The Doors: When You're Strange (2009)

A look at the late '60s and early '70s rock band The Doors, including rare exclusive footage.

Director:

Tom DiCillo

Writer:

Tom DiCillo

Stars:

Johnny Depp, John Densmore, Robby Krieger

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Johnny Depp	...	Narrator (voice)
John Densmore	...	Himself (archive footage)
Robby Krieger	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ray Manzarek	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jim Morrison	...	Himself (archive footage)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pam Courson	...	Herself (archive footage)
The Doors	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Murray Goodman	...	Himself - Judge (archive footage)
Jimi Hendrix	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lyndon Baines Johnson	...	Himself (archive footage) (as Lyndon Johnson)
Jim Ladd	...	Himself (voice)
Paul A. Rothchild	...	Himself (archive footage)

Storyline

A chronological look at The Doors, focusing on lead singer, Jim Morrison (1943-1971), from the formation of the band in 1965, it's first gigs, and first album, to Morrison's death, after years of alcohol and drug use. Along the journey, we see archival footage of rehearsals, performances, and private moments including a Miami concert resulting in Morrison's arrest and trial for indecency. His love of the spotlight, his desire to be a poet, and his alcohol-fueled mood swings lead to a back and forth between public and private desires, successes, and failures. The band's music plays throughout.

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Plot Keywords:

band | singer | performance | trial | arrest | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexual content including references, nudity, drug material and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 May 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ha idegen vagy - A Doors története

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$66,833, 11 April 2010

Gross USA:

$246,078

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,147,004

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min 90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS (5.1)

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Depp, the narrator was also in Dark Shadows and Sweeney Todd which both revolve around music.

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Goofs

A mock newspaper clipping announces both that Sharon Tate and her friends have been found murdered and that Charles Manson and his "Family" are suspected. Manson and the "Family" were not identified as the Tate killers until December 1969, more than four months after the murders happened.

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Quotes

Narrator: The week before, The Living Theatre had performed in Los Angeles. Their manifesto is radically political change can only come from a rejection of all rules. Jim goes to every performance. He once called The Doors "erotic politicians", but he confesses to the group's director that though he has the ear of a generation, he feels he's never had anything to say.

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Connections

Edited into American Masters: The Doors: When You're Strange (2010)

User Reviews

Profound

I just saw it at the Santa Barbara film festival and it had a profound affect on me. Morrison is so perfect he looks fake, where did they get this footage? Depp is like Jim reincarnate, music is amazing (a little loud). Why can't bands be like this today? I knew the story but this hit me like a ton of bricks. Someone said this doc has been around for a while, but I haven't heard a thing about it except for a crappy review at Sundance last year. But I think this is a different movie because Depp wasn't in that one. The great thing about it is that it feels like you are there and yet it feels totally contemporary, like it happened yesterday. Highly Cool.