more impressive as a time capsule/social document than as a rock concert film

Quinoa1984

At the height of the hippie culture and music scene, filmmaker DA Pennebaker went to the first 'event' concert. It lasted three days in Monterey California, and hosted almost all of the pivotal, immortal acts in the rock n roll scene of the say- Simon and Garfunkel, the Mamas & the Papas, Canned Heat, the remnants of The Byrds and Buffalo Springfield (later CSNY), Big Brother & the Holding Company (with Janis Joplin), the Who, Jimi Hendrix, and even a special appearance from Ravi Shankar. It's a shame that it's sort of a let-down for a rock fan such as myself.

It's not that the performers aren't in their peak form, or that it is filmed poorly (most of the time Pennebaker and his photographers- one of them the incomparable Al Maysles- work in the roots of cinema verite in their documentary approach). The songs themselves aren't really the choice peaks. Some of them are, but some of them aren't, and the overall (and kinda over-bearing) air of the hippie world is a little much. The difference between Monterey Pop and Woodstock is that the later combined a focused, absorbing look at the audience while giving room for the prime cuts of the best sets from the acts. At the length of Monterey Pop, which is a third of the length of Woodstock, it's too short.

And yet there is much to admire and watch for, aside from the appeal of it being a period piece. Jimi Hendrix, in his first American show after forming the Experience, gives a drug-loaded showstopper (and one of his most revered and almost over-rated trademarks) of lighting his guitar on fire after going through a blistering, raw rendition of 'Wild Thing'. The look on the audience during this scene is priceless. The Who are very good, if a little under-used (I've seen their performance from the show of 'A Quick One While He's Away' that is ten times better than their 'My Generation' encore in the film). Big Brother/Joplin and Simon & Garfunkel give soulful, peaceful numbers. And the final act- Shankar- is absolutely mesmerizing, showing how much he was ahead of his time with music (his speed and inventiveness with the sitar rivals most of the great hard rock guitarists). It's not the best of the 'peace & love' rock docs, but if you're into it anyway you should see it at least once.

score 9/10

Quinoa1984 16 August 2005

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1151927/