Gimme Shelter (1970)

Directors:

Albert Maysles
David Maysles

Release Date:

6 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | History | Music

Tagline:

The music that thrilled the world ... and the killing that stunned it!

Plot:

A harrowing documentary of the Stones' 1969 tour, with much of the focus on the tragic concert at Altamont.

Plot Keywords:

Concert | Rolling Stones | Knife | Hells Angel | Speedway

Cast

The Rolling Stones	...	Themselves
Mick Jagger	...	Himself
Charlie Watts	...	Himself
Keith Richards	...	Himself (as Keith Richard)
Mick Taylor	...	Himself
Bill Wyman	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marty Balin	...	Himself (as Jefferson Airplane)
Sonny Barger	...	Himself
Melvin Belli	...	Himself
Dick Carter	...	Himself
Jack Casady	...	Himself (as Jefferson Airplane)
Mike Clarke	...	Himself (as The Flying Burrito Brothers)
Sam Cutler	...	Himself
Spencer Dryden	...	Himself (as Jefferson Airplane)
Chris Hillman	...	Himself (as The Flying Burrito Brothers)
John Jaymes	...	Himself
Paul Kantner	...	Himself (as Jefferson Airplane)
Jorma Kaukonen	...	Himself (as Jefferson Airplane)
Pete Kleinow	...	Himself (as The Flying Burrito Brothers)
Bernie Leadon	...	Himself (as The Flying Burrito Brothers)
Gram Parsons	...	Himself (as The Flying Burrito Brothers)
Ronald Schneider	...	Himself
Rock Scully	...	Himself
Grace Slick	...	Herself (as Jefferson Airplane)
Frank Terry	...	Himself - KFRC Anchor
Ike Turner	...	Himself
Tina Turner	...	Herself

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta) (2002) | UK:15 (video) (1993) (uncut) | UK:A (theatrical release) (1971) (cut) | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | USA:R (original cut)

Filming Locations:

Altamont Speedway - 17001 Midway Road, Tracy, California, USA

Company:

Maysles Films

Trivia:

The opening scenes of the movie with the donkey are the photo shoot for what would be come the cover of "Get Yer Ya-Yas Out". Several earlier concert scenes filmed at Madison Square Garden made it onto that album. Albert Maysles and David Maysles filmed the Madison Square Garden shows; they form part of this movie.

Quotes:

Hell's Angel: They told me, if I could sit on the stage so nobody climbed over me, I could drink beer till the show was over.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Death Proof (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Other Side of This Life

the anti-Woodstock film best for its music

This classical documentary was part of the arrangements for the final free concert the Rolling Stones gave during their US tour in 1969. The Altamont concert moved actually at a the last moment from the Golden Gate Park to a smaller location started with ambitions to be a West Coast version of Woodstock but ended in chaos and with the loss of the lives of four people.

The documentary catches live some of the events of that night, but it is not extremely revealing or innovative in what it is showing. This is not a concert movie, but music is still the best part of it. We can see the Stones at the pick of their youth singing many of the classic tunes that became a symbol for them and for the whole generation and also Tina Turner caught in one of her sexiest numbers. Same as Altamont did not become a second Woodstock, this film is not up to the Woodstock film - it's just an average documentary with fabulous music.