In this post-Civil War Missouri movie, "The Romance of Rosy Ridge," Van Johnson actually picks, rather than actor-strums a fretless banjer. Nineteen-year-old Janet Leigh is radiant in her acting debut and the banjer is featured in several scenes, including a play party with fiddle, guitar, harmonica, bones, drum, and jug, and passable dancing.
ok.ru/video/2578688576027
Funny you posted this. I saw this movie recently and wondered if Van Johnson was actually playing this banjo. I found the scene again on your link and it looks as if he is actually playing. Like, as in not acting playing.
The banjo also does not look like your typical Hollywood 1940’s prop instrument. This one looks like it has real playing wear and actual real strings. Van Johnson handles it like a real player, so I can only wonder. Acting, or his instrument?
Maybe some movie buff out there knows.
Thanks for sharing.
