It starts with a simple G-chord. You know the sound. It’s that crisp, metallic ring of a five-string banjo being answered by the warm, woody thrum of an acoustic guitar. For most people, the banjo scene from Deliverance is the only thing they remember about the 1972 survival thriller, other than perhaps a certain harrowing phrase involving a pig. It’s iconic. It’s haunting. It’s also deeply misunderstood.
Most folks think they’re watching a real-life musical prodigy from the mountains of Georgia. They aren't. They think the actors played the music. They didn't. They even think the song was written for the movie. Wrong again.
What actually happened on that porch in Rabun County is a mix of Hollywood trickery, a legal nightmare over songwriting credits, and a young boy named Billy Redden who couldn't play a single note.
The Boy Who Wasn't a Musician
If you watch the banjo scene from Deliverance closely, you’ll notice something strange about the boy, Lonnie. His eyes are intense. He has a look that suggests years of isolation and ancestral hardship. This was exactly what director John Boorman wanted. He found Billy Redden at a local school in Clayton, Georgia. Redden wasn't an actor, and he certainly wasn't a banjo player.
The production had a problem. They needed the scene to look authentic, but Redden's hands just wouldn't move right.
To solve this, they used a "human puppet" technique. A local musician named Mike Addis hid behind Redden. Addis reached his left arm through the boy's shirt sleeve to handle the fingering on the fretboard, while Redden used his own right hand to pick at the strings. It’s a clever bit of camera framing. If you look at the angles, you’ll see why the boy's arms look a bit stiff. It's because they aren't both his.
Ronny Cox, who played Drew (the guitar player), actually could play. He was a decent musician, but even he wasn't playing what you hear on the soundtrack. The music we all hum was actually recorded by two bluegrass legends: Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell.
The Legal Battle Over "Dueling Banjos"
You’ve probably heard the song a thousand times at baseball games or in commercials. But the "Dueling Banjos" track used in the banjo scene from Deliverance sparked one of the most famous copyright lawsuits in music history.
The film credited Eric Weissberg as the author. That was a big mistake.
The tune was originally written and recorded in 1955 by Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith. He called it "Feudin' Banjos." He played it on an 18-string banjo-guitar alongside Don Reno. When the movie came out and the song became a massive hit—reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973—Smith noticed he wasn't getting a dime.
He sued Warner Bros. It was a landmark case. Eventually, Smith won, receiving back royalties and the songwriting credit he deserved. It’s a reminder that even in the "wild" mountains of cinema, intellectual property laws still apply.
Why the Scene Still Makes Us Uncomfortable
There is a tension in the banjo scene from Deliverance that goes beyond the music. It’s the "city slickers" versus the "locals." When Ronny Cox’s character starts playing, he thinks he’s finding common ground. He’s smiling. He’s nodding. He thinks music is a universal language that bridges the gap between his suburban world and the Appalachian wilderness.
But look at Lonnie’s face. He doesn't smile back. He matches the guitar note for note, eventually outplaying the city man, but there is no warmth in it. It’s a challenge.
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The scene sets the tone for the entire film. It warns the audience that these men are entering a world they don't understand, where their assumptions of superiority are meaningless. The banjo isn't just an instrument here; it's a weapon.
Many people in the Appalachian region actually hated the movie. They felt it cemented a "hillbilly" stereotype that was dangerous and unfair. They weren't wrong. For decades, that one scene became a shorthand for "backwoods danger."
The Real Gear Behind the Sound
If you’re a gearhead, you might be curious about what was actually being "played."
In the film, the guitar Drew uses is a Martin D-28. It’s the industry standard for bluegrass—loud, punchy, and full of bass. The banjo is a bit more of a mystery to the casual observer, but it’s a mastertone-style five-string.
The actual recording used a different setup. Weissberg used a Weymann banjo from the 1920s or 30s. These instruments have a very specific "pop" to them. When you hear that rapid-fire climax of the song, that’s the sound of a vintage resonator banjo being pushed to its limit.
- The Tempo: The song starts at around 90 BPM and accelerates to over 150 BPM.
- The Key: It’s played in G major, the "home key" of bluegrass.
- The Technique: It uses "Scruggs style" picking, named after Earl Scruggs, involving three fingers (thumb, index, middle) wearing metal and plastic picks.
Misconceptions About Billy Redden
Because the movie was so visceral, people assumed Billy Redden was exactly like the character he played. That’s a tragedy, honestly. Redden was just a kid. He grew up, worked at a Walmart, and ran a restaurant. He’s a normal guy who just happened to have a very distinct look as a child.
He returned to the screen a few times, notably in Tim Burton’s Big Fish, playing a similar role as a "banjo man." It’s sort of a meta-nod to his legacy. But he never made "movie star" money. He lived a modest life in the same area where the film was shot.
The Legacy of the Banjo Scene from Deliverance
Is it the greatest musical moment in cinema? Maybe. It’s certainly the most influential for the banjo itself. Sales of banjos skyrocketed in 1973. Every kid wanted to learn those opening notes.
But we have to look at it with a modern lens. The film Deliverance is about the destruction of the wilderness—the "civilized" world coming in to dam a river and drown a valley. The music is the last gasp of a culture that the main characters (and the audience) are helping to destroy.
When you watch the banjo scene from Deliverance today, try to ignore the "scary movie" memes. Listen to the technical skill. Watch the way the editing builds the frantic pace. It’s a masterpiece of tension-building, even if it’s built on a foundation of movie magic and stolen credits.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians
If you want to truly appreciate the history of this scene, don't just re-watch the clip on YouTube. Dig a little deeper into the roots of the music.
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- Listen to Arthur Smith: Find the original 1955 "Feudin' Banjos." You’ll hear the DNA of the movie version, but with a different, almost swing-era energy.
- Study the "Call and Response": This is a classic musical structure. If you’re a musician, practicing the "Dueling Banjos" lick is the best way to learn how to syncopate with a partner.
- Explore Rabun County: If you ever visit North Georgia, you can see where they filmed. The Tallulah Gorge and the Chattooga River are stunning, but remember that the "locals" are just people—not characters from a thriller.
- Check the Credits: Next time you watch a "classic" film, look at the music credits. You’d be surprised how many iconic themes were the subject of lawsuits.
The banjo scene from Deliverance remains a permanent fixture in American pop culture because it captures a universal fear: being outmatched in a place where you thought you were the boss. Drew thought he was the talented musician showing off for a local kid. He quickly realized he was out of his league. That realization is what makes the scene—and the song—immortal.