Classic American Folk Music Films

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Classic American Folk Music Films

The history of folk music is brought to life on this enjoyable journey through the beginnings of bluegrass, folk, and country music featuring the legendary folk artist Peter Seeger. Topics Include: Folk Music History, Folklife, Folksongs, Appalachian Music, Traditional Music Table Of Contents: (1) To Hear Your Banjo Play (1947) – Peter Seeger narrates this great film about American folk music. Lots of banjo playing, singing, and more, with performances by Seeger himself – 16 Minutes (2) Southern Highlanders (1947) – Great folk singing highlights this film about the history of the people of the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee – 16 Minutes (3) Personal Hygiene (1950) – A classic army propaganda film full of old folk songs. This film is interesting in its own right as a social time piece on American life – 32 Minutes

Included Films:

Personal Hygiene

Produced: 1950

Length: 31 Minutes

Dont be fooled by the bland title Personal Hygiene, this is one of the wackiest old films ever made: the topic of personal hygiene is transformed into a musical production! Produced by the United States Army, this films main character is Homer, a GI who doesnt wash often enough and begins to offend his fellow barrack mates with his smell. In an effort to get him to change his hillbilly ways, they change the lyrics of old folk songs and serenade Homer with such ditties as Wash Your Socks, What Are You Going to Do With a Dirty Soldier? and Come a fly-yi-yippee-i-ay, a song about attracting disease-carrying flies. The Army used this film as a way to encourage cleanliness among their GIs so that the men could stay healthy and comfortable.

To Hear Your Banjo Play

Produced: 1947

Length: 16 Minutes

Peter Seeger narrates this great film about American folk music. Lots of banjo playing, singing, and more, with performances by Woody Guthrie, Alan Lomax and Seeger himself.

Southern Highlanders

Produced: 1947

Length: 15 Minutes

Southern Highlanders documents the traditions, folk song, work, and environment of the Appalachian mountain people living in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. An educational video that illuminates all aspects of early Appalachian life, this film also contains great shots of the Smoky Mountains. The history of this poor but hard working people is shown here, with footage of women doing laundry and men farming the land. Some of the best moments come when mountain people are participating in traditional folk music, singing and dancing. Appalachian people created some of the best American folk music. Scenes of housework and farming are made even more interesting by the fact that every backdrop is the beautiful tableau of the Smoky Mountains, rich in color, but its tinged by the sadness of poverty. Chock full of Appalachian mountain facts, Southern Highlanders is a party of Tennessee and North Carolina history.