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Stop Making Sense

  • 19841984
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
David Byrne in Stop Making Sense (1984)
Home Video Trailer from Palm Pictures
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
22 Photos
  • Documentary
  • Music

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

IMDb RATING
8.6/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jonathan Demme
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Demme
    • Talking Heads
  • Stars
    • David Byrne
    • Bernie Worrell
    • Alex Weir
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jonathan Demme
  • Writers
    • Jonathan Demme
    • Talking Heads
  • Stars
    • David Byrne
    • Bernie Worrell
    • Alex Weir
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 83User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Stop Making Sense
    Trailer 1:49
    Stop Making Sense

    Photos22

    David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads, and Tina Weymouth in Stop Making Sense (1984)
    David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Talking Heads, and Tina Weymouth in Stop Making Sense (1984)
    David Byrne and Talking Heads in Stop Making Sense (1984)
    1 sheet
    For the 15th anniversary rerelease, Quad Movie Poster, 40 x 30
    Stop Making Sense (1984)
    Stop Making Sense (1984)
    Stop Making Sense (1984)
    Stop Making Sense (1984)
    Stop Making Sense (1984)
    Stop Making Sense (1984)
    Stop Making Sense (1984)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Byrne
    David Byrne
    • Vocals and Guitaras Vocals and Guitar
    Bernie Worrell
    Bernie Worrell
    • Keyboardsas Keyboards
    Alex Weir
    • Guitar and Vocalsas Guitar and Vocals
    Steven Scales
    • Percussionas Percussion
    Lynn Mabry
    • Backing Vocalsas Backing Vocals
    Ednah Holt
    • Backing Vocalsas Backing Vocals
    • (as Edna Holt)
    Tina Weymouth
    Tina Weymouth
    • Bass, Percussion and Vocalsas Bass, Percussion and Vocals
    Jerry Harrison
    Jerry Harrison
    • Guitar, Keyboards and Vocalsas Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
    Chris Frantz
    Chris Frantz
    • Drums and Vocalsas Drums and Vocals
    • Director
      • Jonathan Demme
    • Writers
      • Jonathan Demme
      • Talking Heads
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    • concert film
    • live in concert recording
    • national film registry
    • song
    • band
    • 17 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • 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?
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Music
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The footage was culled from several different shows. In order to minimize the amount of cameras in the frame, one show was all shot from one side of the stage, the next night was shot from the other side.
    • Goofs
      As stated above the concert was edited together from three shows, and it being a "live" show, things not planned happened. The first night, David Byrne puts on the baseball cap that's thrown up on stage from the audience, so the next night it can be seen next to the drums so that he can put it on again.
    • Quotes

      David Byrne: Thanks! Does anybody have any questions?

    • Alternate versions
      Video release is 12 minutes longer and features three additional songs not included in original theatrical version.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Stop Making Sense/Falling in Love/Paris Texas (1984)
    • Soundtracks
      Psycho Killer
      Written by David Byrne, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz

      Performed by Talking Heads

    User reviews83

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Masterpiece
    This concert/movie is simply a brilliant collaboration of music and film. First off, you have the Talking Heads, perhaps one of the most creative and interesting bands in the history of music who put on a concert that is so imaginative that I still cannot believe it happened. Second, you have veteran Director Johnathan Demme who brings the darkness and creepiness that he used in such films as Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia, to a concert with sort of a dark and creepy demeanor, i.e. David Byrne in general, the style of music, the dancing. I mean dark and creepy in a good way however. I cannot help to think that this movie is also a comedy. David Byrne's movements, the bass players dancing, the songs and just everything i get a kick out of. I have always been a big fan of the Talking Heads, but after seeing this movie, my love for them skyrockets. They are a unbelievable band with an imagination that rivals that of the likes of Shel Silverstein and the Cohen Brothers. I could literally go on and on about how brilliant this movie is. I think the next time i watch it, i may actually get up and dance. I only wish that I could have been at the actual show. I also cannot figure out what I like better, The Last Waltz or this. Shame on anybody who badmouths this movie or the band in general. See this and then see it again and again and again. 10/10
    helpful•66
    3
    • phmurphy
    • Jun 10, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 16, 1984 (West Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
    • Filming locations
      • Pantages Theater - 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Talking Heads
      • Arnold Stiefel Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,200,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,095,592
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $41,666
      • Oct 21, 1984
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,108,872
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Review: Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz" (1978); Criterion Special Edition
    Review: Martin Scorsese's "The Last Waltz" (1978); Criterion Special Edition
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    David Byrne, ‘American Utopia’ Cast Bring ‘Like Humans Do’ to ‘Fallon’
    David Byrne, ‘American Utopia’ Cast Bring ‘Like Humans Do’ to ‘Fallon’
    Mar 8Rollingstone.com

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