Naïve hick rock musician Bud Eagle (a winningly sincere performance by Arch Hall Jr.) becomes an instant sensation after he makes a big splash on a TV talent show. Bud signs with slick high roller manager Mike McCauley (well played with oily aplomb by Arch Hall Sr.), who proves to be an evil, deceitful, and utterly unscrupulous greedy jerk.Director Ray Dennis Steckler relates the entertaining story at a swift pace, maintains a likable lighthearted tone throughout, nicely captures the sheer joy, vibrancy, and pleasant innocence of the early 60's rock music scene right before the British Invasion happened, and delivers lots of groovy dancing and catchy'n'lively bebop rock tunes. The compact script by Hall Sr. and Bob Wehling offers a neat exploration of the more corrupt and phony aspects of show business. The game cast display plenty of energy and enthusiasm: Hall Jr. projects an engagingly goofy wide-eyed charm, Nancy Czar makes for quite a cute and appealing love interest as the sweet Vickie, Steckler has a ball as McCauley's sleazy thug lackey Steak, Marie Denn does well as friendly diner waitress Marge, Robert Crumb contributes a sturdy turn as washed-up has-been singer Don Proctor, and leggy brunette knockout Virginie Roderick vamps it up deliciously as slinky temptress Daisy. The sub-Bowery Boys antics of three bumbling kidnappers provides several belly laughs. Kudos are also in order for Joseph V. Mascelli's crisp black and white cinematography. A hugely enjoyable romp.

Of course this is a very bad movie by most conventional standards, but it did have a couple of redeeming qualities. First, the basic storyline, while a bit convoluted, does contain a kernel of authenticity: many artists of that era were blatantly ripped off by crooked managers, producers, promoters, record companies, etc. The scene in the ice skating rink I thought was surprisingly effective, in fact it almost didn't fit. And the closing shot of the teens doing the twist on the beach brought back memories of that era, since I was a kid growing up in Southern California at the time, and yes, people of all ages did the twist.

Maybe it was my insomnia. Or my Chihuahua's. Whatever the cause, neither of us could tear away from Wild Guitar recently aired on TMC. For the first half-hour I just sat slack-jawed not only that this movie was being telecast, but that it ever got made or saved. Then, when I regained control of my thought processes, I knew I should stop watching, but it was too late. It must be what crack addicts experience: You know it's rotting your brain, and you just want more. In addition to this addictive quality, if you still miss the raw sexuality and sheer athleticism of Peggy Fleming, as I do, there's a not-to-be-missed scene that could have been shot in Grenoble, albeit six years later. I guess Wild Guitar was just ahead of its time, on the ice anyway. I gave the movie a 2 out of 10, but my scoring belies my action. I watched it through to the final credits.

Formula plot about a small time boy Bud Eagle, Arch Hall Jr, from North Dakota coming to Hollywood looking to make it big in the world of Rock & Roll music.Meeting cute Vicki Wills,Nancy Czar, who gives the starving and broke Bud her lunch to eat at a local diner she tells the naive and shy out of towner that's she to appear at the local amateur hour TV show that evening and invites him to come along. Just like in the movies, damn I keep forgetting this is a movie, the person thats to appear with Vickie on the stage gets stage fright and runs out of the theater and now the shows MC Hal Kenton, Paul Voorhees, is forced to put the startled North Dakotan with Vickie on stage! Bud ends up knocking the crowd dead with his wild guitar and high-pitched voice to becomes an instant Rock & Roll success and teenage idol.The movie "Wild Guitar" has it's moments with a bunch of Bowery Boys wannabes, that's really aiming high in Hollywood, who kidnap Bud only having him turn the tables on them and then using the three jerks Weasel Stupid & Brains,Bill Llyod Jonathon Krle & Mike Trelbor, to shake down his manager Mike McCauley,Arch Hall Sr, for $15,000.00. The kidnappers end up losing the ransom money when Mike's top henchman Stake, Ray Dennis, breaks into their hideout. After what has to be one of the most insane and crazy slug-feasts this side of the World Wresteling Federation the three take off after dropping Stake but forgetting to take the ransom money with them!Bud who fell in love with Vickie has the devious and scheming Mike split them up because he felt that she would hurt his career by making him not available, as a boyfriend or husband, to the millions of frenzied young girls and teeny-boppers, calling themselves Eagle Feathers, all over the USA in Bud Eagel fan clubs who are just wild and crazy about him. Hiding out in Madge's,Marie Denn, diner as a dishwasher Bud gets in touch with his All-American football hero brother Ted, Al Scott, back in North Dakota for help and the two set up his manager Mike McCauley together with his #1 henchman Stake with of all things a gift that Mike gave him to improve his music and singing. Even though the movie "Wild Guitar" is both corny and cheaply made it did show how things in the music business is done in regards to taking an up and coming Rock & Roll singer, who's not too sharp when it comes to his or her financial future, and how after he's no longer popular and not putting cash in the till he's then drop like a case of the Black Plague.There's a very effective scene in the film where Buds, after he was held captive and almost raped by Mike's sexy dancer Daisy/Virginia Broderick,having a heart to heart talk with another Mike McCauley discovery former Rock & Roll phenomenon Don Proctor, Robert Crumb, with him telling Bud what he's in store for with a sleazy crumb like his former boss McCauley as his manager.