Home‎ > ‎The Pantheon‎ > ‎Shows and Films‎ > ‎

Alice’s Restaurant

ALICE’S RESTAURANT

 
Alice’s Restaurant  is a 1969 American comedy film co-written and directed by Arthur Penn.  It is an adaptation of the 1967 folk song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, originally written and sung by Arlo Guthrie.  The film stars Guthrie as himself, with Pat Quinn as Alice Brock and James Broderick as Ray Brock.  Contrary to popular belief, while Arlo Guthrie wrote the lyrics and music for the narrative song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree”, he neither wrote nor co-wrote the screenplay for the film Alice’s Restaurant, which was instead co-written by Venable Herndon and Arthur Penn.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 
The article by Allmusic (by William Ruhlmann) on Arlo Guthrie opens with:  “Is it possible to be a one-hit wonder three times?”  The whole idea of course is nonsense.  Though not a Top 40 hit, Arlo is well known for his 18-minute monologue song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” in 1967; the story is based in fact, and he starred as well in the movie version of Alice’s Restaurant.   
 
(May 2012)
 
*       *       *
 
 
 
Arlo Guthrie starred as himself in a movie called Alice’s Restaurant (1969) that brought the song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” to life better than anyone could have expected. It was directed by Arthur Penn whose other films include Bonnie and Clyde and Little Big Man. Other cast members include Pat Quinn, James Broderick, and M. Emmet Walsh. Stockbridge police chief William Obanhein (“Officer Obie”) appears as himself, as does the blind judge, James Hannon. Pete Seeger and his bandmate in the Weavers, Lee Hays are also in the film. Alice Brock has a cameo in the movie; as the song says, the name of her restaurant was never “Alice’s Restaurant” – originally it was called The Back Room. 
 
(March 2016)