Stop Making Sense (1984)

An innovative concert movie for the rock group The Talking Heads.

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers:

Jonathan Demme, Talking Heads

Stars:

David Byrne, Bernie Worrell, Alex Weir

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bernie Worrell	...	Keyboards
Alex Weir	...	Guitar and Vocals
Steven Scales	...	Percussion (as Steve Scales)
Lynn Mabry	...	Backing Vocals
Ednah Holt	...	Backing Vocals (as Edna Holt)
Tina Weymouth	...	Bass, Percussion and Vocals
Jerry Harrison	...	Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
Chris Frantz	...	Drums and Vocals
David Byrne	...	Vocals and Guitar

Storyline

David Byrne walks onto the stage and does a solo "Psycho Killer." Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz join him for two more songs. The crew is busy, still setting up. Then, three more musicians and two back-up singers join the band. Everybody sings, plays, harmonizes, dances, and runs. They change instruments and clothes. Bryne appears in the Big Suit. The backdrop is often black, but sometimes it displays words, images, or children's drawings. The band cooks for 18 songs, the lyrics are clear, the house rocks. In this concert film, the Talking Heads hardly talk, don't stop, and always make sense.

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Plot Keywords:

song | band | suit | stage | musician | 

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Taglines:

Why stop making sense? Why a movie? Why a big suit? Where do the odd movements come from? What will the band do next?

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1984 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Stop Making Sense

Filming Locations:

Pantages Theater - 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$41,666, 21 October 1984

Gross USA:

$5,095,592

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,102,405

Company Credits

Production Co:

Talking Heads, Arnold Stiefel Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min 100 min (VHS)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (1999 re-release) Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Picked by Entertainment Weekly magazine as one of the "50 Greatest Independent Films" in a special supplement devoted to independent films that was only distributed to subscribers in October 1997.

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Goofs

At several points throughout the film, the sound and vision do not sync up. This is particularly noticeable during "Found A Job:" early in the song, a cymbal crash is heard, even though Chris Frantz is not seen to hit one. A few bars later, he hits the cymbal, but no sound is heard.

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Quotes

David Byrne: I wanna introduce the band by name.

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Alternate Versions

Additional previously unseen footage added to the DVD release.

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Connections

Referenced in Shy People (1987)

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Soundtracks

Psycho Killer
Written by David Byrne, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz
Performed by Talking Heads

User Reviews

absolutely the best concert film of all time

and also the only true work of art that Jonathon Demme has ever produced. I have shown this film to friends who have never heard of or listened to Talking Heads, and all agree that a) it is a freaking incredible film, b) I am a god for having shown it to them, and c) they need to go out immediately and buy a copy for themselves. If you haven't seen this film, take that copy of "Song Remains The Same" (which should have been called "Song Remains So Lame", and I love LedZep so kwitcherbitchin hehe) and throw it away. This is so watchable that I'm still not tired of it after seeing it more than a dozen times in 1984 and owning the DVD since I got my first player 5 years ago.