Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1983) Reviews

The July 3, 1973 concert by David Bowie at London's Hammersmith Odeon Theatre is the subject of this documentary by director D.A. Pennebaker, best known for the earlier rock films Don't Look Back and Monterey Pop. Framed by a smattering of behind-the-scenes footage, the bulk of the film concerns the actual concert, notable as the final time that Bowie would perform under the Ziggy Stardust persona -- an announcement that, at the time, led many fans to mistakenly believe Bowie was retiring altogether. This "final" performance features numerous songs from Ziggy Stardust, Hunky Dory, Aladdin Sane and other Bowie albums, including "Ziggy Stardust," "Moonage Daydream," "Changes," and "Space Oddity," as well as a cover of the Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat." Though a shortened version of the film was broadcast on television in 1974, the film did not receive a full theatrical release until 1983. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi