Search - The Beatniks / Wild Guitar [Slim Case] on DVD

More rock-n-roll truth than fiction!

Kid Klash | Portland OR | 11/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I found this double feature DVD at a Dollar Store today, and bought it just for the fun of it... for 50 cents!



Arch Hall Jr.'s film "Wild Guitar" is a true cult classic, and is especially endearing to anyone that has played, recorded or has been around the music business.



Filmed in 1962 on (what I'm guessing was) a shoestring budget (and produced by Arch's dad), it's filled with every "show business is bad" and "everyone in the music business is crooked" cliche in the book... but sadly, the cliches are all true.



The acting isn't terrible, and actually, the characters are fairly likeable (or dislikeable, depending on who is doing what for or to whom at the moment).



The music is typical early 60's fare, but the film is set in Los Angeles, and it's a lot of fun to see what all the old landmarks looked like back then.



It's a fairly well paced film, with some great villains (watch for "Steak", Bud Eagle's gangster "bodyguard", who also happens to be the film's director!), and there are plenty of "pretty girls", pompador haircuts, pegged jeans, Danelectro and Fender guitars, and more retro stuff than you can shake a stick at. Definately a LOT of fun for very little money. The transfer quality of this incredibly low cost DVD isn't too bad either.



Well, that's about all the B grade 60's rock cult classics I can handle for one night... I'll check out "The Beatniks" tomorrow night! :)"