Steel Guitar in Movies

Robert Bunting · Post by **Robert Bunting** » 15 Mar 2014 5:16 pm

Was hoping we could compile a list of films with steel guitar music in them.

I love seeing Sol Hoopii with Edward G. Robinson in Litittle Giant.

Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar, has a host of old time greats and The Bowery Boys.

Sacred Steel by the Arhoolie Foundation is filled with some wonderful history (and of expressive use) of steel in Gospel.

And I'm reminded that the film Festival Express documents Blues, Country and Rock musicians touring together and exposing a host of young (at the time) people to the steel guitar stylings of Jerry Garcia and Buddy Cage. That meetings result is the New Riders still recording and performing today.
No telling how many folks got their start from that Country Rock "Explosion"...

Those are a few off the top of my head, What do you guys remember as "movies with steel"??

Or is it Film of Steel?

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 15 Mar 2014 8:15 pm

Many of the early cowboy films had some "western" music, almost always with a steel player. Sometimes the bands were featured as part of the story, or as the pals of the cowboy star.

Not a movie, but my family and I have been watching DVDs of the "Northern Exposure" TV series, and every time there' s a scene in the Brick (bar), there's great instrumental steel playing on the "jukebox".

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 16 Mar 2014 1:06 pm

Lynn Owsley was the steel guitarist in the Opry and Ernest Tubb Record Shop scenes in Coal Miner's Daughter.

Jerry Berger · Post by **Jerry Berger** » 16 Mar 2014 2:26 pm

Bill Stafford played in the movie "My Own Private Idaho."

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 16 Mar 2014 3:50 pm

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... t=superman

Deirdre Higgins · Post by **Deirdre Higgins** » 19 Mar 2014 9:49 am

This looks to be a very nice documentary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOmZhhNNElM

chas smith · Post by **chas smith** » 19 Mar 2014 1:07 pm

Are you looking for traditional steel guitar music or simply steel guitar in the sound track?

Boo Bernstein was all over Brokeback Mountain.
Gary Brandin was the steeler on Spongebob Squarepants.

Rick Stratton · Post by **Rick Stratton** » 19 Mar 2014 2:41 pm

Rockin' in the Rockies (1945)
A kind of silly movie starring The Three Stooges.
Someone gave me a DVD at Christmas.
Notable for a performance by Spade Cooley's band featuring Joaquin Murphy on steel (Miss Molly)
You can find that scene on YouTube so you don't have to watch the whole thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfBdHfg1Gpg

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 20 Mar 2014 5:58 am

"Crazy Heart"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0349E7kFEM

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 20 Mar 2014 7:04 am

Gary Brandin also played the steel intro on the Looney Tunes theme song

Deirdre Higgins · Post by **Deirdre Higgins** » 20 Mar 2014 7:38 am

At 6:40 into this show a woman steel player is shown. would anyone recognize her?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD-58hnFNOc

Post by **Joey Ace** » 20 Mar 2014 7:42 am

Nashville 1975

cameos by Lloyd Green, Doug Jernigan, and others.

Jeff Newman on banjo....

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 20 Mar 2014 7:47 am

I watched 'Sugarland Express' last week - the first time I'd seen it. It's from the mid-'70s and was Spielberg's first feature film.

There was a lot of steel on that soundtrack and it was interesting, too. Does anyone know who may have been responsible?

I recall a Peter Fonda film from the '70s (I've forgotten its title) that had a group of youngsters travelling in an RV and falling foul of some local 'nasties' - there's a shot of the steel player (on a bandstand with a Sho-Bud) who's 'one of them' and who had a mad red glint in his eyes!!!

Typecasting, maybe?

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 20 Mar 2014 8:16 am

Roger Rettig wrote:I
I recall a Peter Fonda film from the '70s (I've forgotten its title) that had a group of youngsters travelling in an RV and falling foul of some local 'nasties' - there's a shot of the steel player (on a bandstand with a Sho-Bud) who's 'one of them' and who had a mad red glint in his eyes!!!

Typecasting, maybe?

It's called "Race With The Devil." The "nasties" were Satan worshippers who Fonda had witnessed committing a human sacrifice. The steel player was supposedly possessed.

It's not a very good movie, but is worth seeing just for the scene with the steel player.

Warren Oats and Loretta Switt (Margret "Hot Lips" Houlihan ) from M*A*S*H) are also in it.

Brandin · Post by **Brandin** » 20 Mar 2014 6:15 pm

No Brett, not the "Looney Tunes", just the first two seasons of SpongBob, and the ending of the "Tao of Steve".

GB

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 20 Mar 2014 6:31 pm

So do we know who played the original swoop in the ol' Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons?

Peter Freiberger · Post by **Peter Freiberger** » 20 Mar 2014 6:43 pm

Looney Tunes swoop - Freddie Tavares

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Tavares

Jim Bob Sedgwick · Post by **Jim Bob Sedgwick** » 20 Mar 2014 6:47 pm

Deirdre Higgins wrote:At 6:40 into this show a woman steel player is shown. would anyone recognize her?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD-58hnFNOc

The lady was Marian Hall. She also played steel on Town Hall Party in the 50's

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 20 Mar 2014 10:37 pm

I know the Big E is proud of the work he did with Mr. Mancini

Rex Thomas · Post by **Rex Thomas** » 21 Mar 2014 5:55 am

Correct, Pete.

Robert Bunting · Post by **Robert Bunting** » 28 Mar 2014 9:01 pm

We have a nice list going...
Mark's Mention of the Northern Exposure series reminded Me of all the great musicians that made guest appearances on The Dukes of Hazzard.

Keep em coming folks!

Keith Currie · Post by **Keith Currie** » 29 Mar 2014 8:21 am

Randle Currie played in the first Cars movie.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 29 Mar 2014 8:57 am

During the car chase scenes of the TV show Dukes of Hazzard, Jay Dee Manness played steel and also, in the movie Pure Country, starring George Strait, Mike Daily is playing steel onstage with Dusty, the character played by George Strait

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 29 Mar 2014 9:36 am

Brett Day wrote:Gary Brandin also played the steel intro on the Looney Tunes theme song

Gary was not the original steel player back in the 30's. That was Freddy Tavares.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 29 Mar 2014 9:47 am

And, years ago, I did a soundtrack session (on steel) for Elmer Bernstein but, as I had or have no idea of the film's title, I suppose I can't 'count it'.

I'm out there somewhere, though, and EB was a pretty terrific composer.

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