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Wattstax (30th Anniversary Special Edition)

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Wattstax (30th Anniversary Special Edition) (1972)

Starring: James Alexander, Rance Allen Director: Mel Stuart Rating: R (Restricted) Format: DVD

4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

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This item: Wattstax (30th Anniversary Special Edition) DVD ~ James Alexander
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Soul Comes Home: A Celebration of Stax Records DVD ~ Various Artists
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Product Details

Actors: James Alexander, Rance Allen, Raymond Allen, The Bar-Kays, Andre Edwards
Directors: Mel Stuart
Producers: Mel Stuart, Al Bell, David L. Wolper, Forest Hamilton, Larry Shaw
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: September 7, 2004
Run Time: 98 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)

ASIN: B000294U6E
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,640 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#29 in Movies & TV > Comedy > Comedy Stars > Richard Pryor
#43 in Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Artists > Jackson, Michael

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
They called Wattstax the "black Woodstock," but there are many differences between that seminal hippie event and the 1972 concert documented in this 30th-anniversary special-edition reissue. Woodstock was all about peace, love, and music. Wattstax, held three years later in Los Angeles, had those elements as well; but as this 103-minute film reminds us, it was a more socio-politically charged event, with its emphasis on black pride and the simple opportunity for African Americans to assert that, in opening speaker Jesse Jackson's words, "I am somebody." There's also a good deal less music in this film than in the Woodstock movie. As the title suggests, a host of great Stax Records artists (including Rufus and Carla Thomas, the Bar-Kays, the Staple Singers, Albert King, and show closer Isaac Hayes) performed, but much of Wattstax doesn't even take place inside the L.A. Coliseum, where the concert was held, but rather in the churches and shops and on the streets of Watts itself (music fans would be better off checking out the Wattstax double CD). Wattstax, in fact, is much less a music movie than a chronicle of black life seven years after the Watts race riots, as well as what comedian Richard Pryor (who delivers several hilarious but scathing bits) calls "a soulful expression of the black experience." --Sam Graham

Product Description
On August 20, 1972, more than 100,000 people attended what came to be known as "The Black Woodstock." Wattstax - The Special Edition is the 30th anniversary release of the film that documented that historic event and includes the once-lost original ending featuring Isaac Hayes' performances of "Theme From Shaft" and "Soulsville."

DVD Features:
Alternate endings:Original 1973 ending, performed by Isaac Hayes
Audio Commentary:Audio commentary by Chuck D, and music historian Rob Bowman Cast and crew commentaries including Isaac Hayes
DVD ROM Features:Links to Wattstax website and related sites
Theatrical Trailer:Original 1973 theatrical trailer 2003 Special Edition trailer

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Customer Reviews

40 Reviews

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (40 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Dream Come True...!!!, November 9, 2004

By	Eddie Landsberg "(just about) 10 years review... (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I first discovered the album during my early years as a '70s funk, soul and black music fanatic (in the early 80's) and dreamed of one day actually being able to see the move... For years and years I waited and prayed... probably figuring that something that good had long been lost and destroyed... and finally... ! ! ! - - Although in all honesty the two records actually have much more music than the film, the film is an amazing portrait of urban black life, music and culture in that era... The blacksploitation films presented a fantasy version of it... Wattstax took the cameras out in the community and showed people being for real and talking about... well, life in general. - - and the high point... YES, definitely RUFUS THOMAS's performance, and also Johnnie Taylor at that club that looked like a scene out of THE MAC or some Rudy Ray Moore Film... as well as the less than enthuisiastic response of the audience during the Star Spangled Banner... (Film also features an incredible version of LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING which I don't remember being on the soundtrack (?) - - a commemoration of the tragic WATTS riots and a celebration of how the community was coming to terms and rebuilding itself, in addition to the poignance and political message, and a young (just getting discovered) Richard Pryor's "social commentary"- - the film is also delightfully dated... trust me, you KNOW its the early '70s ! ! ! The only downside is that its over before you knew it...

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Power to the people, let's go to the stands!" , September 26, 2004

By	Clare Quilty (a little pad in hawaii) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Even if the concert movie "Wattstax" had nothing else interesting in it, it would still be totally worth watching for the amazing sequence in which rhythm-and-blues legend Rufus Thomas (a bald, portly, middle-aged man who performs in a long-sleeved pink shirt tucked into red shorts over knee-high go-go boots) encourages the ecstatic crowd to spill out of the stands, onto the football field at the L.A. Coliseum, so they can do the Funky Chicken. They comply. At the end of the song, he tells the huge assortment of several hundred dancing fans that they have to return to their seats and, miraculously, again they comply. But when one odd, umbrella-twirling spectator is reluctant to leave the field, Thomas heckles and teases him then, fed up, asks the crowd to remove him. And, man, they comply; the umbrella man is gone within about 3.6 seconds.

Concerts like that just don't happen anymore and Wattstax, a 1972 festival held to mark the seventh anniversary of the Watts race riots, is a lot more than just a presentation of incredible music (by Thomas, the Staples Singers, the Bar-Kays, Albert King and Isaac Hayes). Director Mel Stuart (who, notably, also made "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory") filmed the entire concert but then decided to intercut footage of church services in the Watts area, man-on-the-street interviews about race (Ted Lange, who later went on to play Isaac on "The Love Boat," angrily weighs in) and very off-the-cuff comedy by Richard Pryor.

The pieces don't always mesh together - and I really wish Stuart hadn't felt compelled to interupt the sets by Albert King and others - but they're all fascinating in their own way and the music is tremendously good.

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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truly Worth The Wait, September 8, 2004

By	Soletaker "Mr. Soul" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

I have waited years to see this. I know that there have been bootlegs of this film floating around for years, but I never seen it. I'm glad I've waited for a proper release as this has the true ending with Issac Hayes doing Shaft.

A truly amazing movie, which captures the essence of the culture, and gives you the insight of how things were during those times in the early 70's. So much emotion in it that, you feel like you are taking part of the event yourself.

I love the footage they had with people talking. I saw a couple of people that would go on to have a acting career in the film. I saw Issac from the Loveboat up on there and Ned the Whino( I forgot his real name ). I guess this is what got their acting career started.

The skits with Richard Pryor were comedy classics. So many people copied his style over the years.

I was amazed when Rufus Thomas got all those people to go back to their seats after they all came onto the field during his performance. It was one guy that didn't go back to his seat and Rufus was just clowning him and had everyone laughing at him. Priceless.

There had to been 100,000 people that attended that show and not one fight. If this were to happen today you would have had body bags galore out there. There is no respect in music now.

It's sad to think that Stax as record company would be no more just a few years later. Watching this movie, you couldn't even see that as a possibility. Probably the last great moment in soul music.

Just a classic film that I recommend to anybody that appreciates real soul music and its history.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars More than Just the Music
If you are looking for extended concert footage, look elsewhere. This is a documentary, largely centered around discussions of social issues existing in the 70's... Read more

Published 5 months ago by MJK

3.0 out of 5 stars nice vibes
no subtitles available, too much talking in between, great concerts and very nice audio! Pity about the rubbish between de concerts......

Published 9 months ago by H. B. Mendes

5.0 out of 5 stars wattstax
i am completely satisfied with the dvd and will certainly purchase from this seller again.

Published 10 months ago by B. Jones

2.0 out of 5 stars ON HOLD!!!
I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF ENJOYING WATT STAX FROM BOTH THE MOVIE AND LATER THE ALBUM AS A YOUNGSTER. I KNOW HOW GOOD IT WAS IN IT'S ORIGINAL FORM. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Anderson Briggs

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent documentary with some outstanding music
I saw this in a small theatre as part of a double feature with Dave Chappelle's Block Party. Chappelle apparently based his movie on Wattstax and I figured it would be worth... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Matthew D. Frawley

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely superb!
I purchased this dvd back in 2005, and i have to say it was one of the best concerts on dvd that i'd ever seen. Read more

Published 19 months ago by Eric Robinson

5.0 out of 5 stars I love Richard Pryor.
I brought this film for my mom and we watched it together. We laughed at some of the things a few people had to say (mostly those that were interviewed) and enjoyed watching the... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Anjilyn

2.0 out of 5 stars Meh
I guess I expected more music and less politics from this film about a music festival. The 70's era outfits the people had on were amazing though. Read more

Published 20 months ago by D. Gaughan

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Video!
Proud was the word that came to mind when I finished watching this show. The music along with the commentary from the "people" really takes you back to 1972. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Jay Blaze

4.0 out of 5 stars WATTSTAX 30TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION
The DVD was good. I was disappointed that more footage of singing artists and their names were not used.

Published 22 months ago by Seventies Soul Child

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