FIRST OF ITS KIND...EMBRYONIC CONCERT FILM...CAPTURES CULTURAL ZEITGEIST
Sometimes Stunning Encapsulation of the Newport Jazz Festivals of 1963-1966.
The Opening Scene is a Cultural Cornerstone.
It's a Fixed Camera with Hordes of Young and Old Folks Entering the Festival Grounds and is a "Snapshot" in Time that would be Imitated in the Pop-Culture Movements of "Monterey Pop" (1967) and then "Woodstock" (1969).
And Virtually Every Documentary Featuring a Music or Concert "Festival".
It is a Bona-Fide Classic.
Considering the Film and Audio Available at the Time, the Images and the Sound are Impressive.
Also Impressive is the way Murray Lerner Cross-Cuts between Performances and Patrons to Create a Unique and Unforgettable "You-Are-There" Experience.
You get to See a Young and Relatively "New" Bob Dylan and Joan Baez in a Fair Amount of Footage.
The Infamous Dylan "Plugging-In" to Electric sent Shock Waves through the Folk Movement as He Delivers a Searing Rendition of "Maggie's Farm".
If one was to Fault the Film...There is a Mysterious and Lengthy Amount of Peter, Paul, and Mary and Judy Collins Footage.
Some other Performers such as Johnny Cash, Barely Registers 3 minutes.
But Overall it is a Good Cross-Section of Acts that Stretch to Include Mike Bloomfield, Son House, Gospel Singers, Folk-Dancing and More.
A Must See Event that is Essential for Music Lovers and Pop-Culture Historians.
It's the One that Started it All and Did So in Fantastic Fashion.
The Opening Scene is a Cultural Cornerstone.
It's a Fixed Camera with Hordes of Young and Old Folks Entering the Festival Grounds and is a "Snapshot" in Time that would be Imitated in the Pop-Culture Movements of "Monterey Pop" (1967) and then "Woodstock" (1969).
And Virtually Every Documentary Featuring a Music or Concert "Festival".
It is a Bona-Fide Classic.
Considering the Film and Audio Available at the Time, the Images and the Sound are Impressive.
Also Impressive is the way Murray Lerner Cross-Cuts between Performances and Patrons to Create a Unique and Unforgettable "You-Are-There" Experience.
You get to See a Young and Relatively "New" Bob Dylan and Joan Baez in a Fair Amount of Footage.
The Infamous Dylan "Plugging-In" to Electric sent Shock Waves through the Folk Movement as He Delivers a Searing Rendition of "Maggie's Farm".
If one was to Fault the Film...There is a Mysterious and Lengthy Amount of Peter, Paul, and Mary and Judy Collins Footage.
Some other Performers such as Johnny Cash, Barely Registers 3 minutes.
But Overall it is a Good Cross-Section of Acts that Stretch to Include Mike Bloomfield, Son House, Gospel Singers, Folk-Dancing and More.
A Must See Event that is Essential for Music Lovers and Pop-Culture Historians.
It's the One that Started it All and Did So in Fantastic Fashion.
- LeonLouisRicci
- Aug 19, 2021