tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post8718709457028220024..comments2023-10-18T09:22:29.986-05:00Comments on Shortarmguy's Crazy Emails: Dueling Banjos Scene from Deliverance --- The Story Behind the StoryTodd Swankhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00813691317586742405noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-82017457072073879762012-07-01T15:48:29.163-05:002012-07-01T15:48:29.163-05:00Thanks for clarifying the story! That had to be a...Thanks for clarifying the story! That had to be a fascinating movie to be part of making. Thanks for your insight!!<br /><br />Todd SwankTodd Swankhttp://www.toddswank.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-80336577707706188532012-06-30T12:37:46.600-05:002012-06-30T12:37:46.600-05:00Neither Billy Redden nor the boy behind him played...Neither Billy Redden nor the boy behind him played the banjo in the scene. The song was pre-recorded by Eric Weisberg on banjo and Steve Madel on gutar. Billy moved the fingers on his right hand to simulate plucking the banjo... the kind behind moved his left hand over the stings to give the illusion of fretting the chords...NEITHER WAS ACTUALLY PLAYING.<br />The scene was rehearsed and rehearsed and it took us several days to shoot it... anyone who believes this is just serendipity needs to check out the number of camera angles and the fact that everyone is in the wardrobe they wore in the movie...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-43502937471080461492011-12-30T21:27:21.292-06:002011-12-30T21:27:21.292-06:00Who cares, if it is good to you that is all that c...Who cares, if it is good to you that is all that counts, I liked the effects of the two players, thee rest do not belong in that flick. ron bRon berkannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-84755578563686007772011-06-10T00:11:41.879-05:002011-06-10T00:11:41.879-05:00Use in Deliverance
In Deliverance, a scene depict...Use in Deliverance<br /><br />In Deliverance, a scene depicts Billy Redden playing it opposite Ronny Cox, who joins him on guitar. Redden plays "Lonnie" — a mentally challenged inbred, but extremely gifted, banjo player. A body double actually played the banjo.[2] Two young musicians, Ron Brentano and Mike Russo, had originally been signed to play their adaptation for the movie, but instead it was performed by the others.[3]<br /><br />"Dueling Banjos" was arranged and performed for the movie by Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell and was included on the soundtrack album.[4] When he was not acknowledged as the composer by the filmmakers Smith sued and eventually won, receiving songwriting credit as well as royalties.<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_BanjosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-11909261788995198442011-05-12T06:54:00.880-05:002011-05-12T06:54:00.880-05:00Hi Todd,
In regard to the dueling banjos clip, I ...Hi Todd,<br /><br />In regard to the dueling banjos clip, I agree with you that it is a very effective scene. The kid playing the banjo player was an actor named Billy Redden. He was in make up to make his appearance more striking. He has no mental disabilities and was not playing the banjo himself. According to a web site I read, a professional player sat behind him and had his right arm forward and did the picking while Billy Redden's left hand moved over the chords. The music used on the soundtrack was provided by set musicians. The part about, the scene not being part of the script and being accidentally captured by the camera man on film and the family escaping poverty by being well paid, is pure fiction. But, as my father used to say, "never let the truth stand in the way of a good story!"<br /><br />I continue to enjoy your web site. Sometimes it (almost) makes me miss the Midwest, then I remember the weather!<br /><br />Best Regards,<br /><br />DanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-45138108597100692542011-05-09T21:50:15.136-05:002011-05-09T21:50:15.136-05:00Kids name was Billy Redden
http://en.wikipedia.or...Kids name was Billy Redden<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_ReddenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-36395991653285247582011-05-08T17:50:34.736-05:002011-05-08T17:50:34.736-05:00Nice story but completely untrue. Myths spread lik...Nice story but completely untrue. Myths spread like wildfire in the internet age.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8575134200496969088.post-85072495146944257652011-05-07T15:09:51.361-05:002011-05-07T15:09:51.361-05:00sorry to burst your bubble, but it was one of the ...sorry to burst your bubble, but it was one of the crew playing the banjo. His arms come out from behind him. look at 2:07, the hands are different, the forearms bigger, and you can see where the next persons arms startAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com