A real classic.

In fact, the Library of Congress purchased this from me.

And on my death, it goes to the library.

Why not just because of the incredible music and the incredible characters, but because of the storytelling and the speech, which is now classic.

My name is David Hoffman filmmaker, and I want to tell you a bit about this film before you see it, because I think it's important.

Okay, so I'm headed down to North Carolina.

1965 £49 camera, £26 audio record a big microphone and boom, and I'm going to make this film basket Lamar once for he's 82 years old, and he had an article in Time magazine, which I saw, which said that he was running this festival down in Asheville, North Carolina, for mountain music dancers, singers, um, storytellers.

It sounded great.

So I wrote him and I said, Look, I'm a documentary filmmaker.

I'd actually never made a film like this.

I think to come and spend time with you and he said.

Sure, Dave, come on down.

You ever been to North Carolina?

He said in the letter.

I said I never been anywhere, really, But the Northeast where I come from.

And he also said he was searching for people for his music festival.

Very important, because I said, Well, I'll hit the road with you, sit in the back of the car, take me around and show me And what I saw was unbelievable.

Basket and his wife, Frieda, driving the car on the road, just talking, seeing people and the people they were seeing, where big talent I could not believe.

Let me just tell you one more thing before you see it.

And that is in the very first scene you're going to see over Ramsey, this incredible banjo picker, and he tells the story.

And while he's telling a story, he's hunting ground hog and shooting them.

And so it's my first day and I'm with Aubrey and we're having a great time.

And he is singing gorgeous music takes me up on the top of this mountain, and I'm thirsty, says he has some water and he hands me this bottle and the bottle looks like water is perfectly clear and I drink it and it knocks me on my behind 200 proof moonshine.

Perfectly clear, so clear and so beautiful that it actually improved my shooter Law.

It was a bit wiggly, as you'll see after you've seen the movie, which hopefully you stay to the end.

Listen to what I've got to say, because I'm going to tell you what happened with me and Aubrey and with me in this film after it ran on TV at that time.

Big hit, Blue grass roots basketball Um, Islands for 1965 Madison County, North Carolina.

Enjoy it.

From May 15th 2 June 10th 1965 Basket Lansford and his wife guided us through the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains to visit their friends and neighbors.

Good to see you in for seeing some good country because I'm going to do it A lot of this territory where our friends live where they know the old balance and know about our mountain dance.

I think you're going to enjoy this.

I gave over Ramsey his first banjo.

You played the guitar and played it well, I said over, You've got a clean boys, and it's fine.

I said you boys would fit the banjo.

Well, and I gave him the bandit.

He didn't have to have a band.

Jeez, able to buy one.

But I had one.

And I want him to learn that handed way.

Wait.

Way comes.

I'll sneak around a grand here in the consulate, baby, all over.

He's behind the bush.

Going without Wakely.

Move, if you will.

You roll in a minute.

If I didn't shoot your brains out.

All right, Mr Budget, do you ain't gonna get him out?

You two dams out to you over there.

Wait!

Uh oh.

They, uh, the fellow that I first heard saying that he didn't sing it, he chan ity.

He was really old.

And in the place of saying ground hog he said, Whistle, pig.

And he just handed you just don't get you know.

And at the end, he'd say Ground, Hogue, Oso your way around.

Now we'll go to the home of Bill Makary in Bunkum County.

Who's a man almost my age.

I'm 83 but they are about 76.

Something like that.

And he could do that just like a young man Well, it goes way.

Okay.

Now, that type of dancing, huh?

Of course not.

Done as, uh, possibly skillful as he's done that.

But the dancing knocking out the team One with feet going, all the things, the square dance mix, our mountain traditional dancing very attractive to stand for that.

Wait.

You started the festival with 39 years ago.

You got that little Vanja that he started that festival.

Boy, that's good.

I I used to be a little bit of him now.

Well, I don't know.

Now, that little badge and it's good he's played that back When the year that belong to the day would remember he and his brother and Melvin Wait, All that's pretty fine.

I like it.

No, I got one.

And I bought another for a fellow for accommodation the other day.

Didn't need, but I want to get her a better one.

Do you want, uh, would you say like I been affected, but I want I don't give you too for one.

I give you to regard for that.

I don't know.

You know what I promised it.

Give it to her.

I think you don't.

Well, no.

I want to get a little one on a good one at that.

Really down.

And I bought that one.

They cross me a good deal.

I, uh I'll do that.

I meant I bought it.

No, ended.

I'm going to try to get irritable.

Government get better.

Soothe.

Thank you, Mr Holmes, But I didn't know what kind of music that was gonna house me.

Wait.

No way.

People get killed from whiskey.

The government's cause director does it because they drive from to now.

You take you take around here, fella.

If a man had arrived to use copper still and making safe say, three gallons not making it back Jesse James.

He served as sheriff here in Madison County during the, uh, white liquor wide Latin and making back in 19 twenties.

I sure, from Madison town, back in the Prohibition era, say, 19 and 22 22.

While a sheriff's job is a very difficult job in any count, not only matters from County, but ever other count now tell you the reason why that dude is of that job.

Uh, conflict.

We're the salt of launch of people.

And in 19 and point here I was share for that counter they hadn't had any enforcement of the Prohibition law up to that time has been very lax.

People will say getting, uh, insistent that they have some enforcement of the Prohibition law.

And they elected me more or less home, eh?

Dry picture.

I was a peculiarity about my people and all the people that I've ever ever, Where I've ever been almost about test prohibition business, they wet.

I mean, the vote dry and drink with, uh, Margaret Winters.

Play is the dough summer and they most traditional mountain style left right in here and go this old somewhere.

Go.

This overruled it.

I believe I still we want to go.

There's one that a very old lady that plays in a fun place to go every year.

Aunt Dora Harman.

She's damn, She's from Dan Logan.

Where's Virginia?

And she was the midwife for Devil Anse Hatfield babies.

And she taught me a song called The Prodigal Son.

And I've always wondered if the prodigal son was him 10 or if it was a frolic too.

She said it was a good kid, but I want you to hear it.

It doesn't much like him.

Teoh.

Right, mister?

You know what, though?

Mostly if we do anything together here cos with blackjack Day became a ride and I sang so sweet n gaily main greenwood around him Bring to charm the heart of Eladio.

How are you, my friend?

Little Miss?

How are you, my honey?

I don't want on the body.

16.

Next Sunday I'll be 16 Next day I forsake my house and land in my forsake for safety on you read Lord, I'm saying like Jack Davey, and stay with tax Day.

Is that why you saying it, Mr?

Not exactly.

What did you call it?

The last thing you want.

Strong.

I know of us.

I know.

It's last night I stayed on the cold, cold ground beside blackjack.

Davey Sleep denied in a warm that bit between my first baby.

Well, baby, of course.

Both.

What care I for months?

I've heard it that way too.

That's one of the most the interesting ones.

I think that we know.

My first recollection on it was from this meeting in the church when they were just singing it on a competent And of course, I guess people have been saying that all through the mountains As long as they've been here, probably No, you won't sit.

And I'm going to take this high chair and let me have a low.

No, no, you're right.

One about Moses, you know, always like Moses.

When I heard about your factory a man with words, but the one that's about to sit down on the old little bird hit and now sing it, sing it.

And I know you put out she was very well.

But I do want to get all those words in that camp.

You want the words Thio zone?

All right, I'm banned for Well, I will You sing a little bit Lied down my down loving and re jeez on spin the night with me You bitch will be of this office u e I can't lie down and I won't like on been the night with better Has he been down from his, uh, give her kisses?

Three.

She took her knife in her right hand on our movie.

She took him by his golden hearses Do by his on Threw him in the stone.

Well, so Okay.

Are you a body?

No.

Good.

I make it I just thought maybe my lead a little rest anyway, you know?

Yeah.

These gentlemen here.

You Really?

Yes.

You know, General, have better get lost, huh?

What a lot money do you have full Dante.

Cut me down them?

Yeah.

Did you get him to cut it down?

Yeah, they got They got fired.

Yeah, they cut it down, They cut it down.

Yeah, I'm paying.

We don't on the body because I know that playing my come and stop here in a little bit.

Those towers will.

That's with it Down in it.

Yeah.

I wouldn't get wood green resting.

Good drain breast anyway, Leo.

All right.

I don't delay.

You have have to help me say yeah, way.

I don't delay.

So I'll talk to you a little bit about the seven seas.

Don't want wheat farmers in this country up against.

Yes, sir.

Come on.

No way.

Give a little of a turkey, Cole.

I guess I'm doing that.

That's pretty good.

That's like wild.

You're You're saying I saw what he saw saying waas, uh, when I was a rake and a Rambler boy, don't you think that everything Yeah, yeah, thing.

That's, uh that's the old time swing to mount the oh, boy rumbles Oh, and both my way has been my my your own a play and win on on your does joy Your drink for George Forces The Dover Rumbling Bowl.

I killed a big fire.

Kevin Ross.

Rock that.

Get that.

Now, How do you do it?

I shot her here three times and sold back and couldn't get up.

You're selling some seed that it didn't have any other college.

They're gonna love that bond.

I bought his hands.

How they got there.

How big a bear?

£412.

Well, I'll tell you, especially Madison County.

Back in the old days, they want too much work, a lot of just kind of gang up together and made a lot of mountain music.

You know, they have these square dancers at night, have a good time, maybe wanted to get killed.

And then next week they have nothing.

Maybe wouldn't but one good deal you think we owe.