The Fastest Guitar Alive is a 1967 American musical comedy Western film directed by Michael D. Moore and starring singer Roy Orbison in his only acting role. The film features Orbison performing seven original songs, which appeared on his 1967 MGM album of the same name. His song "There Won't Be Many Coming Home" is featured in the 2015 western film The Hateful Eight.
| The Fastest Guitar Alive | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release 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 |
| Color process | Metrocolor |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editNear the end of the American Civil War, a Southern spy (Orbison) with a bullet-shooting guitar is given the task of robbing gold bullion from the United States Mint in San Francisco to help finance the ill-fated Confederacy's last-ditch war effort.
Cast
edit- Roy Orbison as Johnny Banner
- Sammy Jackson as Steve Menlo
- Maggie Pierce as Flo Chesnut
- Joan Freeman as Sue Chesnut
- Lyle Bettger as Charlie
- John Doucette as Marshal Max Cooper
- Patricia Donahue as Stella DeWitt
- Ben Cooper as Deputy Rink
- Ben Lessy as Indian Chief
- Douglas Kennedy as Sheriff Joe Stedman
- Iron Eyes Cody as First Indian
- Sam the Sham as First Expressman
Production and release
editFilming began September 1966.[1] Although Orbison was pleased with the film, it proved to be a critical and box office flop. While MGM had included five films in his contract, no more were made.[2][3]
Soundtrack
edit| The Fastest Guitar Alive | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | June 1967 | |||
| Recorded | August 9 – December 22, 1966 | |||
| Genre | Rock and roll | |||
| Length | 22:27 | |||
| Label | MGM (E 4475) | |||
| Producer | Wesley Rose & Jim Vienneau | |||
| Roy Orbison chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [4] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [5] |
| Record Mirror | [6] |
A soundtrack album for the film was released in June 1967 on MGM Records. It was the only album to consist entirely of Roy Orbison/Bill Dees originals. Its single "There Won't Be Many Coming Home" reached No. 18 in the UK and entered the Australian chart at its highest position of #32 before slipping down the chart.
The album was also included in the 2015 box set The MGM Years 1965–1973 – Roy Orbison.[7]
Reception
editRichie Unterberger of AllMusic said the album "includes what may be his best obscure tune, the rarely anthologized "Whirlwind." With its galloping rhythm, emotive operatic vocals, swirling strings, and ghostly backing vocals, it recalls the best uptempo ballads that he recorded during his early-'60s heyday at the Monument label."[8]
Billboard described the album as "a pack powerful emotion."[9]
Cashbox gave the album a postive reviews, notes "These tunes, in addition to three other Orbison originals, are included"[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Whirlwind" | 2:10 |
| 2. | "Medicine Man, Medicine Man" | 2:43 |
| 3. | "River" | 3:02 |
| 4. | "The Fastest Guitar Alive" | 3:08 |
| 5. | "Rollin' On" | 2:15 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Pistolero" | 2:58 |
| 2. | "Good Time Party" | 2:23 |
| 3. | "Heading South" | 2:45 |
| 4. | "Best Friend" | 2:38 |
| 5. | "There Won't Be Many Coming Home" | 2:46 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Star Role for Jane Fonda". Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug 1966: D17.
- ^ Clayson, Alan, pp. 146–147.
- ^ Amburn, pp. 151–153.
- ^ The Fastest Guitar Alive at AllMusic
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 1062. ISBN 9781846098567. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ Waston, Jimmy; Jopling, Norman (March 16, 1968). "new albums reviewed by Norman Jopling and Peter Jones: Potent Film L.P. from Orbison". Record Mirror. No. 366. p. 8.
- ^ "The MGM Years 1965-1973 - Roy Orbison". allmusic.com. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Roy Orbison - The Fastest Guitar Alive [Original Soundtrack]: Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ^ "Pop Spotlight: The Fastest Guitar Alive". Billboard. Vol. 79, no. 30. July 29, 1967. p. 38.
- ^ "Cashbox Album Pop Pick Reviews: The Fastest Guitar Alive". Cash Box. Vol. 28, no. 50. July 22, 1967. p. 40.
External links
edit- The Fastest Guitar Alive at IMDb
- The Fastest Guitar Alive Virtual Museum Archived 2007-05-19 at the Wayback Machine
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