Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (2008)

Cash performs a concert for the inmates of California's Folsom Prison, and the show was recorded for a live album.

Director:

Bestor Cram

Writers:

Michael Streissguth, Michael Streissguth (book)

Stars:

Gene Beley, Jim Brown, June Carter Cash

Cast

Credited cast:
Gene Beley	...	Himself
Jim Brown	...	Himself
June Carter Cash	...	Herself (archive footage)
John Carter Cash	...	Himself
Johnny Cash	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rosanne Cash	...	Herself
Millard Dedmon	...	Himself
Marshall Grant	...	Himself
Earl Green	...	Himself
Merle Haggard	...	Himself
W.S. Holland	...	Himself
John D. Loudermilk	...	Himself
Jim Marshall	...	Himself
Lou Robin	...	Himself
Bruce Sherley	...	Himself

Storyline

By 1968, Cash was still a star, but he was a man with sometime to prove as he sought to rise from a career slump brought on by a battle with drugs that took a toll on his body and spirit. That year, Cash performed a concert for the inmates of California's Folsom Prison, and the show was recorded for a live album. Cash delivered one of the greatest performances of his life that day, stark and heartfelt and full of empathy for the broken souls listening to his music, and the album that resulted was a surprise hit, reestablishing Cash as one of country music's most powerful and respected artists.

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Taglines:

Out of Darkness, Comes Light

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Genres:

Documentary

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnny Cash ja Folsom Prison

Box Office

Budget:

$717,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Northern Light Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (TV)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Features Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951)

User Reviews

Great album, limited story

I like the music of Johnny Cash, but I can't help but feel that since his death, there's been something of a tendency to over-lionise him. The story of his album recorded at Folsom prison, told in this documentary, is a case in point. Cash had started playing in prisons - he clearly sympathised with those behind bars - on one occasion he recorded his show - and that's really the whole story. It nay have been a great performance, but it's still hard to see what the narrative is really supposed to be, and this documentary doesn't help by being loaded up with talking heads who assert that (but don't illustrate how) Cash was a great but troubled man. The story of a prisoner he tried to help is a better (though more tragic) story, but feels like a side-track in the overall film. Best thing is to sit back and enjoy the music; but don't expect too much insight.