That Tennessee Beat

That Tennessee Beat
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Richard Brill
Screenplay by	Paul Schneider
Produced by	Richard Brill
Starring	Earl 'Snake' Richards Sharon DeBord Lightnin' Chance Maurice Dembsky Pete Drake Dolores Faith
Cinematography	Jack Steely
Edited by	Ace Herman Carl Pierson
Production company	Lippert Pictures
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	October 14, 1966 (1966-10-14)
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

That Tennessee Beat (also known as The Tennessee Beat ^[1] ) is a 1966 American drama film directed by Richard Brill and written by Paul Schneider. ^[1] The film stars Earl 'Snake' Richards, Sharon DeBord, Lightnin' Chance, Maurice Dembsky, Pete Drake and Dolores Faith.

It was released on October 14, 1966, by 20th Century Fox. ^{[2] [3] [1]}

The film marked Robert L. Lippert's return to filmmaking after a brief break, and its working title was Country Music. ^[4]

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
• Pete Drake as himself
• Dolores Faith as Belle Scofield
• Rink Hardin as Wally Cooper
• Ernie Keller as announcer
• Ed Livingston as hoodlum
• Buddy Mize as hoodlum leader
• Minnie Pearl as Rev. Rose Conley
• Boots Randolph as himself
• Cecil Scaiffe as Dan Birdsell
• The Statler Brothers as themselves
• Sam Tarpley as ticket seller
• Merle Travis as Larry Scofield

Reception

Boxoffice wrote: "Minnie Pearl's role is a non-singing one and she handles her part of Reverend Rose, a lady minister of undetermined denomination, with sincerity and feeling. Travis, who authored such hits as "Sixteen Tons" and "Mountain Dew," wrote and sings to self-accompaniment the title tune as well, as a sentimental ballad, "I'm Sorry." It is Travis' guitar playing around which Paul Schneider threads the screenplay that bridges the appearances of the rural song and dance specialists." ^[5]

References

1. "That Tennessee Beat". American Film Institute Catalog. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
2. That Tennessee Beat at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
3. Sandra Brennan (2015). "That-Tennessee-Beat – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. Archived from the original on 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
4. Martin, B. (Mar 31, 1966). "'Impossible' script ready". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest   155374450.
5. "That Tennessee Beat". Boxoffice . 89 (26): a11, a12. 17 October 1966. ProQuest   1705096215.

External links

• That Tennessee Beat at IMDb
• That Tennessee Beat at the TCM Movie Database (archived version)
• That Tennessee Beat at the British Film Institute ^{[ better source needed ]}