The Band Movies

In 1970, with seemingly every North American city of any size holding a rock festival after the success of Woodstock, Ken Walker and Thor Eaton, a pair of Canadian entrepreneurs and music buffs, had an idea: instead of setting up one massive show with a bunch of top-name acts, why not stage a series of them across the country? With this in mind, Walker (then only 22 years old) and Eaton (whose family owned one of Canada's most successful department store chains) signed up Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, the Band, Buddy Guy, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and several others and hired out a private train that would carry the musicians in high style for a string of five shows from Toronto to Calgary. The jaunt was called "The Festival Express," and a camera crew tagged along to capture the shows on film, as well as the constant party that took place en route. The tour proved to be a financial bust and, as a result, the footage sat on the shelf for over thirty years until director Bob Smeaton recut the material into Festival Express, which not only documents the glorious folly of the tour, but offers a hindsight look at the events from some of the surviving participants. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Harry Dean Stanton narrates this documentary that takes a look at the career of the musical group the Band. The group emerged in the late 1960s and their musical style was something new for the times -- a style that went beyond the psychedelic musical movement of the 60's. Go behind the scenes and see the private and professional lives of the band members. Hear how they became a group and what inspires their musical style. This video highlights music from the albums Music From Big Pink, and The Band. See film footage from performances of: "The Weight, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," "Up On Cripple Creek," and "Life is a Carnival." ~ Beth Deki, All Movie Guide

This 1997 documentary examines the making of the critically acclaimed, eponymous 1969 album by the Band. Televised initially on VH1 as part of their Classic Albums series, and later on PBS, the Rhino Home Video release of this program contains additional footage not seen on the TV version. Featured are interviews with the principal creators of the albums -- the artists as well as the producers, engineers, and others involved in the recording sessions. The video includes conversations with Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson, and Rick Danko, who reveal inside information about all aspects of the album's creation at in a makeshift studio set up in a Hollywood Hills home formerly owned by Sammy Davis Jr. Bandmembers explain how they conceived and achieved their sound, with the musicians frequently switching instruments. They explain the layering of vocals and instrumentation on songs such as "Rockin' Chair." Levon Helm explains his drum technique. Highlights include performances of some of the band's most influential songs with such notable stars as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Don Was. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide

This 1976 episode of Saturday Night Live is hosted by Buck Henry and features musical guest the Band. ~ Skyler Miller, All Movie Guide