A Poem Is a Naked Person

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

574

YOUR RATING

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Documentary Music

Les Blank's first feature-length documentary captures music and other events at Leon Russell's Oklahoma recording studio during a three-year period (1972-1974).Les Blank's first feature-length documentary captures music and other events at Leon Russell's Oklahoma recording studio during a three-year period (1972-1974).Les Blank's first feature-length documentary captures music and other events at Leon Russell's Oklahoma recording studio during a three-year period (1972-1974).

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

574

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Trivia
As producer of this film, Leon Russell did not allow it to be commercially distributed for many years. As of 2012, it could only be shown when presented by director Les Blank in person to a nonprofit organization. However, after Blank's death, his son Harrod Blank succeeded in persuading Russell to allow the film to be released.

Quotes
Women on a boat: We're not fishin'. We're just pleasure-seekers.

Connections
Featured in A Weird Blessing (2015)

Soundtracks
Jambayala
Written by Hank Williams
Performed by Leon Russell

User reviews9

Featured review

9/10

Leon in His Prime

Leon is shown in his element-from a hand-held camera, behind-the-scenes without any adornment or attempt to glamorize the subject. Nevertheless, it comes off as a tribute to his musical power and ability to transfix his audience. George Jones and Willie both contribute songs that are as powerful as Leon. Just great music throughout.

For some reason, Leon held up the film's release for decades. According to the Bill Janovitz bio, Leon objected to a scene of a python eating a baby chick and his proximity in the narrative to this scene. His reservations were unfounded however. He is the Master of Space and Time throughout this great film.

Besides Jones and Willie, a who's who of great Nashville players drift in and out like Pete Drake, David Briggs, Charlie McCoy. Even JJ Cale-another artist on Leon's record label, Shelter-is somewhere in the film, but I couldn't find him.

The director, Les Blank, attempted to make a documentary about Leon Russell and the whole crazy scene he surrounded himself with at the height of his fame. There is a lot of room for error in this type of story, but not here. It all works, especially if you like the music in the first place.