All aboard the inspiration train as we cruise through the 10 most inspiring guitar feature films that will motivate you on your guitar journey. From Walk the Line to Crazy Heart, I’m dishing out some guitar geek classics!
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This week, we’re taking a look at fun ways you can escape reality for just a few hours while still staying motivated on your guitar journey.
My list of 10 most inspiring guitar feature films includes some comedies, dramas, animated features, and spoofs! Be sure to catch the whole list to find a good movie to watch this week!
In addition to the 10 most inspiring guitar feature films, you’ll hear about Robert, a fellow TAC Family member who has had quite the guitar journey.
Last but not least, I want to thank you…yes, you! Whitney and I received so many warm wishes when Emerson was born, and I want to thank you! Be sure to watch the full episode to see some of the highlights!
As always, you can catch Acoustic Tuesday at 10 am every Tuesday in these four places:
And it is easier to use things that pop into your head rather than wade through the search engine results!
I would include “Once,” a low-budget Irish movie about a Dublin busker who meets his muse in the form of a young Czech woman selling magazines in the street. Very low-budget but likeable.
Across the Universe inspires me with its Beatles Theme. It captures a little bit of the magic of the time.
inside Llewyn Davis!
if you haven’t seen it yet, it’s mandatory!
I enjoyed your top 10 movie list…there a a few I hadn’t seen (not being a huge movie buff). While not a ‘guitar centric’ movie “Back to the Future” certainly has one of the most iconic guitar scenes in all of moviedom. I also enjoyed the rest of episode 157. Robert J’s story is a great motivator. And many congratulations on the arrival of Emerson Townes.
This is definitely one that popped into my head too! The scene of Michael J. Fox sliding across the floor, playing hard rock, and everyone around him being in shock at the music he was playing was one of the highlights of the film. It was right down my alley as the entire film was all good, clean fun too.
Hey Tony
My favorite guitar movie is “Woodstock” and the artist to watch is: Richie Havens. What a guitar player he was. combining folk and blues. Also fun to watch his style – not particularly taught.
Thanks for all you do. I am slowly learning.
Regards,
Ed
Loved the TAC episode, Tony – my go- to comfort movie about guitar playing is
Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave (1980)
Not Rated | not at all suitable for children
1h 26min | Drama, Music | released 31 December 1980 (Canada)
Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave
On the final night of his life, Dec. 31, 1952, hard-living country music legend Hank Williams Sr. imagines himself giving a New Year’s Eve performance in a small bar, with his comments to the audience reflecting upon his life. Lots of big hits in fully authentic performance.
Director: David Acomba
Writer: Maynard Collins (screenplay by)
Stars: Sneezy Waters, Dixie Seatle, Sean McCann
Tony, my favorite guitar centric, musical film is “Still Crazy” released in 1998! Highly recommended.
Tony great show. Your list of movies is very good and there is at least one that I’ve yet to see.
However, there are a few more:
1. Hard Day’s Night
2. Help
3. Yesterday (Beatles theme going here)
4. Woodstock
5. Eric Clapton; Life in Twelve Bars
6. The Commitments
7. Rock Star (yeah, I know)
8. Wayne’s World
Keep up the good work, love watching Acoustic Tuesday! GGU!
What about O Brother, Where Art Thou? My parents were big country and blue grass fans. Of course I was rebellious and only listened to Rock n Roll. This movie brought me back to my musical roots and reminds me of my youth. Great movie!
Movie title – “King Creole”, 1958 (YES, I really am THAT OLD!) Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, Walter Matthau, Dolores Hart, Dean Jagger, Vic Morrow. Some of the soundtrack recordings:
Original release
Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Recording date Length
1. “King Creole” Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller January 23, 1958 2:16
2. “As Long as I Have You” Fred Wise and Ben Weisman January 16, 1958 1:50
3. “Hard Headed Woman” Claude Demetrius January 15, 1958 1:53
4. “Trouble” Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller January 15, 1958 2:16
5. “Dixieland Rock” Aaron Schroeder and Rachel Frank January 16, 1958 1:46
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Recording date Length
1. “Don’t Ask Me Why” Fred Wise and Ben Weisman January 16, 1958 2:06
2. “Lover Doll” Sid Wayne and Abner Silver January 16, 1958 2:09
3. “Crawfish” (duet with Kitty White) Fred Wise and Ben Weisman January 15, 1958 1:48
4. “Young Dreams” Aaron Schroeder and Martin Kalmanoff January 23, 1958 2:23
5. “Steadfast, Loyal and True” Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller February 11, 1958 1:15
6. “New Orleans”
It Might Get Loud-Jimmy Page, Edge, and Jack White talk guitars and their musical journeys. Did I mention it has Jimmy Page????? A must watch.
I would definitely include the Woody Allen film “ Sweet and Lowdown” a bittersweet film about a jazz guitarist with an adoration of Django Reinhardt
Hey Tony, My favorite guitar movie without competition it is definitely The Blues Brothers. I watched this movie several times because of Ray Charles ………..
Interesting list. Thanks for sharing with us—-
August Rush & “ once” are family favorites Around our house as well as “walk the line” Thanks for acoustic Tuesday!
Pure Country starring George Stait a must see shows how the glamor & glitz dont get , its all about the music
I recommend Sweet and Low Down (Woody Allen) movie on the great Emmet Ray jazz guitarist- 1930’s. Stars Sean Penn.
Not for kids. Fantastic guitar playing and good acting!
Have you seen “Backbeat”? It’s a 1994 movie about the Beatles during their days in Hamberg, Germany, way back before they ever recorded a record. This was when the Beatles earned their stripes as a first class rock and roll guitar band, playing in cheap night clubs and working long hours. It’s a drama and not suitable for kids, but it features some good music and tells the story of how hard work and persistence pays off. I think you’ll love it!
what about “August Rush ” ??? Excellent !!!
Oh, yes! Good catch. I fell in love with that Gibson custom made Jumbo.
Great list. I agree with you that “A Mighty Wind” Is at the top of my list. Second place is a tie between “Crazy Heart” and “Spinal Tap. I liked “A Mighty Wind” and “Crazy Heart” because of the music. I like “Spinal Tap” because of the sarcasm.
You have to see this one… AUGUST RUSH
Twelve years ago, on a moonlit rooftop above Washington Square, Lyla Novacek (Keri Russell), a sheltered young cellist, and Louis Connelly (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a charismatic Irish singer-songwriter, were drawn together by a street musician’s rendition of ”Moondance” and fell in love. After the most romantic night of her life, Lyla promised to meet Louis again but, despite her protests, her father rushed her to her next concert–leaving Louis to believe that she didn’t care. Disheartened, he found it impossible to continue playing and eventually abandoned his music while Lyla, her own hopes for love lost, was led to believe months later that she had also lost their unborn child in a car accident. Their orphaned son (Freddie Highmore) uses his musical talent as a clue to find his birth parents.
Kaki King plays the guitar parts and I was lucky enough to see her in concert last year, what a treat!
Not acoustic, but… the film Road House (199) includes some incredible playing by the late blues legend, Jeff Healy.
o brother where art thou?
I think you’d enjoy an old film from around 1983 or 84 called Tender Mercies, starring Robert Duvall. He played an aging country music star asked to make a comeback. Great film, great performances, great soundtrack; this film fueled my love for country music.
I enjoyed your list and I’ve seen many of the movies. I’ve made a note to see the others. One that I would add is the Buddy Holly Story. It gives us a little insight on the beginnings of rock in the 50’s and what a talent Buddy Holly really was and by the way, Gary Busey does an incredible job while actually singing.
The rutles: all you need is cash.
You named “school of Rock” my favorite. Wondering what brand of guitar you are holding, it quite nice.
Hail, hail, rock and roll. Tender Mercies. The Last Waltz.
Two Classic Musical Movies I Enjoyed Are,
“That Thing You Do” & “Eddie and The Cruisers”.
Thanks Tony. Really enjoyed this episode! Choice number one really motivated me to learn to play!
Number 1!!! “Standing In The Shadows of Motown” – 110 min (2002) Artisan – DVD
2. “The Wrecking Crew!” – 102 min (2015) Magnolia Home Entertainment – BlueRay
3. “Muscle Shoals” – 111 min (2013) Magnolia Home Entertainment – BlueRay
“Nashville Rebel” with Waylon Jennings
I was in the 4th grade and my best friend’s dad was a player and his sister brought her husband home and he had a Telecaster. They played in the living room, acoustic and Tele, and at about the same time, this movie came out. The husband played “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line”. I was blown away and those two things were an awakening for me.
I later saw Waylon in ‘76 and he couldn’t get through a song, he was so wasted. After idolizing him and talking two of my friends into going, I was devastated.
I later found this movie again and watched it with my wife and daughter Lindy.
I shed a tear just like I did watching him struggle that night in ‘76.
August Rush ’cause Robin Williams. Feel good ending.
Hi Tony, I love the exacting and meticulous way you play. I wanted to mention a guitar geek movie that made me pick up a guitar again after a 30-year hideous. I believe I was 62 at the time that I first saw this film. I am now 70. I never miss your Tuesday show. It keeps my guitar jones going. The movie “Once” has to be a guitar geeks dream!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4uFFNl6FQ4
“Guitar-centric” in the movie “Desperado” (1995) focused more on the guitar case as portable arsenal than the guitar itself, but it still had a sweet scene of Antonio Banderas giving a quick street lesson to a young potential mariachi and, of course, also featured Los Lobos’ brilliant performance of “Cancion Del Mariachi” (“Morena De Mi Corazon”), apparently with Banderas actually singing lead. It’s in the first 15 minutes of the movie, so I frequently tune in just to catch it whenever the movie is scheduled to be shown.