Wattstax (1973)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Mel Stuart

Release Date:

23 November 1973 (West Germany)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy | Music

Tagline:

A soulful expression of the living word...

Plot:

Documentary about african-american singers like Isaac Hayes and Rufus Thomas.

Plot Keywords:

Singer | African American | 1970s | Stadium | One Word Title

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

James Alexander	...	Himself
Rance Allen	...	Himself
Raymond Allen	...	Himself
The Bar-Kays	...	Themselves
Andre Edwards	...	Himself
The Emotions	...	Themselves
Isaac Hayes	...	Himself
Luther Ingram	...	Himself
Jesse Jackson	...	Himself (as Rev. Jesse Jackson)
Erik Kilpatrick	...	Himself
Albert King	...	Himself
Ted Lange	...	Himself
Little Milton	...	Himself
Richard Pryor	...	Himself
Mavis Staples	...	Herself (as The Staples Singers)
Roebuck 'Pops' Staples	...	Himself (as The Staples Singers)
Johnnie Taylor	...	Himself
Carla Thomas	...	Herself
Rufus Thomas	...	Himself
Kim Weston	...	Herself

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Watts, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Stax Records

Trivia:

Originally 'The Bar Kays' were going to enter the L.A. Coliseum riding in horse-drawn chariots. However, when the executives of Stax Records heard what the group had planned they ordered them not to do it. It turned out that the reason they didn't want the group to do it was so that they wouldn't upstage the concert's headliner, Isaac Hayes.

Movie Connections:

Featured in TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Funky Chicken

Loved it, loved it, loved it!

Not only was I at the colliseum to witness this incredible event from the beginning to the end, but my wife my nephew and I appear briefly on camera. To say that I enjoyed the beautiful expressions that I observed that day is to put it mildly. To see such a large crowd of beautiful, proud and peaceful African Americans celebrating our musical heritage was an event that I will cherish to my grave. I can only give thanks to everyone who participated in making this such a seminal event in my life. I was fortunate enough to be able to tape the movie when it came on cable TV but of course I am anxiously waiting for it to come out on DVD. You know the thing that really impresses me is that this came about as the aftermath of a very violent occurrence and there were, at least to my knowledge, no acts of violence during this event. What a great testament to us. Be proud black folks, be very, very proud.