The Fastest Guitar Alive
| The Fastest Guitar Alive | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical film poster by Frank Frazetta | |
| Directed by | Michael D. Moore |
| Written by | Robert E. Kent |
| Produced by | Sam Katzman |
| Starring | Roy Orbison Sammy Jackson Maggie Pierce |
| Cinematography | W. Wallace Kelley |
| Edited by | Ben Lewis |
| Music by | Roy Orbison Bill Dees Fred Karger |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Fastest Guitar Alive is a 1967 American musical comedy film directed by Michael D. Moore and starring singer Roy Orbison in his only starring role as an actor. A musical western, the story is set near the end of the American Civil War, with Orbison portraying a Southern spy with a bullet-shooting guitar given the task of robbing gold bullion from the United States Mint in San Francisco in order to help finance the Confederacy's war effort.
The film features Orbison performing seven original songs which appeared on his 1967 MGM record album of the same name. His song "There Won't Be Many Coming Home" is featured in the 2015 western film The Hateful Eight.
Cast
- Roy Orbison — Johnny Banner
- Sammy Jackson — Steve Menlo
- Maggie Pierce — Flo
- Joan Freeman — Sue
- Lyle Bettger — Charlie
- John Doucette — Marshal Max Cooper
- Patricia Donahue — Stella DeWitt
- Ben Cooper — Deputy Rink
- Ben Lessy — Indian Chief
- Douglas Kennedy — Sheriff Joe Stedman
- Iron Eyes Cody — 1st Indian
- Sam the Sham — 1st Expressman
Production
Filming began September 1966.[1]
Soundtrack
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [2] |
The Fastest Guitar Alive is the soundtrack title for the 331⁄3 record album from MGM Records released in June 1967. Its single "There Won't be Many Coming Home" reached #18 in the UK and entered the Australian chart at its highest position of #32 before slipping down the chart.
Track listing
All songs written by Roy Orbison and Bill Dees
- Side one
- "Whirlwind"
- "Medicine Man, Medicine Man"
- "River"
- "The Fastest Guitar Alive"
- "Rollin' On"
- Side two
- "Pistolero"
- "Good Time Party"
- "Heading South"
- "Best Friend"
- "There Won't Be Many Coming Home"
The track, "Rollin' On", was covered on the 331⁄3 record album Famous Western Film Melodies by the Prague Radio Dance Orchestra - ARTIA SUPRAPHON 1 13 1788.
See also
References
- ^ Star Role for Jane Fonda Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 24 Aug 1966: d17
- ^ The Fastest Guitar Alive at AllMusic
External links
- The Fastest Guitar Alive at IMDb
- The Fastest Alive at AllMovie
- The Fastest Guitar Alive Virtual Museum
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