Wattstax (1973)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Mel Stuart

Release Date:

23 November 1973 (West Germany)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy | Music

Tagline:

A soulful expression of the living word...

Plot:

Documentary about african-american singers like Isaac Hayes and Rufus Thomas.

Plot Keywords:

Singer | African American | 1970s | Stadium | One Word Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

James Alexander	...	Himself
Rance Allen	...	Himself
Raymond Allen	...	Himself
The Bar-Kays	...	Themselves
Andre Edwards	...	Himself
The Emotions	...	Themselves
Isaac Hayes	...	Himself
Luther Ingram	...	Himself
Jesse Jackson	...	Himself (as Rev. Jesse Jackson)
Erik Kilpatrick	...	Himself
Albert King	...	Himself
Ted Lange	...	Himself
Little Milton	...	Himself
Richard Pryor	...	Himself
Mavis Staples	...	Herself (as The Staples Singers)
Roebuck 'Pops' Staples	...	Himself (as The Staples Singers)
Johnnie Taylor	...	Himself
Carla Thomas	...	Herself
Rufus Thomas	...	Himself
Kim Weston	...	Herself

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Watts, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Stax Records

Trivia:

Among the artists who were scheduled to appear at the concert but couldn't due to various reasons were Little Milton, the Emotions, Johnnie Taylor and Luther Ingram. In fact, Ingram's performance was actually performed on a sound stage a few weeks later with various crowd shots interspersed throughout his performance.

Movie Connections:

Featured in TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jody

straight from the source- release set for September 04

I heard it straight from the source. I just had the privilege to see this film with Mel Stuart at the James River Film Festival in Richmond VA and he says it's coming to DVD in September 2004 with the original ending of the Isaac Hayes performance. Stuart said that it will also be aired on PBS in September 04 so look for that. This great documentary has life of the black experience as it was in the early 70's even has Richard Pryor giving some insight. Has some other good footage of Albert King, the Staple Singers, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Little Melvin, the Bar-Kays and Jesse Jackson. Some other interesting facts about the filming of the movie. Stuart specifically hired an all black film crew to capture the feel of this event by interviewing people in the streets and around the festival.