Roy Orbison goes undercover in San Francisco with a guitar that's packing more than just tunes.
THE FASTEST GUITAR ALIVE
America's hottest singing star on the screen at last!
Confederate super-spy Roy Orbison and his partner in crime Sammy Jackson travel to San Francisco near the end of the Civil War, masquerading, respectively, as a singer/guitar instructor and a magic-elixir vendor. Once there, Orbison dons a fake wig, beard, and mustache and steals Union gold to bring back to the South, aided by a guitar that doubles as a gun.
Quick Answer
The Fastest Guitar Alive is a 1967 American comedy western directed by Michael D. Moore about a Confederate spy who uses a gun-toting guitar to steal Union gold in San Francisco.
Programmer's Pick
Roy Orbison trading his mic for a gun-slinging guitar is the kind of genre mash-up you never knew you needed. Where else will you find a Confederate spy serenading and scheming his way through San Francisco with a six-string secret weapon? Only here.
— SassyFlix Programmer
Overview
Why This Matters
This 1967 musical comedy Western features Roy Orbison in his only acting role, performing seven original songs later released on an MGM album, and includes 'There Won't Be Many Coming Home,' which was later used in Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful Eight.
Cast & Crew
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Why Cult
Roy Orbison stars as a Confederate super-spy, combining espionage with musical flair in his only leading film role.
The protagonist’s guitar packs heat—literally—as it doubles as a firearm, setting up a series of inventive musical shootouts.
The action unfolds in San Francisco at the close of the Civil War, giving the film a unique setting for western hijinks and intrigue.
Song, dance, and a traveling medicine wagon bring a psychotronic flair and a hint of MGM musical to the classic western formula.
Scene Gallery
Questions from the Vault
When was The Fastest Guitar Alive released? +
The Fastest Guitar Alive was released in 1967.
Who directed The Fastest Guitar Alive? +
Michael D. Moore directed The Fastest Guitar Alive.
How long is The Fastest Guitar Alive? +
The Fastest Guitar Alive has a runtime of 87 minutes.
What genre is The Fastest Guitar Alive? +
The Fastest Guitar Alive is a comedy western.
Where can I watch The Fastest Guitar Alive? +
You can watch The Fastest Guitar Alive on SassyFlix.
How does Johnny hide his identity while infiltrating San Francisco? +
Johnny adopts the guise of a singer and guitar instructor, complete with a fake wig, beard, and mustache, to disguise himself during his mission.
