That Tennessee Beat
| That Tennessee Beat | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Brill |
| Screenplay by | Paul Schneider |
| Produced by | Richard Brill |
| Starring | Earl 'Snake' Richards Sharon DeBord Lightnin' Chance Maurice Dembsky Pete Drake Dolores Faith |
| Cinematography | Jack Steely |
| Edited by | Ace Herman Carl Pierson |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
That Tennessee Beat (also known as The Tennessee Beat [1]) is a 1966 American drama film directed by Richard Brill and written by Paul Schneider.[1] The film stars Earl 'Snake' Richards, Sharon DeBord, Lightnin' Chance, Maurice Dembsky, Pete Drake and Dolores Faith.
It was released on October 14, 1966, by 20th Century Fox.[2][3][1]
The film marked Robert L. Lippert's return to filmmaking after a brief break, and its working title was Country Music.[4]
Plot
Jim Birdsell, hoping to become a country-western star, steals money for a trip to Nashville. He is robbed on the way and is left penniless again. He is taken in by a brother/sister singing group who take him in, and help him fulfill his dream.
Cast
- Earl 'Snake' Richards as Jim Birdsell
- Sharon DeBord as Opal Nelson
- Lightnin' Chance as Sheriff
- Stoney Mountain Cloggers as themselves
- Maurice Dembsky as Doorman
- Pete Drake as himself
- Dolores Faith as Belle Scofield
- Rink Hardin as Wally Cooper
- Ernie Keller as announcer
- Ed Livingston as hoodlum
- Buddy Mize as hoodlum leader
- Minnie Pearl as Rev. Rose Conley
- Boots Randolph as himself
- Cecil Scaiffe as Dan Birdsell
- The Statler Brothers as themselves
- Sam Tarpley as ticket seller
- Merle Travis as Larry Scofield
Reception
Boxoffice wrote: "Minnie Pearl's role is a non-singing one and she handles her part of Reverend Rose, a lady minister of undetermined denomination, with sincerity and feeling. Travis, who authored such hits as "Sixteen Tons" and "Mountain Dew," wrote and sings to self-accompaniment the title tune as well, as a sentimental ballad, "I'm Sorry." It is Travis' guitar playing around which Paul Schneider threads the screenplay that bridges the appearances of the rural song and dance specialists."[5]
References
- ^ a b c "That Tennessee Beat". American Film Institute Catalog. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
- ^ That Tennessee Beat at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
- ^ Sandra Brennan (2015). "That-Tennessee-Beat – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^ Martin, B. (March 31, 1966). "'Impossible' script ready". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 155374450.
- ^ "That Tennessee Beat". Boxoffice. 89 (26): a11, a12. October 17, 1966. ProQuest 1705096215.
External links
- That Tennessee Beat at IMDb
- That Tennessee Beat at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
- That Tennessee Beat at the British Film Institute