Wild Guitar (1962) Review

Title: Wild Guitar
Year: 1962
Director: Ray Steckler
Country: US
Language: English

I've reviewed every Elvis Presley feature film on this site; from his debut Love Me Tender (1956) to his final Change of Habit (1969). I've also seen The Beatles A Hard Day's Night and Yellow Submarine. Pink Floyd's The Wall, Phantom of the Paradise and Nicholas Ray's Rebel Without a Cause among others. I thought I saw every cool rock n' roll film there is, but I obviously overlooked the strange Wild Guitar (1962).

A young Budd Eagle (Arch Hall Jr.) is given a shot at the big time by the unscrupulous owner of a small record company (Arch Hall Sr.) 

Crafting a story that feels very much like Elvis' own real-life story of ethics vs. showbiz, we see the highs and lows of stardom through the eyes of the all american goodey two shoes Budd Eagle. The character's crisis never feels too overwhelming, since the point of the film is not to drag its audience through dramatic tumoil, but to let them experience pure joy. 

Wild Guitar, though clearly sticking to an established Hollywood formula in regards to story, is a gas. It's a lighthearted tale about a boy, his babes and his music. The singing, while not exactly Sinatra, is upbeat. The shots, cinematography and editing are very unique. The director's film inexperience (he's not exactly known for very much) likely helped in creating a unique feel to the picture. 

I had fun with Wild Guitar. It pulled me out of a slump and made me realize how imaginative & full of potential cinema really is. It deserves far more than a 3/10 on IMDB. This picture is a bonified cult classic.