brooklynjm

Came across this while exploring the elegies about the recent passing of Nanci Griffith. American Music Shop was a series of of 1-hr specials, each episode with different host and featured various singer/songwriters.

Music was variously country / folk / traditional - minimal Nashville glitz.

I came across this one exploring the outpouriug of salutes, elegies etc on the passing of the magnificent Nanci Griffith (August '21) She hosted Townes Van Zandt (3 wonderful songs), Janis Ian, Jerry Jeff Walker, Frank Christian

These episodes are not easy to find - but well worth the effort!

Rather brittle stuff, with Crawford and Montgomery listlessly sparring, despite all the MGM gloss - but EMO shines. Her opening appearance is priceless, and every time she appears, she breathes life into the lumbering plot. Fascinating to watch how she steals scenes while staying part of the ensemble!

Good script and direction, some wonderful performances (esp Perkins and Cooper) -- but the syrupy Tiomkin score, esp the theme tune, are used incessantly to hammer home every plot point. (A sin John Williams is often guilty of!) One wonder why producers can't trust fine performances, a literate script and excellent photograph to carry a film. Too often syrup is poured over fine work and warps the final product ... another example, at random - "Out of Africa."