Festival Express (2003)

The filmed account of a large Canadian rock festival train tour.

Directors:

Bob Smeaton, Frank Cvitanovich

Stars:

Rick Danko, Janis Joplin, The Band

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rick Danko	...	Himself - The Band
Levon Helm	...	Himself - The Band
Garth Hudson	...	Himself - The Band
Richard Manuel	...	Himself - The Band
Robbie Robertson	...	Himself - The Band
Bonnie Bramlett	...	Herself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Delaney Bramlett	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Ben Benay	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Sam Clayton	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Jim Gordon	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Kenny Gradney	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends / Interviewee
Jerry Jumonville	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Darrell Leonard	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Frank Maize	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends
Chuck Morgan	...	Himself - Delaney & Bonnie & Friends

Storyline

In the summer of 1970, a chartered train crossed Canada carrying some of the world's greatest rock bands. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, Buddy Guy, and others lived (and partied) together for five days, stopping in major cities along the way to play live concerts. Their journey was filmed.

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Plot Keywords:

band | train | rock band | canada | summer | 

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Taglines:

Festival Express... The longest party in rock-n-roll history.

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Genres:

Documentary | History | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK Netherlands

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 2004 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Fesztivál Expressz

Filming Locations:

Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$12,074 (USA) (23 July 2004)

Gross:

$1,172,345 (USA) (12 November 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apollo Films, PeachTree Films B.V.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter wrote the song "Might As Well" about the Festival Express train trip. This song, performed over the years by The Grateful Dead, has lots of lyrics referencing this trip: "Long train running from coast to coast/bringing long the party where they need it the most" and "Never had such a good time/in my life before/I'd like to have it one time more/One good ride from start to end/I'd like to take that ride again."

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Connections

Featured in Goedemorgen Nederland: Episode dated 29 April 2004 (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Friend of the Devil"
Performed by The Grateful Dead (as Grateful Dead)
Written by Jerry Garcia (as J. Garcia) / Robert Hunter (as R. Hunter) / John Dawson (as J. Dawson)
Published by Ice Nine Publishing Company, Inc.
Grateful Dead appear courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
under exclusive license from Warner Strategic Marketing

User Reviews

Opinion from a complete non-fan of the music....

Before seeing this film, I was a completely novice to The Band, Grateful Dead, Janis. I'm 22, I didn't grow up with this stuff, my only knowledge of The Band is that Scorcese directed a film on their last concert. I have a few hippie friends that endless blathered about the brilliance of Janis, which fell upon my deaf ears. I was expecting Festival Express to be this dull, venture into 70's nostalgia crap and tedious jam band boredom.

Oh...how my opinion has changed. I mean, its nothing like the music I love (90's alternative stuff and electronic stuff) but the performances are so absolutely incredible and passionate. In reality, its a film for musicians more than fans, people that who have, even for a moment, felt the sheer exhilaration of collaborating musically with people and it being perfect! Festival Express feels exactly like that. You see it in their eyes in these performances. Janis may have been.....kind of crazy, but in the track in the film ("cry baby"?) I can completely see her absolute passion for music and her amazing showmanship (or show-womanship). Festival Express is the best example of a completely non-contrived and purely candid look into these bands. Even if they are brief glimmers of their natural selves.

I think the die-hard fans who are criticizing the film are asking too much. If I can wait 30 years after the demise of my favorite bands (Radiohead, Tool, Nine Inch Nails)...to see an amazingly honest and brilliantly shot look into their touring lives, I would be very very grateful, not critical because the damned filmmakers didn't get everything I wanted. The interviews with the performers and particularly the promoter, are fantastic. Not only are they a good dose of humour, but...its so easy to see WHY they are saying this tour was absolutely special and unique and memorable. It's right there on film, this was the pinnacle of that era and that place and that mentality and musicianship that was going on. You have to appreciate what Festival Express showcases. You might not like every bit of music (I didn't) but I can appreciate the total intensity and passion of the performances.