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

Referenced in The Book of Eli (2010)

User Reviews

more than just a 'behind the scenes' documentary

Despite the public image fed by his songs, and despite offenses that led him in jail for one night stands Johnny cash was never convicted and never did time in prison. He did know understand however very well the conditions of imprisonment of detainees and he understood their feelings. Having seen a 1951 film dedicated to the Folsom Prison, one of his first songs was 'Folsom Prison Blues', but it was only more than one decade later - in 1958 - that he did perform in the prison in a recorded concert that gives the title of this film.

Much of the film includes biographical information about Cash, and about the penitentiary system in America that Cash made great efforts to humanize and reform. Cash believed that any human being can be redeemed, even the worst criminals who committed horrific crimes, and he turned his conviction in deeds, not only by giving concerts in jails, but also by becoming personally involved in activities to reform the system, and befriending and personally helping - with mixed success - a number of prisoners. There are more interviews with the people who were helped by Johnny Cash or were related to the prison system than musical information, and some music fans who were expecting a pure musical film may get disappointed. I actually think that this is the interesting part of the film, and there is enough good music left as well I especially liked the two animated clips on original music. The only missing stuff in my opinion is the lack of filmed sequences from the concert itself, but maybe there is none left. There is enough biographic information though to compensate this.