Product Details

• Actors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek, Jim Morrison
• Directors: John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Paul Justman
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Mono)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: October 21, 1998
• Run Time: 58 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305089949
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,734 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Live in Europe 1968" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
For Doors completists only, this shapeless gathering of rare film clips of the band performing in Europe is hampered by the same old, frustrating problems with attempting to convey, through lousy camera work, the band's power as a live act. The packaging tells us the Doors swept through London, Stockholm, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam during a 1968 tour documented here, but there's no way to appreciate that save for a random clip or two of Jim Morrison milling about outside concert venues, talking with fans. Otherwise, we see the same sort of obfuscating on-stage close-ups of Morrison you can see in any footage of a Doors gig, stumbling around, crooning, and reciting poetry to minimalist accompaniment by Ray Manzarek on keyboards, John Densmore on drums, and Robby Krieger on guitar. Unless one can see, in the mind's eye, what the band is up to from the point of view of a kid in the 30th row, there's no way to really get the hypnotic, Dionysian effect for which the Doors were justifiably famous. Thus, for anyone who can imagine such a thing, or take it on faith, there's good reason to enjoy performances of "Spanish Caravan," "Five to One," and two versions of "Light My Fire." There's even a relic of pre-MTV, pop promotion: a silly-looking performance of "Hello, I Love You" shot before a baffled crowd on a London street. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
Rare and never seen before film footage captures the legendary music of the Doors--live! Filmed during their European Tour in 1968, The Doors swept through the cities of London, Stockholm, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, leaving devastated audiences in their wake. This collection of rare live performances is introduced and narrated by Paul Kantner and Grace Slick who, as members of Jefferson Airplane, shared the bill on this historic tour. Songs: Love Me Two Times, Back Door Man, Spanish Caravan, Hello I Love You, When the Music's Over, Unknown Soldier, Light My Fire, Five to One, Alabama Song.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Revelation of Rock Music in a More Innocent Era, June 14, 2004

By	Renee Thorpe (Karangasem, Bali) - See all my reviews

Any lack of polish in this production is pretty much due to the available video and film equipment of the day. That said, much of the old camerawork is quite creative and nicely done. In fact, I was riveted to this film from start to finish.

The onstage performances have a beautiful, timeless quality to them. The musicianship of the band comes across very nicely, this being a time before bands had stylists, directors, choreographers, and wardrobe masters.

Just amazing to see how, more than Morrison's charisma, more than any stoned-out vibe, the music itself was the true source of the Doors' power and energy. So seldom do we get to see excellent rock music performed without a lot of record company b***s***. Nobody told the band how to behave onstage, nobody but Jim dictated what he was going to wear, and so on. This footage was a revelation in that way.

To observe, on this DVD, Ray Manzarek hunched over his keyboards, fingering some amazing riffs, is to see a rather amazing illustration of rock performances that were all about THE MUSIC.

An absolute "must" for all Doors fans, and a real treat for fans of west coast rock. Recommended to anyone who has an interest in classic rock or sixties culture.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Newsflash: Doors Rule!, August 15, 1999

By	"[e-mail]" (NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This is one of my favorite DVD's. I have always liked the Doors, but being only 22 years old obviously never had the oppurtunity to see them live. Well, now I can. The audio and video are in great condition considering it's three decades old. Morrison truly becomes part of the song and he definitely sets the mood. The organ will shake the walls with home theatre. Grace Slick provides a mini-interview, it shows the band and fans showing their respects to Morrison at what I assume is his burial site (it had a bust where people threw flowers), and there is even a music video.

SONGS INCLUDE: Light My Fire/ Love Me Two Times/ Back Door Man/ Spanish Caravan/ Hello, I Love You/ When the Music's Over/ Unknown Soldier/ Five to One/ Alabama Song

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining And Interesting., April 6, 2001

By	Mr. Fellini "Fellini" (El Paso, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The Doors were a great band and here we have some great film documentation of their performances during the 1968 European tour that captures the visceral energy Jim Morrison and the rest of the band captured on stage. The songs are great and on this DVD, they sound magnificent. Well, I was a bit disappointed that the performances of "Light My Fire," "Backdoor Man" and "Spanish Caravan" are a bit crudely recorded. They still work though. The best piece of film here is when the band performs "When The Music's Over." The performance captures the viewer with the intricate playing, provocative lyrics (as in "The End") and Morrison really comes off as an impressive rock artist. I especially loved it when he says, "We want the world and we want it now." "Unknown Soldier" and "Love Me Two Times" are also magnificently done. The fault of this DVD (and video for you VHS watchers) is that we really don't get THAT much information on the tour itself. Jefferson Airplane give a few interesting insights, but nothing very fascinating that keeps your attention. All we really get are the good performances, and that's it. Yes, The Doors are the greatest rock band of all time, but this film deserved a wee-bit more work.