''That Tennessee Beat'' is a 1966 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by Richard Brill and written by Paul Schneider. The film stars Earl 'Snake' Richards, Sharon DeBord, Lightnin' Chance, Maurice Dembsky,

Pete Drake Roddis Franklin "Pete" Drake (October 8, 1932 – July 29, 1988), was a Nashville-based American record producer and pedal steel guitar player. One of the most sought-after backup musicians of the 1960s, Drake played on such hits as Lynn Anderson' ...

and

Dolores Faith Dolores Faith Hedges (July 15, 1941 – February 15, 1990), better known as Dolores Faith, was an American actress. She is best remembered as the mute girl Zetha in the 1961 science fiction film '' The Phantom Planet''. Her brief career cam ...

. The film was released on October 14, 1966, by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

. The film marked Robert L. Lippert's return to filmmaking after a brief break. It was called ''Country Music''.

Plot

Jim Birdsell, hoping to become a country-western star, steals money for a trip to Nashville. He is robbed on the way and is left penniless again. He is taken in by a brother/sister singing group who take him in, and help him fulfill his dream.

Cast

* Earl 'Snake' Richards as Jim Birdsell *Sharon DeBord as Opal Nelson * Lightnin' Chance as Sheriff *Stoney Mountain Cloggers as Themselves *Maurice Dembsky as Doorman *

as Himself *

as Belle Scofield *Rink Hardin as Wally Cooper *Ernie Keller as Announcer *Ed Livingston as Hoodlum *Buddy Mize as Hoodlum Leader *

Minnie Pearl Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon (October 25, 1912 – March 4, 1996), known professionally as her stage character Minnie Pearl, was an American comedian who appeared at the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years (1940–1991) and on the television ...

as Rev. Rose Conley *

Boots Randolph Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III (June 3, 1927 – July 3, 2007) was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone hit "Yakety Sax" (which became Benny Hill's signature tune). Randolph was a major part of the "Nashville sound" for most o ...

as Himself *Cecil Scaiffe as Dan Birdsell *

The Statler Brothers The Statler Brothers (sometimes simply referred to as The Statlers) were an American country music, gospel, and vocal group. The quartet was formed in 1955 performing locally, and from 1964 to 1972, they sang as opening act and backup singers fo ...

as Themselves *Sam Tarpley as Ticket Seller * Merle Travis as Larry Scofield

References

External links

* *
''That Tennessee Beat''
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

1966 films American drama films 1966 drama films 20th Century Fox films 1960s English-language films 1960s American films {{1960s-drama-film-stub