are times that I wish I could take you in my arms and hold you in a way that would make you feel loved and cared for - that you would feel safe and warm and really appreciated for the wonderful woman you are.

That you would feel understood and respected for all the things that you do. That you would know that someone else knows how much love you have given of yourself beyond measure - time and time again - not only to Dad and Ralph and Ron and me, but also to our families and to so many others.

I wanted you to know what a blessing you have been in my life, and through me to so many others. I would not be the man that I am, nor would I be able to sing the way that I do nor would I have written the songs that I've written without the influence and the inspiration that you have been to me.

I want you to know that there are hundreds if not thousands of people who join me in saying...."God bless the day that you were born."

Happy Birthday, Mom - and many more. I love you."

Your son, John

HOME' MOVIE DISSES DENVER

NEW YORK POST

By ADAM BUCKMAN, April 29, 2000

"Take Me Home: The John Denver Story"

Sunday at 9 on WCBS/Ch. 2

JOHN Denver couldn't have been this boring. It just doesn't seem possible. If anything, this guy was an over-achiever whose life story should be more awe-inspiring than yawn-inducing. And yet, a new CBS-TV movie about his life makes him out to be a whimpering simp.

You have to read between the lines of tomorrow night's movie or do a little research on your own to form a more-complete impression of the songwriter whose talent was so prodigious that most of us would be able to hum or recall the lyrics of at least part of his best-known works even if they weren't still in radio rotation more than 20 years after they were first recorded.

The John Denver depicted in "Take Me Home: The John Denver Story"--adapted from his autobiography, according to the movie's credits--would appear to have been too paralyzed emotionally to rack up the astonishing list of accomplishments attributed to the real-life man. Here's a guy who lived only 53 years, but in that time recorded about a dozen chart-topping hits; earned millions upon millions of dollars; criss-crossed the globe in support of humanitarian causes; performed in one sold-out arena after another; started an environmental foundation; established his own record label; learned to fly a Learjet; and built a dream house in the Rocky Mountains.

Denver, who was killed in the crash of his single-engine, single-seat plane in October 1997, starred with George Burns in "Oh, God," acted in made-for-TV dramas, guest-starred on TV series, composed film scores, befriended Jacques Cousteau, and performed in such faraway places as the Soviet Union, China and Vietnam at a time when those places were considered politically off-limits to Western entertainers.

His most memorable songs are cultural touchstones--"Leavin' On a Jet Plane" (recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary), "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Rocky Mountain High," "Sunshine on My Shoulders" and "Annie's Song" (written for his wife at a time of marital discord, according to the movie). His greatest-hits album, released in 1974, sold 10 million copies and remained on the charts for two years.

Much of what he accomplished indeed gets mentioned in the movie--mostly in the form of throwaway lines inserted into the dialogue--but somewhere along the line, the makers of "Take Me Home" decided it would make for a more dramatic TV movie if they placed the emphasis on the soap opera aspects of his life at home, where his marriage fell apart following years of lengthy concert tours and trips abroad to help the needy.

The result is a movie that feels unbalanced (not to mention dry and dreary), with scene after scene of Denver (played by Chad Lowe, costumed in wig, round wire-rimmed glasses and sheepskin vest and lip-synching to Denver's voice in concert scenes) courting, marrying, and then squaring off with his wife, Annie (portrayed with earnestness by Kristin Davis).

Denver's fans--and there are many, judging by the number of Web sites dedicated to his memory--are sure to be disappointed in a movie that fails to capture the epic sweep of their hero's life. And that's a shame, since those fans are the people most likely to be watching tomorrow night.

Connie,

I wanted to send you a letter I wrote to the LA Times following the airing of the TV movie, supposedly of my brothers life. As a long time friend I feel I can trust you and Roger to send this along for me, without my e-mail address. I don't know if they will print it or not at the moment.

You and I have spoken about the lack of truth and fact in this TV movie about my brother, and I don't want our friends (Johns fans) to be mislead in the portrayal of my brothers life. Those who knew him through his many concerts, TV specials, and music, saw more the truth of John than what was portrayed in the movie. For him to be portrayed as some kind of dweeb, not the caring, intelligent, outspoken, humanitarian, and environmentalist he was, disgust me beyond belief.

I have been reading the message board on the JD net site since the movie and this is why I am enclosing this letter for you to pass on.

My brother was a wonderful human being, and the folks who I have been reading messages from know this. But I don't want them to be mislead by this portrayal of his life, or the events shown in the movie. I am not ready to open myself up to our friends yet with my e-mail address, as many things are still to painful for discussion. I was only able to force myself to watch the movie for my Mom as she was so upset about it. Maybe one day soon I will be able to communicate through this medium. I feel like writing the real story now myself more than ever before, or doing the real movie. Any way, if you would be so kind as to put this out there for our friends I would appreciate it.

Thanks

ron

Attn: Lee Margulies, LA Times

In watching the CBS television movie, "Take Me Home, the John Denver Story" which aired Sunday nite last week, I must say I am tremendously disappointed. This was not an accurate portrayal of my brothers life, nor are the events and people included an honest depiction. The people responsible for this, chose to incorrectly portray John Denvers life for reasons I cannot imagine, (personal gain?) not to relay the truth of my brothers life! I know this is not the fault of CBS, none the less, I would have preferred an honest portrayal of my brothers life, the good and the bad!

Our dad, though indeed hard on us, always supported John in his dream. Dad and Mom were the ones who let John quit college, and go to LA, where they imposed on friends, for a job and a place to stay for John while he attempted to get his start. Our father never gave my brother a hard time about the name change, though he had every right to do so, and the phrase "Howdy Doody is famous" was never spoken. The relationship between our father and my brother was great, and though they had difficulties when John was younger, (what children don't most of the time) those had long since been forgotten before Johns first TV Special, not just before our dad passed away as shown in the movie. Our father was very quick to relay how "proud" he was of my brother and his accomplishments throughout John's career, as well as his love for his son!

Nor did John write "Annies Song" just before he and Annie divorced, as we are lead to believe in the movie, for the purpose of attempted reconciliation, but many years prior to their difficulties.

Ask Jerry Weintraub about Hal Thau's involvement in John's career, versus bookkeeping! Hal owes all that he has to my brother! For him to say in the Memorial Service he felt like John was the brother he never had sure makes me wonder, "How is our mom doing Hal?" As there was supposedly no will, do you think she is being taken care of as John would have wanted?

The only good to come from this "TV Movie" is a certain exposure of my brothers music, in prime time!

Ronald L. Deutschendorf

John Denver's only brother