The Doors: The Soft Parade

This documentary is so awesome because it does so very well at showcasing Jim Morrison and his legendary band The Doors at their absolute best with their last televised performance in 1969. It also has an excellent, fun look into their private archives as well as very interesting and insightful interviews. It is in this documentary that you get an awesome look at The Doors as entertainers and as real people. If you're a fan, then this one is most definitely for you.

I knew that this video existed, but it seemed to vanish in the wake of videos and the call of DVDs. Luckily, it was included in the Doors collection DVD set among two other good specials (Dance on Fire, a best-of collection, and a live concert in 1968). It was my favorite of the three for several reasons, but not least of which that it tends to be less music-video-ized by director Ray Manzarek (not that there aren't some patched together pieces, like with "the Changeling" and "The Unknown Soldier", which is live here). Most of the video includes documentary footage- clips from a television special (their last in the USA I believe), and two priceless live performances, the first being of behind-the-scenes on 'Wild Child', and the other from the special called "Build me a Woman" (one of personal favorites). Even more indelible are two clips of interviews with the Doors, in particular Jim Morrison, who gives cool, intelligent words to say about the future of music, and on how his poetry fits in with the Doors. It all leads up to the title track of the video, which is one of the longer Doors songs (and very entrancing in some ways). So, for the avid Doors fan, or just fan of the music from the period (or rock in general I'd guess), this is a must-have. But it may turn on some too- it's a mix of blues, straight-up rock, pop, and poetic stances on life and the beyond.

This very entertaining video compilation was Ray Manzarek's retaliation to Oliver Stone's biopic debacle which effectively portrayed Jim Morrison's downward spiral, yet basically ignored his more human side. This video at least shows that Jimbo cared about some people, and that there was a lot working in that mind of his before the drugs and the alcohol took their toll. It may be the only place you'll ever see Jim put his arm around a cop. To be honest, much of the footage in here was cobbled up from extracts previously used in other Doors video releases (especially "Dance on Fire"). Face it- how many times can you re-use and re-edit some of the same footage of Morrison on stage? But this one also offers some worthy backstage glimpses of the quartet of musicians, laughing and joking-- even the Prince of Darkness himself seems like an affable human being. Noteworthy is the piece where Jim tinkers away at Ray's piano and does an improvisatory verse on Frederick Nietszche's commitment to the asylum.

The cornerstone of this video features The Doors' final televised appearance, on PBS (if there is more of this footage, I'd love to see that show in its complete form), casual and uncensored (so you get to hear the full version of "Build Me a Woman", which is excised on the "Absolutely Live" album). They do a great bluesy rendition of that song, and they climax with their suite-length "Soft Parade" (from the underrated album of the same name). In between, Richard Goldstein of The Village Voice chats with the players about their music, poetry and improvisation. Jim, during his "beard" period, hiding behind sunglasses, smoking a cigar, is commanding while speaking softly.

This collection is a must for any serious Doors fan, especially those that were turned off by Oliver Stone's "vision".

This movie should be subtitled Ray Manzarek Continues to Cash in On Jim's Legacy.

It's basically found footage held together by music. And it really sucks.