Country Music
Documentaries and Films
Documentaries
High Lonesome - The Story of Bluegrass Music
Rachel Liebling’s great 1994 film was the first documentary on the genre. The film is based on Bill Monroe’s visit to his long-abandoned and barely standing family home in Rosine, Ky. (1 hour, 30 minutes)
Bluegrass Journey
A film by Ruth Oxenberg. “Bluegrass Journey is a documentary that offers a look at the history of bluegrass music as well as a glimpse of its current stars as they perform for fans and jam with fellow greats. (Alex Nordstrom – IMDB)” (1 hour, 20 minutes)
Fiddlin’ Man: The Life and Times of Bob Wills
Rachel Liebling’s great 1994 film was the first documentary on the genre. The film is based on Bill Monroe’s visit to his long-abandoned and barely standing family home in Rosine, Ky. (1 hour, 30 minutes)
The Hank Williams Story
This is the BBC Four documentary about the great country singer and songwriter, Hank Williams. (1 hour, 15 minutes)
Lost Highway
The great BBC four-part 2003 series about American country music.
Lost Highway Part 1 - Down from The Mountain
“Until the first recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, the mountain music of Kentucky and Virginia was limited to rural communities. “Down From the Mountain” traces history of country music from Clinch Mountain to the sophisticated modern bluegrass of Alison Krauss and the resurgence of roots music sparked by the success of the film O Brother Where Art Thou?. (docuwiki.net)” (1 hour)
Lost Highway Part 2 – The Road to Nashville
The roots of Nashville’s position at the heart of country music lie with the honky tonk heroes who moved from the bars of the Southeast to the Grand Ole Opry. “The Road to Nashville” moves from the inspired and mournful sound of Hank Williams to the birth of Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley’s smoother “Nashville Sound,” in response to the rise of rock ‘n’ roll. (docuwiki.net)” (1 hour)
Lost Highway Part 3 - Beyond Nashville
With the advent of the Nashville country-pop style, the roostier end of country began to emerge in places as disparate as Bakersfield, Calif. and Austin, Texas. “Beyond Nashville” examines the rise of these newer stars and their legacy in the contemporary alt country genre. (docuwiki.net)” (1 hour)
Lost Highway Part 4 - Rodeo Sweethearts
While acts such as Shania Twain or the Dixie Chicks sell millions, it’s easy to forget that women’s dominance in country has been an uphill struggle. “Sweethearts of the Rodeo” tells the story from the original cowgirl, Patsy Montana, to the outspoken big-haired icons of the ’60s and ’70s and today’s stars including Gillian Welch. (docuwiki.net)” (1 hour)
Films
Gene Autry – The Big Show (1936)
“The Big Show is a 1936 American Western musical film directed by Mack V. Wright and starring Gene Autry, Kay Hughes, and Smiley Burnette. Written by Dorrell and Stuart E. McGowan, the film is about a singing cowboy who confuses two girls by being himself and his own stunt double at the Texas Centennial in Dallas. Roy Rogers appears in the film as one of the Sons of the Pioneers. (Wikipedia)” The film features music by the Light Crust Doughboys, Sons of the Pioneers, the Jones Boys, and the Beverly Hill Billies (54 minutes)
Roy Rogers - San Fernando Valley (1944)
San Fernando Valley is a 1944 American western musical directed by John English. It stars Roy Rogers, his wife Dale Evans, Jean Porter, and features the singing of the famous Sons of the Pioneers. It was one of the long-running films from the series of Roy Rogers films produced by Republic Pictures. (1 hour, 15 minutes)