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Folk Music & Films
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Subject: Folk Music & Films From: Doctor John Date: 01 Aug 99 - 10:32 AM I don't know if this has been done but I'm following on from the "novels" thread. Can anyone recall any films about folk songs or singers or featuring folksongs as a theme or background music. For the first I can think of the films about Woody and Leadbelly (never managed to see that) and "Crossroad" There was also "The Ballad of Joe Hill" .Can't get any of these on video however. "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Matewan" feature folkmusic; both of those a must for all Mudcatters. Dr John |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 01 Aug 99 - 11:43 AM Dr John. Don't see the films about Woody and Leadbelly. They're not good - and the Woody flic (Bound for Glory) is in my biased opinion atrocious. "Paris Texas" is very depressing but the music by Ry Cooder is fabulous. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: CarlZen Date: 01 Aug 99 - 11:50 AM Right now there is a documentary produced by Ry Cooder, based on his recording "Buena Vista Social Club". It's about how he went to Havana and assembled these old Cuban musicians. It is playing now in theatres. I saw it last week and the entire audience applauded after the credits ended. (There's a thread or two about the movie.) The movie is called "Buena Vista Social Club". |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Doctor John Date: 01 Aug 99 - 11:54 AM Rick, I've seen "Bound for Glory" and didn't find it all that good. I seem to remember in the film that "Woody" met and sang around the union meetings with a big guy with a moustache. He was obviously meant to be Cisco Houston but was given an entirely different name in the film although I can't recall what now. Does anyone know the reason for this curiosity? I guess you could never really make these films authenically as they'd cost a fortune which would not be forthcoming for what is after all a relatively minority interest. Dr John |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Peter T. Date: 01 Aug 99 - 11:59 AM We had a huge thread very recently on music in movies. You might want to check it out. I don't know if these count for you as folk music: "Nashville" is a great film. "Coal Miner's Daughter" is an O.K. film. Some people like "Crossroads" which I hated. If Cuban music counts for you as folk music (and it should) then run out and see Buena Vista Social Club. You won't regret it -- full of musicians talking about music, their lives, their beloved instruments, singing, playing. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 01 Aug 99 - 12:21 PM Peter, I love your choice in films! Dr. The character played by Ronnie Cox in "Bound For Glory" was supposed to be Will Geer. Woody's friendship with Cisco came later. My prime objection to the film was the casting. Woody was 5' 5" tall. An important fact that coloured his personality and behaviour. Mr. Carradine is over 6' 2", which just messes with the dynamics as far as I'm concerned. They also let him sing Woody's songs which was a HUGE mistake! The fact that he's shown bummin' a freight with his 2000 dollar gold plated and multi-inlayed 70s Mossman Grand Era guitar doesn't do much for the credibility either. I've thought about the casting and if he weren't also a six footer Lyle Lovitt would have been perfect.(although he probably was 13 years old at the time) Rick |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Doctor John Date: 01 Aug 99 - 12:33 PM Rick, Thanks for the information. I was pretty drunk when I watched it and I missed that guitar too. So it's probably worse than it seemed. Dr John |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Mike Regenstreif Date: 01 Aug 99 - 02:58 PM I believe the character played by Ronny Cox in "Bound for Glory" was actually meant to be a composite of Cisco Houston and Will Geer. Of course, another film featuring a folksinger playing a folksinger is "Alice's Restaurant" with Arlo Guthrie playing himself and featuring cameos by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes. Mike Regenstreif |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Mudjack Date: 01 Aug 99 - 03:29 PM "Was'nt That A Time" is a tribute and documentary about The Weavers. It was released as an indipendent film and simply a wonderful tribute to The Weavers and memory of Lee Hayes. I concur with Rick and Mike's posting. Right on the nail. Mudjack |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: LEJ Date: 01 Aug 99 - 04:43 PM I agree that Bound for Glory was a dog, and I also disliked Crossroads . Oddly enough, I thought that George Hamilton did a great job as Hank Williams in the 50's version of The Hank Williams Story , and that it was a pretty faithful representation. LEJ |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 01 Aug 99 - 05:00 PM Funny thing about that one Lej, it SHOULD have been a turkey, but wasn't. Just a brief reminder. Ronny Cox was also the guitar player in Deliverance.(although Steve Mandel actually played the track along with Eric weissberg) The guys in that film were supposed to be pretty upscale so I don't know why Ronnie didn't have a D-28 instead of a Japanese Epiphone. Holy Cow, am I picky! Rick |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Doctor John Date: 01 Aug 99 - 05:11 PM I enjoyed "Crossroads" until the electricity came in. Dr John |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 01 Aug 99 - 05:14 PM Just remembered one. How about "A Face in the Crowd"? Andy Griffith played his own stuff. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: WyoWoman Date: 01 Aug 99 - 06:10 PM I LOVED 'Wasn't That a Time.' Got me all inspired about my music again and then I got to interview Ronnie Gilbert and do a story about her when she performed in Albuquerque. It was one of the highlights of my career. And I absolutely agree with Lee Hayes. When I die, I want my ashes turned into the compost heap. Then the next summer, my friends and family can join in a lovely meal and really mean it when they say, "Now SHE was a sweet little tomato..." WW |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Mudjack Date: 01 Aug 99 - 06:10 PM Rick, he was'nt going to risk his D-28 on a canoe trip. But what the hey, it was a movie and they could have satisfied us eagle eyed critics. The best prop award goes to Bound for Glory for his Stuart Mossman guitar. As I recall in Frets/Pickin, did'nt Kung Fu Carridine get to keep the axe? The Long Riders had some interesting music scenes. L A's Tom Suaber was very visual and doing some nice old timey stuff and the music was well representing for the period. Mudjack |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Sourdough Date: 01 Aug 99 - 06:12 PM I thought that movie, Wasn't That a TIme, was a gem. I'll bet it will stand up well over time. Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: T. in Oklahoma Date: 01 Aug 99 - 07:22 PM Frank Warner supposedly was involved in a film called "Run of the Arrow". Has anyone seen it ? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: bseed(charleskratz) Date: 02 Aug 99 - 02:36 AM Of course the theme of High Noon is the very folky song of the same title, sung by Tex Ritter. But it was the only song, as I recall. Of course Simon and Garfunkel did the theme music for The Graduate and Cat Stevens did the sound track for...what the heck is the name of that movie: Ruth Gordon has an affair with a very young man who keeps spectacularly faking suicide and drives a Jaguar customized to look like a hearse: Oh, Harold and Maude. --seed |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 02 Aug 99 - 05:27 AM And don't forget Pete Seeger singing at the beginning and end of "Tell Me that you Love Me Junie Moon". |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Mike Regenstreif Date: 02 Aug 99 - 09:32 AM The soundtrack music to "Little Big Man" is by John Hammond (the son). As I recall, it's pretty much solo work, just John's guitar and harmonica. Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee were featured doing a song at the beginning of "The Jerk," a Steve Martin movie. And "Bonnie & Clyde," included soundtrack music by Flatt & Scruggs. "Forrest Gump" was full of 1960s music, including some "folk" music. Mike Regenstreif |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 02 Aug 99 - 11:39 AM OK Mike, I'll see your "Sonny in the Jerk" and raise you a "Sonny on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Here's the tough one though. Who played guitar and banjo in the Broadway production of Martin Duberman's "In White America"? If that's a little tricky, who did it with the touring company in Sudbury Ontario? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: bob schwarer Date: 02 Aug 99 - 11:44 AM A.L.Lloyd played a shantyman in some movie I can't remember the name of. Not a big part, but a part. Bob S. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: catspaw49 Date: 02 Aug 99 - 11:46 AM Rick, I've been to Sudbury.................suitable comment is lacking. Spaw (and I have no idea anyway...but somebody actually goes there? Really? As a destination and not just passing through, as quickly as possible?) Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Jeri Date: 02 Aug 99 - 12:57 PM Bob S. - Moby Dick? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Doctor John Date: 02 Aug 99 - 01:28 PM In the late 40's Woody Guthrie made some recordings for his music publisher, the Richmond Organisation. One ("I've Got To Know"), according to the notes to the Bear Family album "Songs for Political Action", "surfaced under the end credits of Tim Robbin's 1992 Hollywood film Bob Roberts". I'm unsure quite what that means. Has anyone seen this film? Dr John |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Rick Fielding Date: 02 Aug 99 - 02:44 PM Sudbury was used in the early sixties to train American astronauts to walk on the moon. No joke. It's your average hard-workin' hard drinkin' mining town. Big surprise to me in the late sixties was working a dump called the nickel Range and finding out that it was a "GAY Bar"! |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Peter T. Date: 02 Aug 99 - 02:45 PM Dr. John, I saw the film, but don't remember the song appearing at the end credits. The film was pretty forgettable too -- it was one of those films that you were supposed to like because its politics were so "good". Dull, underwritten. yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: catspaw49 Date: 02 Aug 99 - 03:31 PM ...and just incredibly boring. Sorry Doc, I never made the end!!! Spaw |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: bob schwarer Date: 02 Aug 99 - 03:45 PM Jeri: Probably was Moby Dick. As I said it was not a big part, but take what we can get. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: CarlZen Date: 03 Aug 99 - 12:31 AM When I was about thirteen years old I remember going to a double feature of two forgettable films (so forgettable that I only now, because of this thread, remembered them. They were both in marvelous black and white, and one was called "Love Me Tender" and took place during the civil war, and may have even purported to be based on "Aura Lee" the folk song from which "Love Me Tender" the Elvis hit stole its tune. Come to think of it, was Elvis in the movie. It was one of his very early ones, if it was. Not being a big Elvis fan, I wouldn't know that part. The other was titled "Tom Dooley" or "The Ballad of Tom Dooley", either way my memory is hazy. I do recall the hanging tree in the film. Anybody know what I'm talking about here, or have I finally reached that stage in life where my memories (especially of cinema experiences) and my dreams have all warped around each other so it is all one dreammemory??? |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Sourdough Date: 03 Aug 99 - 03:43 AM That was Elvis singing "Aura Lee", the same lady mentioned in "Yellow Rose of Texas". I wrote down my lyric for this in another thread but this is too good a chance to pass up to give you the words to my version of AUra Lee: As the interns, in the spring, Headed for DC. One knew how to get ahead, She'd do it ora - lly Cho: Orally, Orally, etc Sourdough |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: Peter T. Date: 03 Aug 99 - 10:04 AM That is even better than Allan Sherman! ("If you have to take vaccine, take it orally, for you know the other way , is more painfully). yours, Peter T. |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: marion Date: 03 Aug 99 - 10:50 AM "Margaret's Museum" which is set in Cape Breton and stars Helena Bonham Carter, is a great movie in its own right but especially good for anyone who is into East Coast tunes - lots of piping and fiddling. Marion |
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Subject: RE: Folk Music & Films From: MAG (inactive) Date: 03 Aug 99 - 09:11 PM That was Elvis in "Love me Tender;" the ONLY Elvis film I ever saw. He stays home from the Civil WAr and gets the girl, while her true love is off fighting. On the way home, him and his (friends? buddies?) stop awhile to be train robbers, and when they finally get home, she has given up and married Elvis. Elvis has this great death scene, which I understand his fans hated hated hated, and she can marry the other guy (i think.) I was not an Elvis Fan (too young!) and only saw the movie because my sister Susie had to take me to the movies with her (and her girlfriends) when they went. (see "pranksters" thread.) |
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