The Song Remains the Same (1976)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Directors:

Peter Clifton
Joe Massot

Release Date:

20 October 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Tagline:

In Concert And Beyond

Plot:

A Led Zeppelin concert filmed in Madison Square Garden, New York.

Plot Keywords:

New York | Concert | Band | Beach | Rock Music

Cast

John Bonham	...	Himself - Drummer (as Led Zeppelin)
John Paul Jones	...	Himself - Bassist & Keyboardist (as Led Zeppelin)
Jimmy Page	...	Himself - Guitarist (as Led Zeppelin)
Robert Plant	...	Himself - Lead Singer (as Led Zeppelin)
Peter Grant	...	Himself - Band Manager
Richard Cole	...	Himself
Derek Skilton	...	Himself
Colin Rigdon	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jason Bonham	...	Himself (uncredited)
Patricia Bonham	...	Herself (uncredited)
Roy Harper	...	Himself (uncredited)
Carmen Plant	...	Herself (uncredited)
Karac Plant	...	Himself (uncredited)
Maureen Plant	...	Herself (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Clifton
Joe Massot

Produced by
Peter Grant	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Ernest Day		(director of photography) (as Ernie Day)
Phil Parmet		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Humphrey Dixon

Makeup Department
Colin Arthur	....	makeup effects artist
Jim Gillespie	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Lundsten	....	sound recordist
Jimmy Page	....	sound producer
Jimmy Page	....	sound supervisor

Special Effects by
Ian Knight	....	special effects consultant
Kirby Wyatt	....	special effects consultant

Camera and Electrical Department
Keith Blake	....	focus puller
Ian Knight	....	lighting consultant
Kirby Wyatt	....	lighting consultant

Editorial Department
Peter Clifton	....	director of editing

Music Department
Eddie Kramer	....	music engineer: live performances
Jimmy Page	....	music mixer: live performances

Other crew
Richard Cole	....	tour manager: Led Zeppelin
Brian Condliffe	....	personal technician: Led Zeppelin
Renée Glynne	....	continuity
Mick Hinton	....	personal technician: Led Zeppelin
Benji Le Fevre	....	personal technician: Led Zeppelin
Ray Thomas	....	personal technician: Led Zeppelin
Steven Weiss	....	shoot trouble

Production Companies

• Swan Song

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sandrews (2000) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Camera Effects (special effects) (as Shelly of Camera Effects)

Other Companies

• Cirrus Productions  main titles design
• Electric Lady Studios  music mixing: live performances
• Showco  concert lighting (as Showco, Inc. Dallas)

Also Known As:

Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same (UK)

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor) | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (magnetic prints) | Dolby (optical prints)

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Netherlands:AL (DVD rating) | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | Finland:K-8 (cut) | Finland:K-12

Filming Locations:

Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden - 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Swan Song

Trivia:

Some of the footage that was shot but never used was eventually released on the Led Zeppelin DVD. This includes performances of "Misty Mountain Hop" and "The Ocean" (later also to appear on the 2007 re-issue of this film) and alternate takes of "Black Dog" and "Since I've Been Loving You".

Goofs:

Continuity: Throughout the movie, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones have different outfits on. However, this is because the movie was filmed when the band played Madison Square Garden 3 nights in a row in 1973, and both Jimmy and John Paul didn't want to wear the same outfits. Small portions of songs were also filmed in 1974 at Shepperton Studios because of missing pieces of songs.

Quotes:

Himself - Lead Singer: [prior to singing "Stairway to Heaven"] I think this is a song of hope.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Small Soldiers (1998)

Soundtrack:

Whole Lotta Love

Led Zeppelin's definitive musical masterpiece

To any Led Zeppelin fan, upon hearing the titles of such songs as Stairway to Heaven, Since I've been Loving you, Dazed and Confused, Black Dog, Whole Lotta Love and Moby Dick, it should make their mouth drool and knees wobble. Being such a fan myself, having, at a glance seen these very tracks and more on the cover of The Song Remains the Same, I immediately bought the video as my first ever online purchase (Next day delivery, of course.)

Indeed, the Song Remains the Same is a collection of some of LedZep's finest songs played to perfection by a selection of the greatest rock musicians to walk the earth, such as jimmy Page (guitar) and John Bonham (Drums). Both these bohemians of music have ample time and camera exposure to show us just how great they are/were, with highlights including 26 minutes of Page on Dazed and Confused including his trademark use of a violin bow on his guitar, and a 15 minute solo by Bonham on Moby Dick.

What endeared me further to the film was the little excursions from live footage on stage at Madison Square Gardens in New York, to clips of the band and crew backstage and even completely random scenes of fantasy and imagery, obviously created while under the influence of some fairly way out substances.

Yet, understandingly, those unfamiliar to Led Zeppelin may find this 2 hour video a long slog, and is not of course everyone's cup of tea. And while there is impressive stage footage and effects, the camera work is sometimes amaturish and unimaginative.

Having said that however, The Song remains the Same is a genuine must for all Led Zeppelin and true music fans alike, as the genius of the performers is clear for all to see and is a breathtaking delight to watch and to listen to.