Monday 26 November 2012

Rolling Stones, Charlie is My Darling film


I didn't get to see the Stones at the O2 stadium (Midnight Rambler here) in London last night, but Peter Whitehead's film, Charlie is My Darling (BBC iPlayer; new version by Robin Klein and Mick Gochanaur), was a great substitute (a lot cheaper too). Wonderful B/W period footage, from around the time I first saw the Stones live in Bournemouth (1964), and some of it shot in Ireland, near the time of my first visit to Dublin (Easter, 1965) between the Stones' first two Irish concert tours. Another film from around that period: "Ebb". Ian, who acted in "Ebb" was mistaken for a Beatle or a Rolling Stone when he arrived in Dublin! See Michelle Hanson, on the Stones (and Ian) in the Guardian.

From BCC iPlayer:

"As part of the celebration of the Rolling Stones' 50th Anniversary, BBC Two presents the first TV broadcast of this legendary but never before officially released film, The Rolling Stones: Charlie is my Darling.

The film marked the cinematic debut of the band, following them on a quick weekend tour of Ireland in 1965 just weeks after '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' topped the charts and became the international anthem for an entire generation. Charlie is my Darling is an intimate, behind-the-scenes diary of life on the road with the young Rolling Stones, featuring the first professionally filmed concert performances of the band's long and storied touring career, documenting the early frenzy of their fans and the riots their live performances incited. The film also captures the band's formative period, capturing early song-writing sessions and featuring candid, off-the-cuff interviews with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones and Bill Wyman.

This new 65 minute version was developed by producer Robin Klein and director Mick Gochanaur after researching and locating additional film footage shot by Whitehead and uncovering a source of first generation audio recordings of the band's concert performances. Painstaking work was done on restoring the footage to come up with the new film that offers a coherent narrative and gives the viewer unprecedented access to the Rolling Stones' original line-up".

On the O2 concert

1 comment:

  1. your name being corfu blues and the charlie watts comment reminds me of charlie watts visit to corfu and his eviction from the hotel he had arranged to stay due to his hippie attire way back in the late 60s (in his own words to rolling stone magazine)

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