The Rolling Stones: Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965

An illuminating and entertaining music documentary.

Covers the Rolling Stones' 1965 tour of Ireland. Features concert footage, backstage and hotel scenes and interviews with the band. At the time the Stones were still more a blues/R&B band, rather than the rock superstars they would later become. All other Stones films I have seen were in the rock days, and there's a difference.

Here the Stones, though obviously big in the music world - just see the fans adoration, especially from the young girls - seem to still have a degree of innocence and are almost shocked at how popular they are. They still don't really think their fame and popularity are permanent. There's almost a lack of self-confidence on their part, especially from Charlie Watts.

Also interesting to see that some of the standout Stones features are already there. Most particularly, Jagger's stage performance is all movement, swagger and bravado - that came early. Plus you see the natural musical ability of Keith Richard(s) and the shyness of Charlie Watts.

The interviews, particularly with Jagger, are quite illuminating. You can see they are not addle-brained louts, but young men who think about their art, what has come before and where it is going.

A relatively unique Stones experience.

Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965 (2012)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

This documentary was originally filmed in 1965 as The Rolling Stones were doing a two show stop in Ireland. Not only do we get footage from the two shows but we also get interviews with the band, their fans as well as a lot of footage of them playing around in their dressing room.

Obviously if you're a fan of the Stones then this here is going to be a must see for a number of reasons. One is that this contains the concert footage of the two shows and includes songs like The Last Time, Time Is on My Side and Satisfaction, which was just being released as a single at the time. Another reason is getting to see the original five members talk about the band as well as what they hope to do in the future. Of course, hearing Brian Jones talk about the future certainly has a different meaning when viewed today. Another reason is the fact that the first concert got canceled when the crowd became out of control and got on the stage. Seeing this and later GIMME SHELTER just makes you realize that a lot of strange things has happened to this band.

At just 63-minutes the movie goes by very quickly but it's well-made and contains some wonderful footage of the band just before they become superstars.

"The Rolling Stones: Charlie Is My Darling - Ireland 1965" features footage of the Stones' tour of the Emerald Isle. There's footage of the guys sitting around talking to each other, but it goes without saying that the best part is the music. One thing that I noticed was the moderate security. The Stones perform in a music hall and there are almost no cops. It would be hard to imagine any world-famous group doing that nowadays. Another marker of the past is that Mick's face looks more natural (that is, before he had it done, giving him a gaunt look).

One thing that I wondered while watching "Charlie Is My Darling" is how many Ireland and Northern Ireland residents had the opportunity to see the Rolling Stones. The group only performed in Dublin and Belfast during their second Irish tour in 1965, so did people from Limerick, Derry, etc, have the chance to travel to Dublin and Belfast? Whatever the case, this is a very fun documentary. The Stones will live forever!