The Fastest Guitar Alive

The Fastest Guitar Alive
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	W. Wallace Kelley
Edited by	Ben Lewis
Music by	Roy Orbison Bill Dees Fred Karger
Color process	Metrocolor
Production company	Four Leaf Productions
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	September 1, 1967 (1967-09-01)
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 with 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 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

Near 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

• 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

Filming began September 1966. 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.

Soundtrack

The Fastest Guitar Alive
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
Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson (1967) The Fastest Guitar Alive (1967) Cry Softly Lonely One (1967)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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.

Reception

Richie 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."

Billboard described as "a pack powerful emotion."

Track listing

Side one

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

Side two

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

• List of American films of 1967

External links

• The Fastest Guitar Alive at IMDb
• The Fastest Alive at AllMovie
• The Fastest Guitar Alive Virtual Museum Archived 2007-05-19 at the Wayback Machine