Stamping Ground (1971) User Reviews

Nice Attempt (but it's sure no Woodstock)

[druid333-2 · 7/10 · 24 July 2009]

'Love And Music',also known as 'Stamping Ground' in the U.S.,is a documentary (or rock doc)about a three day,open air festival in the Netherlands in 1970,that passed itself off as a European Woodstock (or Isle of Wight). The talent included The Jefferson Airplane,It's A Beautiful Day,Pink Floyd,T-Rex,and others. The film gains points for how much of the performances were used (which was not always). The film seems to skip hither & yon from one to another,without much in the way of a complete performance (too many bands are sadly shortchanged),and the camera isn't always where it's supposed to be (plus the editing is terrible---Pink Floyd's segment seems to be chopped up fragments of two or three different pieces of music in one mish mash). Hopefully, one of these days,an augmented version of this concert film,with extra footage will be finally released on DVD/Blue Ray Disc. Not rated by the MPAA,but contains the usual glut of nudity,raunchy language & dope smoking that is expected with concert films of that era

Just like Woodstock one year later

[shirleyhyoung · 10/10 · 14 November 2000]

This movie was filmed in June of 1970 and not only did I see the movie when it was released, I was at the music festival in the Rotterdam Woods where it was filmed. Everyone who played at Woodstock and was still alive played here. The concert was great and the film was an excellent documentary of the event which took place over a period of three days. See this if you are looking for the music to transport you back to 1970. Santana never sounded better than when their drums echoed through the woods. This movie is also a visual thrill.

Tremendous Time

[boss-41 · 8/10 · 10 November 2004]

Saw this film after being at the festival itself. A little while ago. Both were very nice experiences.

It's a unique time document. Even in filming, concerning splitscreens and several other technics. I remember [although it's a long time ago] especially Grace Slick when she didn't like the lights

If you have the chance and you like the sixties/seventies sound there's only one thing you can do:

GO SEE THIS FILM! *********

better quality than the Woodstock-film

[wrv-16858 · 8/10 · 2 July 2020]

The popmusic-festival from June 1970 at Kralingen (a suburb of Rotterdam), was a mini-Woodstock.

At present its documentary review 'Stamping Ground' plays in many Dutch filmhouses. This is due to (1) its 50th anniversary, and also to (2) Corona. Its advertisement tells that 'in this Corona-summer it'll be the only festival you're allowed to see' ...

When watching, of course you cannot escape a comparison with the famous Woodstock-film. Doing so, it emerges very soon that 'Stamping Ground's picturing is much better than that of Woodstock -- 'Stamping Ground' really is a well-made documentary film. With an intense quality-camera, following the music well & coming close to the musicians.

However, I suspect that some shots of the audience may be staged. In particular the scene of a naked nimph in a big transparant balloon, floating on the water of the nearby lake. Of course this scene is in 'Stamping Ground's trailer as well ...

Interesting Film

[Sargebri · 12 December 2007]

Thanks to Youtube, I have seen various clips of this film and it looks like a pretty interesting look at one of the most famous post-Woodstock festivals. In this film you get a very mixed bag of performers including Woodstock veterans (Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe McDonald, Canned Heat and Santana), great bands who never quite caught on (Its a Beautiful Day and Family) and future superstars (Pink Floyd). The thing I really liked about it were the interviews that gave you a look at how the scene was during that era. Also, it was interesting to see a lot of these artist either at their ascendancy, as was the case with Pink Floyd and Santana, or at their decline, as was the case with Jefferson Airplane who were just about to lose Marty Balin as he was to quit a few months later.

However, the only complaint I have about the film is the fact that it sounded like whoever recorded the sound for the festival messed up when recording the crowd noise and went back into the studio later and recorded various people in a small room to simulate the crowd reactions.

Nevertheless, this is a fairly good rockumentary.