High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music (1994)

Director:

Rachel Liebling

Writer:

Rachel Liebling

Stars:

Lester Flatt, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe

Cast

Credited cast:
Lester Flatt	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jimmy Martin	...	Himself
Bill Monroe	...	Himself
Bobby Osborne	...	Himself
Sonny Osborne	...	Himself
Don Reno	...	Himself (archive footage)
Earl Scruggs	...	Himself
Ralph Stanley	...	Himself
Mac Wiseman	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

narration | bluegrass | bluegrass music

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

High Lonesome

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

User Reviews

A film to love even if you're not into bluegrass

Rachel Liebling, a student of Ken Burns, has created a classic of Americana. The editing and cinematic styling are obviously a Burns spin off but an old nitrated photo of a small country church and great locomotive imagery bring her into new documentary dimensions. The music is perfectly synced with its images as in Bill Monroe's seamless walk from concert stage to his old front porch. Ralph Stanley singing "Man of Constant Sorrow". A young Alison Krause at about the time she won the national fiddling contest. This is not a complete compendium, a chronological survey, or a definitive look at Bill Monroe or any of the individual artists but an impassioned portrait of a true American musical art form. I recommend it highly, 10 out of 10.