Crossroads of Love

Crossroads is a 1986 American musical drama film, inspired by the legend of blues musician Robert Johnson. It is directed by Walter Hill from a screenplay by John Fusco, and stars Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca and Jami Gertz. It features an original score by Ry Cooder featuring classical guitar by William Kanengiser and harmonica by Sonny Terry. Steve Vai appears in the film as the devil's virtuosic guitar player in the climactic guitar duel. Fusco was a traveling blues musician prior to attending New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he wrote Crossroads as an assignment in a master class led by Waldo Salt and Ring Lardner Jr. The student screenplay won first place in the national FOCUS Awards (Films of college and University Students) and was sold to Columbia Pictures while Fusco was still a student. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on March 14, 1986. Although Crossroads received positive reviews from critics, it was not a financial success. However, it has been considered a cult classic, particularly among musicians and guitarists.