#286: The Summer of '69, Pt. 2: Summer of Soul

The Next Picture Show

Telegraph Road Productions

Tv & Film, Film Reviews, Film History

4.6 • 819 Ratings

🗓️ 20 July 2021

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Our look at the musical happenings of the summer of 1969 shifts from upstate New York to uptown New York City to experience the Harlem Cultural Festival, rescued from historical obscurity by Amir “Questlove” Thompson in his new documentary SUMMER OF SOUL (...OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED). We’re joined once again by music critic Steven Hyden to consider how SUMMER OF SOUL works as a music documentary both in its own right and as an “answer film” of sorts to Woodstock, the subject of the other half of this pairing. Then we bring the two films together to discuss their respective approaches to the concert film as a social document, and how the filmmakers behind them chose to depict the performers onstage as well as the audiences watching them. Plus, Your Next Picture Show, where we share recent filmgoing experiences in hopes of putting something new on your radar. Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about WOODSTOCK, SUMMER OF SOUL, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to [email protected], or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730. Show Notes: Works Cited: “By the time we got to Woodstock 99” by Steven Hyden (avclub.com) Your Next Picture Show: Tasha: The Maysles’ GIMME SHELTER Scott: John Badham’s SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (director’s cut) Keith: Michael Sarnoski’s PIG Steve: Garret Price’s WOODSTOCK 99: PEACE LOVE AND RAGE Get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month. Mintmobile.com/NPS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	It's very difficult to keep the line between the past and the present.
0:05.1	Do you believe that someone out of the past can enter and take possession of a living being?
0:11.9	We may be true with the past, but the past is not through with us.
0:19.5	Welcome back to The Next Picture Show, a movie that week podcast devoted to a classic film
0:23.6	in the way it shaped our thoughts on a recent release.
0:25.8	I'm Keith Phipps here again with...
0:27.5	Tosh Robinson.
0:28.5	And Scott Tobias.
0:29.8	Genevieve is not with us yet again, but we are joined by our friend, music critic, Stephen Hayden.
0:35.1	Hello, Steve.
0:36.2	Hello.
0:37.5	So in last week's show, we talked about Woodstock, Michael Wadley's sweeping look at the Woodstock Music Festival.
0:42.7	This week we're leaving upstate New York for uptown New York City and the Harlem Cultural Festival,
0:47.9	a six-week concert series held in the summer of 1969, whose list of performers practically doubles as a roll call for the top R&B, soul, jazz,
0:55.7	of gospel talent working in the late 60s. Captured on videotape by director Hal Tolchin,
1:01.6	the footage failed to attract a buyer, but has been rescued from obscurity by Amir
1:05.9	Questlove Thompson for the new documentary Summer's Soul, or when the revolution could not be televised.
1:12.5	Beyond rescuing priceless performance footage, the film features interviews with artists and concert
1:16.7	growers that put the festival in the context of what was happening in music and politics
1:20.4	and the culture at large at a pivotal moment. We'll talk it over after the break.
1:33.7	Music We'll talk it over after the break. You know what that is.
1:36.3	An ice cold beer.
	...

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