Mad Dogs & Englishmen (1971)

Director:

Pierre Adidge

Stars:

Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, Chris Stainton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Joe Cocker	...	Himself
Leon Russell	...	Himself
Chris Stainton	...	Himself
Jim Price	...	Himself (as The Band)
Bobby Keys	...	Himself (as The Band)
Jim Gordon	...	Himself (as The Band)
Jim Keltner	...	Himself (as The Band)
Carl Radle	...	Himself (as The Band)
Don Preston	...	Himself (as The Band, The Space Choir)
Sandy Konikoff	...	Himself (as The Band)
Chuck Blackwell	...	Himself (as The Band)
Bobby Torres	...	Himself (as The Band)
Jim Horn	...	Himself (as The Band)
Rita Coolidge	...	Herself (as The Space Choir)
Claudia Lennear	...	Herself (as The Space Choir)

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

performance | independent film

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 August 1971 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Filming Locations:

Dallas, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

A&M Films, Creative Film Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono 70 mm 6-Track

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joe Cocker found himself in the unusual position of having no band and several concert dates to play when his group Grease Band returned to England ahead of him. He then recruited over 40 of his friends and family to help out, and for the next six weeks, effectively created a touring commune.

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Connections

Referenced in Dharma & Greg: Mad Secretaries and Englishmen (2000)

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Soundtracks

"The Letter"
Written by Wayne Carson Thompson

User Reviews

AN IMPORTANT CONCERT FILM

"Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is the account of Joe Cocker's 1970 American Tour. There is lots of great music, but the impression the film left me is what joy there is when good music is being made.

It was made in the same vein as "Woodstock" the 1970 Oscar winner for Best Documentary. "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is even better than "Woodstock". I don't want to sound like a spoiled sport, but the best parts of "Woodstock" were the musical sequences and "MDAE" is loaded with songs, 21 to be exact.

Cocker exudes a kind of kinetic energy rarely seen anymore. His body moves with the music. He isn't just singing; he feels it. And when the band finishes up with an exceptional take, we see the joy they feel. It was a highlight in "Woodstock" and here, with a 2 hour running time, you can't help but feel exhilarated after it ends. I know I did.

Sadly, "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" is not as well known as "Woodstock", mostly due to the rights being in limbo for so long. Now, A&M Video preserves the film on tape, with the multi-image widescreen images intact and the result is a unearthed treasure. The album only covers some of the bases. The film covers them all.

**** out of 4 stars