Country Music Movies

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 24 Jan 2002 9:36 am

What movie do you feel like gives the best and most realistic protrayal of country music ? For me its a film called "Payday" from 1973. I saw the movie only twice when it
was out but I'll never forget Rip Torn's
protrayal of a semi-successful, touring
country star on a downhill slide. I've tried
to find it on video but have'nt had any luck.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 24 Jan 2002 12:44 pm

Well it's not a movie.....but coming out in a week or so will be the best book written on Country Music....by Bill Malone....called "Don't get above your Raisin'".....Bill also had a book come out years ago..(I never had a copy; but read alot of it).....that is a Encyclopedia of Country music knowledge and History.....man that guy knows it all.....so get those books and you won't "ever" need a movie....if you really wanna know.
Ricky

Pat Burns · Post by **Pat Burns** » 24 Jan 2002 3:38 pm

..Urban Cowboy..

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 24 Jan 2002 4:41 pm

I really want to see Robert Altman's film 'Nashville' from 1975. I've heard it's a funny semi-cynical look at the country music industry.
It has been re-released in a new print and recentky it showed out my way, but I had a prior engagement I simply could not get out of, so I've missed it again.

The 1960s produced a lot of cornball el-cheapo country movies with terrible plots which are more memorable for the footage of the stars and their bands.
Payday sounds interesting, I'll keep an eye out for that one.

Jason

Greg Simmons · Post by **Greg Simmons** » 24 Jan 2002 5:40 pm

Another movie that's been out for a few years (but I can't seem to find here in Canada on video) is supposed to be kind of a country "Spinal Tap". It's called "Dill Scallion" and from the trailer looks to be a good one.

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net

[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 24 January 2002 at 05:41 PM.]

Craig A Davidson · Post by **Craig A Davidson** » 24 Jan 2002 7:18 pm

Try "Songwriter" with Willie and Kris.

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1985 Emmons push-pull, Session 500, Nashville400, 65 re-issue Fender Twin, Fender Tele

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 24 Jan 2002 10:09 pm

"Tender Mercies" with Robert Duval was a great country music movie . Jody.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 25 Jan 2002 12:41 am

i found that Altmanns "Nashville" was a great flick.
(but then i 've always liked his movies)
Coal Miners Daughter was right up there too.
Steel what ?

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 25 Jan 2002 3:57 am

"Sweet Dreams" is a real good movie, I watch it every March 5th. Ed Harris plays a great Charlie Dick and Jessica Lange does a very memorable job as Patsy Cline.

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 25 Jan 2002 5:52 am

I had forgotten about "Tender Mercies".
Great film. I would love to have copy of the soundtrack music. Duvall's Lefty Frizzell covers would be more than worth the purchase.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 25 Jan 2002 6:55 am

A little side note on "Tender Mercies". My good friend Buddie Hrabal is the house steel player in the movie, along with the rest of the guys that in real life were Dallas's Bobby Smith band. The show scenes were filmed at the Grapevine Opry, which I was lucky enough to watch being filmed.

Buddie is the reason I moved to Texas as he had just bought a new Dekley at the 1980 St. Louis show and wanted the guitar to be in the movie. I built his guitar in Connecticut and decided to deliver his guitar in person and check out the job market, as this was at the height of the Urban Cowboy days.

While at the filming, Buddie introduced me to Chisai Childs, then owner of the Opry. It happened that they were looking for a steel player, I got the job, and worked there for a couple years until Chisai sold out and moved to Branson.

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@charter.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden Ext. E9/U-13 8&8=-

RickRichtmyer · Post by **RickRichtmyer** » 25 Jan 2002 7:30 am

When I was a kid (and that's a long time back) I swear I remember seeing a movie that was pretty much a story of Ernest Tubb and the Texas Troubadors on the road. Does anyone know anything about that movie? I'd sure love to see it again. It was in black and white.

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Rick Richtmyer
Good News

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 25 Jan 2002 8:16 am

Rick . It was probably " Hollywood Barn Dance". According to Ronnie Pugh"s biography of Tubb the movie was made in 1947 and was
"plotted around the fictitious rise to stardom by Tubb with the Texas Troubadours playing themselves". I have no idea if it's on video. You might try the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.

Red Kilby · Post by **Red Kilby** » 25 Jan 2002 8:53 am

HI everyone, I have a movie you have all probably forgot that has lots of country music in it from the 70's,
" W.W. and the Dixie DanceKings "
an old Burt Reynolds movie with Jerry Reed,Don Williams,Art Carney and a host of people you will know .It shows Tootsies in Nashville and Various other great old shots of the Ryman.
Check it out if you get the chance.

Niklas Widen · Post by **Niklas Widen** » 25 Jan 2002 8:57 am

How about George Strait's "Pure Country"?

Bob Shilling · Post by **Bob Shilling** » 25 Jan 2002 12:08 pm

I don't know much about life on the road, but Willie's "Honeysuckle Rose" has tons of great music in it. And a pretty good story line. The scene of Slim Pickens chasing Willie around some dunes down in Mexico, with a pistol, is a classic.

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Bob Shilling, Berkeley, CA--MSA S10, "Classic"

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 25 Jan 2002 12:54 pm

I have read that as the movie is very loosely autobiographical of Willie, the Slim Pickens character is very loosely Grady Martin.

I also love Tender Mercies. Every time I watch it, though, I become more and more annoyed by the director's need to wash strings all over the scene where Duvall sings "If you hold the ladder" at the dance. More realism, less sentimentality, would suit me better (I don't see a string section on the stand--do you see a string section on the stand? Where's all them pretty violins comin' from ma?)

J W Hock · Post by **J W Hock** » 25 Jan 2002 1:48 pm

OK , how about WORST movies about country music ?
My choices , first George Hamilton IV as Hank in " Your Cheatin Heart " .
Second . " Nashville Rebel" , where poor Waylon is cast as a Hootenanny folk singer ! I actually saw this back in 1967 at a drive -in theater in Pasadena , TX . < ,

George Rozak · Post by **George Rozak** » 25 Jan 2002 2:23 pm

I thought "Honky Tonk Man" with Clint Eastwood was pretty good. It includes Ray Price and Marty Robbins, and also Johnny Gimble portraying Bob Wills.

Steve Pacholl · Post by **Steve Pacholl** » 29 Jan 2002 12:57 pm

This thread reminded me to find a copy of Dill Scallion. Found it at Hollywood video. Pretty funny stuff if you have any knowledge of the music industry. It is like the country version of Spinal Tap.

Some of it was filmed in Minnesota. At WeFest and at Lee's Liquor Lounge. Dill gets invited to perform at Wefest if he can do a 20 minute set. He says he thinks he can, but may have to do one song twice. He ends up being a headliner at WeFest because all the other "big" names decided to do Gum Aid III, to bring more attention to gingivitis. At FanFair Dill pisses off his fans by charging $19.95 for his autograph. Willie Nelson does a cameo at WeFest.

Dill's side man is Bubba Pearl. He says is is the illegitmate son of Minnie Pearl. A price tag hangs from his cowboy hat.

Pretty good film with a lot of "inside" humor.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 29 Jan 2002 1:39 pm

I think Rhinestone has GOT to be the worst, but maybe it's not even really in the catagory as it was not attempting to realistically portray the business (I HOPE!). Saw another lousy one the other day with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson with all the usual bubblegum-pop-style "country" songs. Some of them were actually very funny. I think it was called "Songwriter".

Janice Brooks · Post by **Janice Brooks** » 29 Jan 2002 5:01 pm

My choices , first George Hamilton IV as Hank in " Your Cheatin Heart " .
I will agree. I never watched it that closely
but I read that Audrey was in scenes in a timeframe after the divorce. It also had a performence of the title song which was not released before he died and Hank had few performences the last few months of his life.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 29 Jan 2002 7:08 pm

Let's not forget that George Hamilton IV is a total ham and a real Hollywood cabaret type, he just looks so wrong for the part!

nick allen · Post by **nick allen** » 30 Jan 2002 12:21 am

Nitpicking time (although George Hamilton IV might think it's more than just nitpicking...) - it was George Hamilton (movie actor) who played Hank Williams... George Hamilton IV (pop/folk/country singer) is a completely different person.
I read somewhere years ago that Rip Torn traveled on the road for a while with Waylon as research for the "Payday" movie.
Also I believe Willie originally hired Grady Martin in his band specifically to "play" the Slim Pickens character in the concert scenes and hand close-ups.
Nick

Craig Stock · Post by **Craig Stock** » 30 Jan 2002 9:31 am

Pat, I know you are joking about Urban Cowboy, but that was a big influence on this Jersey Boy.
My list also includes,

-Tender Mercies (I have the album and DVD)
-W.W. & the Dixie Dance Kings
-Hi-Lo Country (Woody Harrelson) Has some great Don Walser, and other Western Swing on it)

-Rancho Deluxe (Jeff Bridges-Sam Waterston)
Nice Jimmy Buffett Soundtrack)

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Regards, Craig
[This message was edited by Craig Stock on 30 January 2002 at 09:32 AM.]