The Fastest Guitar Alive

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 Fastest Guitar Alive
Theatrical film poster by Frank Frazetta
Directed byMichael D. Moore
Produced bySam Katzman
Written byRobert E. Kent
StarringRoy Orbison
Sammy Jackson
Maggie Pierce
Music byRoy Orbison
Bill Dees
Fred Karger
CinematographyW. Wallace Kelley
Edited byBen Lewis
Color processMetrocolor
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • September 1, 1967 (1967-09-01)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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

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
Soundtrack album by
Roy Orbison
ReleasedJune 1967
RecordedAugust 9 – December 22, 1966
GenreRock and roll
Length22:27
LabelMGM (E 4475)
ProducerWesley Rose & Jim Vienneau
Roy Orbison chronology
Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson
(1967)		 The Fastest Guitar Alive
(1967)		 Cry Softly Lonely One
(1967)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [4]

The Fastest Guitar Alive is the soundtrack title for the 33​1⁄3 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

Side one
No.TitleLength
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
Side two
No.TitleLength
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 33​1⁄3 record album Famous Western Film Melodies by the Prague Radio Dance Orchestra, ARTIA SUPRAPHON 1 13 1788.

See also

References
  1. "Star Role for Jane Fonda". Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug 1966: D17.
  2. Clayson, Alan, pp. 146–147.
  3. Amburn, pp. 151–153.
  4. The Fastest Guitar Alive at AllMusic
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