Book Vs. Movie: “Alice’s Restaurant”
Arlo Guthrie’s 1967 18-minute Song Vs the 1969 Movie
Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” is an 18-minute satirical folk monologue and song that became an anthem for the 1960s counterculture. Officially titled “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” it was released in 1967 on his debut album.
The piece tells a true, albeit embellished, story from Thanksgiving 1965 about a littering arrest that prevented Guthrie from being drafted into the Vietnam War. Blending comedy and protest, the song critiques authority and the military draft system, recounting how disposing of garbage with a friend led to an arrest, which ironically disqualified him from military service.
In this episode, the Margos discuss:
- The career of Arlo Guthrie
- The story behind the song
- The differences between the song & movie.
- The cast includes: Arlo Guthrie (as himself), Pat Quinn (Alice Brock), James Broderick (Ray Brock), Pete Seeger (as himself), Joseph Boley (Woody Guthrie), M. Emmet Walsh (Group W Sergeant.)
Clips Featured:
- “The Town Dump”
- Alice’s Restaurant (1969 trailer)
- “The Wedding Scene”
- “Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger”
- “The Funeral Scene” (Songs to Aging Children by Joni Mitchell sung by Tigger Outlaw)
- Music by Arlo Guthrie
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