He portrayed a banjo-playing "local" during the film's famous "dueling banjos" scene. Boorman felt that Redden's skinny frame, large head, and almond-shaped eyes made him the natural choice to play the part of an "inbred from the back woods."
Because Redden could not play the banjo, he wore a special shirt which allowed a real banjo player to hide behind him for the scene, which was shot with carefully chosen camera angles that would conceal the player, whose arms were slipped around Redden's waist to play the tune. The hidden banjo player was shown playing "clawhammer" style, while the soundtrack had the banjo music as three finger "Earl Scruggs" style.
cheap_as_chips on July 25th, 2021 at 00:54 UTC »
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Wylewyn on July 25th, 2021 at 01:55 UTC »
I wonder what he was paid for the part?
WhiteRabbit86 on July 25th, 2021 at 02:10 UTC »
My sister knew him when she lived near there. She says he is the friendliest guy you’d ever care to meet.