A film shot over during a two-night performance by Neil Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.A film shot over during a two-night performance by Neil Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.A film shot over during a two-night performance by Neil Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.
- Awards
- 1 win & 2 nominations
- Self
- (as Karl Himmel)
- Self
- (as Gary Pigg)
- Themselves
- (as Fisk University Jubilee Singers)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaGrant Boatwright plays Neil's 1953 Les Paul during "No Wonder". This is the only song to feature an electric guitar in the film.
- GoofsSeveral times in the film and bonus material, Neil's Martin D-45 is referred as a "B-45" when subtitled.
- Quotes
Neil Young: I got a beautiful young girl. She's just turned 21. She's going back for her last year of college pretty soon. She'd probably be embarrassed if I said anything more about her. You know how that is. You can't say much. Anyway, there was a time I used to write these songs for girls my own age. I got a few left in me. So, this is what you might call a, kind of a 'empty nester' song. It's a new genre. They might even have a new kind of radio station for 'em.
[singing]
Neil Young: When your summer days come tumbling down, And you find yourself alone, Then you can come back and be with me, Just close your eyes and I'll be there, Listen to the sound, Of this old heart beating for you, Yes I'd miss you, But I never want to hold you down, You might say I'm here for you...
- Crazy creditsClosing dedication: for daddy
- ConnectionsFeatured in Cruising with Neil (2006)
- SoundtracksThe Painter
Written by Neil Young
Without being heavy-handed the film takes you into the music and the unique energy of a live show. One of my favorite details was seeing a singer in the Fisk University choir getting into the music.
Groups of musicians would step on and off stage: the Fisk University choir (local to Nashville?), a small string orchestra, and a horn section. The backup singers including Emmylou Harris and Pegi Young were fixtures (sorry, don't know the third singer). Some of the best scenes, I thought, were of the backup singers crooning into a single mic. Neil Young crooning with a choir of black voices is an unexpected aural delight.
Though I have long been a fan of Neil Young, this film was the first time I saw what a formidable performer he is. He owns the stage and the hall. He and his band are more precise and polished -- even in their grittiness and "rustiness" -- than I would have expected.
The film is gorgeous to look at. You get to look in detail at the band members -- their clothes, their faces, their hair, one with a bulbous nose. And the pedal steel player's fingers and restrained soulfulness. My heart leapt when I heard the banjo player come in on "Old Man." It was interesting to hear some of the newer Prairie Wind material towards the top of the show. The second song absolutely knocked my socks off. Still, hearing the well-known older songs (Old Man, Heart of Gold) was like encountering an old friend unexpectedly.
I was wondering how the sound quality was achieved. This was a major factor in the film's success: at peak moments the ensemble works up to an incredible momentum and texture. Seeing the chemistry of the band members at these points is exhilarating. Demme captures that very well -- but again, without forcing it on you.
Some of the backdrops for the band were surprisingly cheesy. I have to think there's a whisper of irony in the hearth scenery with the easy chair (and antlers, as I recall).
I thought of Christopher Guest's "A Mighty Wind" more than once. One song in particular about his dog, in which Neil starts snuffling into the mic, could have come straight out of "Mighty Wind."
Make no mistake: Neil Young is a philosopher-king of rock and roll. His band and the dedicated people around him seem essential to what he achieves.
- leapinghearted
- Feb 18, 2006
- How long is Neil Young: Heart of Gold?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Prairie Wind
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,904,606
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $53,908
- Feb 12, 2006
- Gross worldwide
- $2,201,933
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1