Hitsville: The Making of Motown

Documentary of the remarkable story of Berry Gordy.

Berry was the musical genius behind the formative years of Motown, he provides on screen narration with large contributions from Smokey Robinson.

As a child Berry was always interested in making money and started selling newspapers to white-folk, he did well and pulled in help from his brother to increase sales. But this backfired, you see because 1 black youth was cute but 2 started to look like a threat.

Berry briefly worked at Ford and so we see how car assembly techniques influenced his music production. Berry's skill was song writing and taking talented artists and bringing out the best from them to become superstars. We also see how Smokey Robinson was a special part of the Motown story, he had the idea of producing their own records instead of taking a tiny commission from other companies.

The 'Hitsville USA' studio looked like an ordinary house, this was where they started recording. Motown sounded different and there was a reason, the secret was recording in their echoey bathroom. The film includes historic film footage, including photos and audio clips of meetings where the music making machine 'family' would decide which singles to release.

Don't think of this as a film about black music, more about the sound of America. Deserves an Oscar in the documentary category.

I mean...seriously... I thought I was fairly familiar with most of thees songs....but the mark of a great documentary is hearing something familiar in a new and different way....

I mean....the way they break down the arrangement of The Temptation's " My Girl" is a revelation....hearing those classical music arrangements...they were there the whole time and I never noticed it.....that's what this film does.....as Bill Hader's Stephane character would say..." It Has Everything"

My only beef...and it's a small one...is that the story ends mid-70's....so they don't even touch disco....or losing the Jacksons....no mention of the second wave of Motown in the mid-80's ....but then this would have to have been a mini-series...

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If you like music you will like this. If you don't like Motown you won't like this. If you don't like music don't bother to watch it.

It was a brilliant documentary that gave me a greater insight to one of the greatest record labels in the world. Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson were and are a great double act.

As a native Detroiter, I thought I knew everything about this iconic, trail- blazing, star-making machine. I couldn't have been more wrong! This documentary was brilliantly produced and directed. It provides access to the genius behind the machine - Berry Gordy and many, many of the artists who were there from the beginning -through personal interviews and a rare archive of actual recordings of staff meetings and jam sessions. We get the opportunity to see Berry Gordy's vision come to life as he models his company after a Ford assembly line, starting with identifying, and developing a multitude of talent, then bringing all the key components together, such as writers, musicians, sales people, choreographers, etiquette trainers, under one roof, called Hitsville, that goes unrivaled even today. Mr. Gordy candidly shares his risk taking ventures, successes, and failures, as well as times he was dead wrong about identifying what later became legendary hits. He shares his vulnerabilities when some stars left Motown and other times he had to relinquish the reins or risk losing major stars, such as Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Smokey Robinson, his life-long best friend, is there to support as well as tease his mentor and old friend. Berry Gordy and company have always made me proud to be a Detroiter, and I was never more proud than after viewing this documentary. Motown's legacy will never die.

Motown was the greatest assembly of musicians that the world has ever heard. Their music transcended time, cultures, generations and ethnicities. To this day it remains as some of the most popular and captivating music ever recorded. I loved watching the making of the music and especially the clips of the live performances. Little Stevie Wonder, Little Michael Jackson & The Jackson 5, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, The Temptations. The list goes on and on. Detroit will forever be known as Motown.