Monterey Pop
Directed by D.A. Pennebaker
1968/USA
Leacock Pennebaker Productions
Repeat viewing/FilmStruck
[box] Female Fan #2: Like, you kind of have to wait for a new wave to come and then a whole new set of rock-n-roll bands comes along with it. [/box]
There were many pop music legends at the absolute peak of their careers in 1967. This film documents some amazing performances they put in over three days at the Monterey Pop Festival.
The documentary features fantastic performances by The Mamas & the Papas, Canned Heat, Simon & Garfunkel, Hugh Masekela, Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin, Eric Burdon and the Animals, The Who, and Country Joe and the Fish. They culminate on the Sunday with three absolutely phenomenal sets by Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Ravi Shankar. The mind-blowingly great sitar music makes an interesting counterpoint to the other acts. There is no narration whatever.
Obviously I love this movie. The performances are sublime. I also was very curious to see the audience. This may have been the last pop/rock concert where people largely sat in their seats and listened politely to the music. Pennebaker captures the atmosphere effectively. Highly recommended to music fans.
