Nashville

Nashville (1975) is arguably the most highly acclaimed Altman film, in large part due to the fantastic sound throughout it.  This film is a perfect example of a large ensemble cast, which was an aspect of film Altman became very well known for.  In its time Nashville was widely labeled as the best portrayal of the United States of America in any film to date.  Altman’s masterful use of music as well as overlapping dialogue permeates the film and creates an incredible auditory experience from start to finish.

 

 

 

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Memo Altman prepared for a re-release of the film’s music on CD in 2000. 

Altman has always been known for making an accurate portrayal of the era in which his films take place.  In this essay for a new CD of Nashville’s music he speaks of this intention to be authentic.  Altman’s deliberate use of songs of all form and quality display the range of the music industry in Nashville in 1974.  By having the songs written by the performer whose point of view they are portraying, it helps increase the depth and believability of character, which is consistently a strong point in Altman films.

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Sheet music for “I’m Easy” by Keith Carradine, 1975.

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