Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii (1972)

Live versions of the songs, filmed in an old Pompeii amphitheater. Songs included are Echoes (split into 2 parts), Careful with that axe, Eugene, A saucerful of secrets, One of those days, ... See full summary »

Director:

Adrian Maben

Stars:

David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright

Cast

Complete credited cast:
David Gilmour	...	Himself (guitar, vocals) (as Pink Floyd)
Nick Mason	...	Himself (drums) (as Pink Floyd)
Roger Waters	...	Himself (bass, vocals, percussion) (as Pink Floyd)
Richard Wright	...	Himself (keyboards, vocals) (as Pink Floyd)

Storyline

Live versions of the songs, filmed in an old Pompeii amphitheater. Songs included are Echoes (split into 2 parts), Careful with that axe, Eugene, A saucerful of secrets, One of those days, Set the controls for the heart of the sun, Mademoiselle nobbs (Seamus, but with Rick's dog on vocals). "Careful" and "Set the controls" are shot at night with minimal lighting, setting a beautiful mood. And the live Saucerful just has to be seen, with Waters jumping around in the sunlight banging the huge gong. The 80-minute version features studio footage from the recordings of Dark side of the Moon, with alternate versions of Us and them, On the run and Brain Damage, as well as interviews with the band.

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Plot Keywords:

dark side of the moon | pompeii | band | alternate version | pink floyd | 

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Taglines:

More Than a Movie! An Explosive Cinema Concert!

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

Belgium West Germany France

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1972 (France)

Also Known As:

Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii

Filming Locations:

Pozzuoli, Naples, Campania, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR),Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF),RM Productions Fernseh- und Filmgesellschaft mbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min (original) 92 min (director's cut) 85 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo Dolby Digital (Remix for video release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During "Echoes part 2" Rick Wright and David Gilmour sing the lyric "inviting and inciting me to rise" in different ways. Wright says "inciting and inviting". Gilmour catches Wright's mistake and alters his own lyric mid-line to say "inviting and inviting" so that they both line up for the second part.

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Goofs

In both parts of the song "Echoes", Nick Mason's sunglasses disappear and reappear a couple of times, indicating that the performance in Pompeii was filmed in sections rather than just one take. Or that there were two takes of the song and footage was used from both.

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Quotes

Roger Waters: [after failed recording take of David's guitar]
[over studio intercom]
Roger Waters: Um, feedback Dave.
David Gilmour: Don't worry about that. Christ. What would rock and roll be without feedback?

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Alternate Versions

The new DVD also contains the 'original version' of the film that is in full-frame and only features the music. However, the original version's credits were in French in the same font style as the song titles, which, depending on your opinion, makes the credits seem somewhat polished and tacky.

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Connections

Featured in The Abbey Road Story (1998)

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Soundtracks

Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun
Written by Roger Waters (uncredited)
Performed by Pink Floyd

User Reviews

Best Documental/Concert Movie Ever

The idea. The scenario. The music. The performance. The Band. The greatest.

I can only say that Pompeii and Pink Floyd talk for themselves. It transmitted me the complete idea of what Pink Floyd is...or was in that time. After seeing this movie every music lover will be you delighted and every Pink Floyd fan will be enlightened (and if you do not like music nor pink floyd at all don't bother continuing reading this commentary).

The songs perfectly match the Greek amphitheatre, the space sequences shown, and every song was PERFECTLY performed, so exact, including the participation of a dog singin the blues in "Mademoiselle Nobs", Roger banging the gong with the sun behind (an amazing picture!!!), the speechless improvising between songs, that leaves you only with the desire of having been there when it all happened.

It also contains some fragments of what was the beginning of the recording of the masterpiece "Dark Side of the Moon" and commentaries by the four, which you'll find very interesting and wise, which give you also the perspective of Pink Floyd by its members.

Buy, beg, borrow or steal...(well, not steal), but see it right away cause Adrian Maben and Pink Floyd really hit the spot in this one.