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The Winding Stream

Play trailer Poster for The Winding Stream 2014 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 65% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Filmmaker Beth Harrington traces the history of the Carter Family.
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The Winding Stream

Critics Reviews

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David Lewis San Francisco Chronicle There is no need to be a country music buff to enjoy this charming slice of Americana, though you may need a scorecard to keep track of all of the relatives who are involved in this story. Rated: 3/4 Apr 21, 2016 Full Review Jeannette Catsoulis New York Times Rhythmically blending vintage recordings and live performances, "The Winding Stream" exudes a quirky warmth that counters its PBS-pledge-drive aura. Dec 15, 2015 Full Review Alan Scherstuhl Village Voice The film stands as a reminder of how much it can mean just to listen. Dec 15, 2015 Full Review Marcianne Miller Bold Life (Hendersonville, NC) You'll not leave the theater without feeling that you, too, are part of the great flow of American music. Aug 26, 2018 Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express Harrington's richly textured doc is a treasure of folkloric Americana. Apr 29, 2016 Full Review Sherilyn Connelly SF Weekly Beth Harrington's lovely documentary The Winding Stream traces the history of the original Carter Family singers -- Maybelle Carter, her cousin Sara, and Sara's husband A.P.-- and their influence on American music. Apr 20, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member best doc I've seen on the Carter family and I've seen a few. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member It was really well done . Even if you're not a fan of country . It really doesn't matter. It's more about American music and the birth of a culture . The Carters music runs through all of America . It was a great documentary . Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Educate yourself on the Carter Family! The best part of the movie is when Johnny Cash comes into frame. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a lovingly told history of the origins and growth of The Carter Family, an essential part of the history of American country music. The movie covers how A.P. kind of stumbled onto making music after failing as a farmer, and the extraordinary situations which managed to bring the sound of the Carters to a wider audience, at a time when there was no mass media - apart from border radio. There are really two Carter Families. The definitive one is A.P. , his wife Sara and sister-in-law Maybelle. Then their daughters formed the Carter Sisters and eventually took on the Carter Family name. They are all such an unlikely group of musicians, and yet they were on to something, and had a raw talent, which has made them legends, as many musicians testify to during this movie. A.P.'s greatest contribution may be as an unwitting folklorist., ultimately probably more influential than Alan Lomax As he needed more material, he and Brownie McGee toured the mountains in search of folk tunes - which AP then took credit for - but in so doing preserved a wealth of American culture which would otherwise have been lost. I think this is essential viewing if you're interested in the history of American music. On Netflix Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member A must see for any music fan! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Winding Stream

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Cast & Crew

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Beth Harrington

Director

Beth Harrington

Producer

Tara Johnson-Medinger

Producer

Amy Harrington

Producer

Nancy Harrington

Producer

Tom Shrider

Cinematographer
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The Winding Stream

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Beth Harrington traces the history of the Carter Family.
Director
Beth Harrington
Producer
Beth Harrington, Tara Johnson-Medinger, Amy Harrington, Nancy Harrington
Production Co
Beth Harrington Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.4K
Runtime
1h 30m
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