Wattstax

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Wattstax

The movie poster for the film Wattstax
Directed by Mel Stuart
Produced by Larry Shaw
Mel Stuart
Starring The Staple Singers
Richard Pryor
Rufus Thomas
Kim Weston
Johnnie Taylor
The Bar-Kays
Isaac Hayes
Albert King
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) February 4, 1973
Running time 98 min.
Language English
Official website
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Wattstax is a 1973 documentary film by Mel Stuart that focused on the 1972 Wattstax music festival and the African American community of Watts in Los Angeles, California. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Documentary Film in 1974.

The concert was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on August 20, 1972 and organized by Memphis's Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. Wattstax was seen by some as "the Afro-American answer to Woodstock". In order to enable as many members of the black community in L.A. as possible, tickets were sold for only $1.00 each. The Reverend Jesse Jackson gave the invocation, which included his "I Am - Somebody" poem, which was recited in a call and response with the assembled stadium crowd. Interspersed between songs are interviews with Richard Pryor, Ted Lange and others who discuss the black experience in America.

Contents

[edit] Synopsis

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The film begins with an introduction by Pryor. This is followed by shots of urban life on the streets of Watts, accompanied by the song "What You See Is What You Get" by The Dramatics. Mel Stuart wasn't terribly happy about the full concert footage and had the Pryor interludes between certain songs and live shots of urban life in the city. Stuart felt he wanted someone to narrate between the scenes to create a transition in a comedic but meaningful way. Scenes of the concert being set up while the song "Oh La De Da" by the Staple Singers play followed by showing the crowds entering the stadium with another Dramatics song playing, "We the People".

The first song played in concert is the "Star-Spangled Banner" performed by Kim Weston while the audience sits. An introduction by Jesse Jackson who encourages the audience with their right fist in the air while he performs his poem "I Am Somebody". Kim Weston follows this up with a performance of the "Black National Anthem"; "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing". While she sings the audience is more invigorated to stand and still have their fists in the air while the song is intercut with images from African-American history. Following this scene is a performance of "Somebody Bigger Than You and I" by Jimmy Jones.

A brief discussion about religion is followed by a performance of "Lying on the Truth" by Gospel band The Rance Allen Group. Various of the varying different religions and their churches around Watts. The song "Peace Be Still" is being and heard, and eventually seen performed by The Emotions in a local church. This is followed by another brief discussion of Gospel music with a performance of "Old-Time Religion" performed by "The Stax Golden 13" which included William Bell, Louise McCord, Debra Manning, Eric Mercury, Freddy Robinson, Lee Sain, Ernie Hines, Little Sonny, Eddie Floyd, the Newcomers, the Temprees, and Frederick Knight. After a brief interlude with Richard Pryor, Melvin Van Peebles introduces the Staple Singers who play "Respect Yourself" in concert.

After another montage and conversation about African-American identity, the Bar-Kays are introduced. A saxophonist from the group makes a brief speech, which includes the words, "freedom is a road seldom travelled by the multitude" (later made famous when they were sampled by Public Enemy in "Show 'Em Whatcha Got"). The Bar-Kays then play "Son of Shaft" is performed. This is followed by a montage of conversation about unemployment and crime in Watts. Following this is a brief performance of Albert King playing "I'll Play The Blues for You" which is quickly cut to have another conversation with the people of Watts about blues music, depression. An unusual piece of footage is shown of performance of "Walking the Backstreet and Crying" by Little Milton. This is shown in a similar style as a music video, with Milton performs the song near a train station and a burning trash can while the song is being dubbed in later.

The segment is followed by Rufus Thomas talking about a character named "Jody" as being someone who "is that fella, when you leave home at six o'clock, he's in that house at six-one". This is followed by shots of various rich African Americans exiting their expensive cars and stereotypical pimp clothing, while the song is "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone" by Johnnie Taylor is being performed in a night club. This is followed by a sketch with Richard Pryor discussing gambling. A montage of couples in Watts is shown while "I May Not Be What You Want" performed by Mel and Tim is played while a discussion about dating and romance is being played. The scene then changes to a performance of "Picking Up the Pieces" by Carla Thomas. During this song, several red, black and white balloons flow through the stadium. More conversation about gender roles and romance in their African-American society.

The film is then followed by the few full-length performances of Carla Thomas' father Rufus Thomas performing "The Breakdown" and "Do the Funky Chicken". This is followed by another interlude with Pryor then a cover of "If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right" by soul singer Luther Ingram. After the final interlude, Isaac Hayes enters the stadium to a large audience reaction. In the original version, the studio that had the rights to the songs "Theme from Shaft" and "Soulsville" didn't allow the film makers to use the songs in the film, so the song "Rolling Down A Mountain" was written and performed for the film. These songs are restored on Region 1 DVD release of the film. The camera pans out at the end of the stadium showing several people during the interludes in the film while the speech "I Am Somebody" is being shouted again followed by "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" as the credits roll.

[edit] Later developments

In September 2004, the PBS series P.O.V. aired a new documentary about the concert and the movie. That same month, the movie was released on DVD. French distribution: Mission Distribution

[edit] Music

[edit] Songs in the film

Wattstax DVD cover
Wattstax DVD cover

In order of appearance:

[edit] Other songs in the concert

[edit] See also

[edit] External links