Search - Road to Nashville on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1967 DVD Release: 11/07/2000 Format: DVD Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 28 mins Studio: Rhino Home Video Members Wishing: 3 Genres: Musical, Musical Comedy, Showbiz Comedy

Doodles Weaver finally gets a break at the Hollywood studio he works for; the big boss J.B. (Richard Arlen) sends him to Nashville to round up talent for an upcoming movie about country music. The bumbling bumpkin is shown around town by singing star Connie Smith, who introduces him to some of Nashville's finest artists. Marty Robbins sings a number of tunes and shows off his race car, indulging in a few hair-raising laps at high velocity. Legendary names such as Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, Porter Wagoner, and Waylon Jennings perform some of their big hits in recording studios and on television stages. Unfortunately, Weaver has so much fun watching the rehearsals that he neglects to get the contracts signed, which causes J.B. to repeatedly blow his stack. Other notable country & western stars who appear include Hank Snow, the Stoneman Family, Webb Pierce, Kitty Wells, Faron Young, Lefty Frizzell, Dottie West, the Osbourne Brothers, and Bill Anderson. ~ Fred Beldin, All Movie Guide

Based on the usual attributes that one would look for in a movie -- good acting, inspired (or, at least, competent) direction, involving plot -- Road to Nashville would be a waste of time and money, even at a ten-dollar list price. It has virtues, however, that allow it to transcend the amateurish level at which most of the acting and directing is pitched, principally in the form of well over two-dozen country acts from the mid-'60s, captured in performance clips in full color. Marty Robbins' name shows up ahead of the title (he's also listed as the associate producer) and he is featured in clips of the songs "Count Me Out," "Devil Woman," "Working My Way Through a Heartache," "Begging to You," and "El Paso." Also included are Webb Pierce, Waylon Jennings, Dottie West, Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, and much more. Surprisingly, Waylon Jennings, doing the gorgeous ballad "Anita," is one of the better performers here when it comes to playing to the camera effectively. He and his band seem comfortable in ways that some of the older performers, such as Webb Pierce and Kitty Wells, simply don't. Another highlight of the film is comic-relief clip of Quinine Gumstump and Buck and the Carter Family's rendition of "I Walk the Line." Connie Smith, who does some acting in the movie as well, seems static even when she moves across the screen, while The Carter Family, standing stock-still and singing, seem much more connected with the proceedings. The DVD is mastered in full-screen, which is unfortunate, since the movie was shot in Techniscope. The cropped image naturally focuses on the featured performer, usually at the expense of the supporting bandmembers. The source looks like a clean 16 mm television print, and it's been transferred well, and each song has been given a chapter marker of its own. It's a very handy disc, as one can skip to one's heart's content around the various artists, from traditional country singers such as Lefty Frizzell to bluegrass players like the Osborne Brothers to the beginnings of the outlaw movement in Waylon Jennings. The menu is simple and easy to manipulate. The sound has been mastered at an acceptable level, and is very clean given its film-track origins. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide