Monterey Pop (1968)

Director:

D.A. Pennebaker

Release Date:

2 June 1969 (Sweden)

Genre:

Documentary | History | Music

Tagline:

Filmed At The Monterey International Pop Festival by D.A. Pennebaker

Plot:

A film about the greatest pre-Woodstock rock music festival.

Plot Keywords:

Rock Music | Performance | Monterey Pop Festival | Audience | Live In Concert Recording

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Scott McKenzie	...	Performer
Denny Doherty	...	Performers (as Mamas and the Papas)
'Mama' Cass Elliot	...	Performers (as Mamas and the Papas)
John Phillips	...	Performers (as Mamas and the Papas)
Michelle Phillips	...	Performers (as Mamas and the Papas)
Frank Cook	...	Performers (as Canned Heat)
Bob Hite	...	Performers (as Canned Heat)
Henry Vestine	...	Performers (as Canned Heat)
Alan Wilson	...	Performers (as Canned Heat)
Art Garfunkel	...	Performers (as Simon and Garfunkel)
Paul Simon	...	Performers (as Simon and Garfunkel)
Hugh Masekela	...	Performer
Marty Balin	...	Performers (as Jefferson Airplane)
Jack Casady	...	Performers (as Jefferson Airplane)
Spencer Dryden	...	Performers (as Jefferson Airplane)
Paul Kantner	...	Performers (as Jefferson Airplane)
Jorma Kaukonen	...	Performers (as Jefferson Airplane)
Grace Slick	...	Performer, with Jefferson Airplane
Peter Albin	...	Performers (as Big Brother and The Holding Company)
Sam Andrew	...	Performers (as Big Brother and The Holding Company)
Dave Getz	...	Performers (as Big Brother and The Holding Company)
James Gurley	...	Performers (as Big Brother and The Holding Company)
Larry Taylor	...	Performers
Janis Joplin	...	Performer
Eric Burdon	...	Performers (as Eric Burdon and The Animals)
Vic Briggs	...	Performers (as Eric Burdon and The Animals)
Barry Jenkins	...	Performers (as Eric Burdon and The Animals)
Danny McCulloch	...	Performers (as Eric Burdon and The Animals)
John Weider	...	Performers (as Eric Burdon and The Animals)
Roger Daltrey	...	Performers (as The Who)
John Entwistle	...	Performers (as The Who)
Keith Moon	...	Performers (as The Who)
Pete Townshend	...	Performers (as The Who)
Bruce Barthol	...	Performers (as Country Joe and The Fish)
David Cohen	...	Performers (as Country Joe and The Fish)
Chicken Hirsh	...	Performers (as Country Joe and The Fish)
Country Joe McDonald	...	Performers (as Country Joe and The Fish)
Barry Melton	...	Performers (as Country Joe and The Fish)
Otis Redding	...	Performer
Jimi Hendrix	...	Performer
Ravi Shankar	...	Performer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The Animals	...	Themselves
Big Brother and the Holding Company	...	Themselves
Canned Heat	...	Themselves
Country Joe and the Fish	...	Themselves
Jefferson Airplane	...	Themselves
The Mamas and the Papas	...	Themselves
The Who	...	Themselves
Booker T. & the M.G.s	...	Themselves (uncredited)
Steve Cropper	...	Himself - Booker T. & the MG's (uncredited)
Micky Dolenz	...	Himself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Donald Dunn	...	Himself - Booker T. & the MG's (uncredited)
Al Jackson Jr.	...	Himself - Booker T. & the MG's (uncredited)
Booker T. Jones	...	Himself - Booker T. & the MG's (uncredited)
Brian Jones	...	Himself (uncredited)
Mitch Mitchell	...	Performer, with Jimi Hendrix (uncredited)
Laura Nyro	...	Performer (uncredited)
Noel Redding	...	Performer, with Jimi Hendrix (uncredited)
Johnny Rivers	...	Performer (uncredited)
Tom Smothers	...	Himself (uncredited)
Carol Wayne	...	Herself - Audience Member (uncredited)

Directed by
D.A. Pennebaker

Produced by
Lou Adler	....	producer
John Phillips	....	producer

Cinematography by
Nick Doob		(as James Desmond)
Barry Feinstein
Richard Leacock
Albert Maysles
Roger Murphy
D.A. Pennebaker

Film Editing by
Nina Schulman

Camera and Electrical Department
John Maddox	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Mary Lampson	....	assistant editor

Production Companies

• The Foundation

Distributors

• Leacock-Pennebaker (1968) (USA) (theatrical) (as Leakock Pennebaker Inc.)
• Film Canada Presentations (1969) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Beat (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (original release) | Dolby (re-release) | Mono (original release)

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Monterey, California, USA

Company:

The Foundation

Trivia:

Although they declined the invitation to perform because they had sworn off touring permanently, all four Beatles were on the festival's board of directors. George Harrison had helped recommend 'Ravi Shankar (I)', and Paul McCartney had pushed for the organizers to sign Jimi Hendrix, who was unknown in the United States at the time.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the opening credits, a hand-drawn title says "IN ORDER OF PEFORMANCE", misspelling the word "PERFORMANCE".

Movie Connections:

Featured in Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who (2007)

Classic

This is a classic documentary of 60s rock, captured live before all the hype and hoopla of hippiedom sank most of these acts (and many others). The Monterey Pop Festival kicked off the Summer of Love and remains the prime event of that epoch. The film should be seen by anyone who claims a passing interest in "Woodstock" or "the 60s." I give it 10 stars.