OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU

  

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OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU

Specialty Definition: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a musical comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, set in the rural South of the United States in the early 20th century. It was released in 2000.

The film is about a convict who escapes prison and brings along two fellow prisoners with the promise of a treasure. The man's wife is about to remarry and the three characters trek towards the man's home. The film stars George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter. The Coen brothers claim to have based on The Odyssey by Homer but admit to not having read the poem. The film's American roots music soundtrack became a surprise hit, and won a Grammy for Album of the Year. (See O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.)

The title of the film is a reference to a satirical 1941 film, directed by Preston Sturges, called Sullivan's Travels, where a director wants to direct a film called O Brother, Where Art Thou? but is being forced to direct another film instead; the director wants to experience poverty and keeps trying to but is constantly returned to his posh surroundings. This director's experience is the opposite of that of Odysseus in The Odyssey--Odysseus wants to return home and is constantly being diverted from it.

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O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack was the soundtrack of music from the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou a United States film starring George Clooney. Set in the rural US South in the years of the Great Depression, three friends escape from a prison chain gang and search for fortune and love. The adventure is loosely based on Homer's Odyssey.

The soundtrack uses US music from the era when the film is set (American roots music): music appropriate to that time and place, a marked break from the current Hollywood practice. The score, produced by T-Bone Burnett, prominently features bluegrass, gospel, blues and country music. With the exception of one vintage track, most tracks are recent recordings by musicians who play in the vintage style. The tracks are by such artists as John Hartford, Gillian Welch, Ralph Stanley, Alison Krauss, The Fairfield Four and Norman Blake. Contrary to the Hollywood "common wisdom" that non-contemporary music alienates audiences, the soundtrack CD became a best seller.

Track listing

  1. Po Lazarus performed by James Carter - 4:31
  2. Big Rock Candy Mountain performed by Harry McClintock - 2:16
  3. You Are My Sunshine performed by Norman Blake - 4:26
  4. Down in the River to Pray performed by Alison Krauss - 2:55
  5. Man of Constant Sorrow performed by Soggy Bottom Boys/Dan Tyminski - 4:16
  6. Hard Time Killing Floor Blues performed by King, Chris Thomas - 2:42
  7. Man of Constant Sorrow performed by Norman Blake - 4:28
  8. Keep on the Sunny Side performed by Whites - 3:33
  9. I'll Fly Away performed by Alison Krauss/Gillian Welch - 3:57
  10. Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby performed by Emmylou Harris/Alison Krauss/Gillian Welch - 1:57
  11. In the Highways performed by Leah Peasall/Sarah Peasall/Hannah Peasall - 1:35
  12. I Am Weary, Let Me Rest performed by Cox Family - 3:13
  13. Man of Constant Sorrow performed by John Hartford - 2:34
  14. O Death performed by Ralph Stanley - 3:19
  15. In the Jailhouse Now performed by Soggy Bottom Boys/Tim Nelson - 3:34
  16. Man of Constant Sorrow [alternatetake] performed by Soggy Bottom Boys/Dan Tyminski - 4:16
  17. Indian War Whoop performed by John Hartford - 1:30
  18. Lonesome Valley performed by Fairfield Four - 4:07
  19. Angel Band performed by Stanley Brothers - 2:15

Personnel

U.S. album chart success

Billboard: 
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	The Billboard 200	     No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Country Albums	     No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Album           No. 40
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Soundtracks	             No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	The Billboard 200            No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Country Albums	     No. 1
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Albums          No. 38
2001	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Soundtracks	             No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	The Billboard 200	     No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Canadian Albums	     No. 3
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Country Albums	     No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Albums	     No. 40
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Soundtracks	             No. 1
2002	O Brother, Where Art Thou?	Top Internet Albums	     No. 38
The only single to chart was "Man of Constant Sorrow", which peaked at #38 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "O Brother, Where Art Thou? (soundtrack)."

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1. Bibliography


  

Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.