The Fastest Guitar Alive
The Fastest Guitar Alive | |
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![]() 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 | |
Edited by | |
Music by | Roy Orbison Bill Dees Fred Karger |
Color process | Metrocolor |
Production company | Four Leaf Productions |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
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 starring role as an actor.
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.
Plot[]
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.
Cast[]
- Roy Orbison as Johnny Banner
- Sammy Jackson as Steve Menlo
- Maggie Pierce as Flo
- Joan Freeman as Sue
- 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 1st Indian
- Sam the Sham as 1st Expressman
Production and release[]
Filming 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[]
The Fastest Guitar Alive | ||||
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Soundtrack album by Roy Orbison | ||||
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 | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Fastest Guitar Alive is the soundtrack title for the 331⁄3 record album from MGM Records—and Orbison's eleventh studio album—released in June 1967. It was the only album to consist entirely of Roy Orbison–Bill Dees originals. 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
No. | Title | Length |
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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 |
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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 |
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[]
External links[]
- The Fastest Guitar Alive at IMDb
- The Fastest Alive at AllMovie
- The Fastest Guitar Alive Virtual Museum
- 1967 films
- English-language films
- 1967 musical comedy films
- 1960s spy comedy films
- 1960s Western (genre) comedy films
- American films
- American musical comedy films
- Films directed by Mickey Moore
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- American Civil War spy films
- Musical comedy film stubs