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20 Feet from Stardom

Original title: Twenty Feet from Stardom
  • 20132013
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.
Play trailer2:16
1 Video
55 Photos
DocumentaryBiographyHistory
Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what live... Read allBackup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.Backup singers live in a world that lies just beyond the spotlight. Their voices bring harmony to the biggest bands in popular music, but we've had no idea who these singers are or what lives they lead, until now.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
    • Morgan Neville
    • Morgan Neville(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Darlene Love
    • Merry Clayton
    • Lisa Fischer
    • Morgan Neville
    • Morgan Neville(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Darlene Love
    • Merry Clayton
    • Lisa Fischer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 91User reviews
    • 147Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar

    Videos1

    Theatrical Version
    Trailer 2:16
    Watch Theatrical Version

    Photos55

    Merry Clayton in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    Darlene Love in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    Lisa Fischer in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    Morgan Neville and Lisa Fischer in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    Merry Clayton and Darlene Love at an event for 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    Merry Clayton, Táta Vega, John Cooper, Caitrin Rogers, and Judith Hill at an event for 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    20 Feet from Stardom (2013)
    Mable John in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Darlene Love
    Darlene Love
    • Self
    Merry Clayton
    Merry Clayton
    • Self
    Lisa Fischer
    Lisa Fischer
    • Self
    Judith Hill
    Judith Hill
    • Self
    Lou Adler
    Lou Adler
    • Self
    Stephanie 'Stevvi' Alexander
    Stephanie 'Stevvi' Alexander
    • Self
    • (as Stevvi Alexander)
    Patti Austin
    Patti Austin
    • Self
    Chris Botti
    Chris Botti
    • Self
    Todd Boyd
    Todd Boyd
    • Self
    • (as Dr. Todd Boyd)
    Carole Childs
    • Self
    Amy Christian
    • Self
    Greg Clark
    • Self
    Kyliyah Clayton
    • Self
    Susan Collins
    • Self
    Charlotte Crossley
    • Self
    Sheryl Crow
    Sheryl Crow
    • Self
    Chris Darrow
    • Self
    Paul Epworth
    Paul Epworth
    • Self
      • Morgan Neville
      • Morgan Neville(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was a financial success, grossing over $5 million internationally on a $1 million budget.
    • Goofs
      Error in important explanatory on-screen caption at around 10 minutes: "The Blossoms were on of the most prolific session groups of the 1960s."
    • Quotes

      Lynn Mabry: Backup singers just bring so much more life to the situation. When a voice opens up, there comes the life. That's when its a person to person connection.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Walk On The Wild Side
      Written by Lou Reed

      Performed by Lou Reed

    User reviews91

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    It's Just a Shot Away
    Greetings again from the darkness. "And the colored girls go do doo doo, do doo ...". The controversial lyrics from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" kick off this exceptional documentary about the oft-ignored back-up singers who have played (and continue to play) a huge role in some of the biggest songs of all-time. You may not know their names, but you have undoubtedly sung along with them while driving or taking a shower.

    Director Morgan Neville has a credit list filled with music shorts and documentaries. One of my personal favorites of his is The American Masters on Muddy Waters. I recalled that while watching this one because Neville does a nice job of connecting the dots from Gospel, Blues and Soul to the roots of Rock and Roll. The main women featured here all admit to being daughters of preachers, and fine-tuning their ability to harmonize during their youth while singing in the church choir.

    Most of the interview time and insight comes from Darlene Love, Lisa Fischer, and Merry Clayton. You may not recognize the names or faces, but you will surely recognize the voices. Ms. Love has been elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and may be best known thanks to her annual appearance on the David Letterman Show at Christmas. Ms. Fischer is the most frequent worker today of the three as she tours with Chris Botti, Sting and The Rolling Stones. However, the heart-stopping climax of the film belongs to Merry Clayton, as we are treated to her isolated vocals from the master on her infamous performance on the single "Gimme Shelter". Hearing her raw voice blast out "Rape. Murder. It's just a shot away" is both exhilarating and gut-wrenching. To hear her tell the story is mesmerizing. One of my favorite movie moments ever.

    While we see and hear the personal stories filled with frustration and regrets, we also see an inherent love of music and the appreciation for their particular gift. We also hear from Tata Vega, Dr. Mabel John (a former Raelette for Ray Charles), and Claudia Lennear. With many similar stories of their quest for solo careers, we get the contemporary version with Judith Hill, a twenty-something working back-up today as she strives for a solo career. The parallels are obvious with her older peers.

    Another excellent feature of the film comes in the form of interviews from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Stevie Wonder, Lou Adler, Chris Botti, and Mick Jagger. We also see some studio shots featuring Phil Spector (once the hottest music producer, now incarcerated), and concert footage of Talking Heads, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, and the Concert for Bangladesh. It's especially fitting to see Luther Vandross as a back-up singer to David Bowie's "Young Americans", and to hear from Sheryl Crow, who worked as Michael Jackson's back-up/lead female. These are the examples of the back-ups who successfully made the walk.

    My only minor quibble with the film is structural, not content. Neville has an over-whelming task of addressing each of the individual stories, while also relating it to the nasty and unfair music business, the Civil Rights movement, the development of Rock and Roll, and the role that "talent" plays in what Springsteen terms the "complicated" walk from back-up to lead singer (the titular 20 feet). The segment focusing on Merry Clayton's role in Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" is especially poignant. Overall this film is fascinating and entertaining, and makes a great companion piece to Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002) and Muscle Shoals (2013).
    helpful•34
    5
    • ferguson-6
    • Jun 30, 2013

    FAQ1

    • Does anyone know who's picture is on the cover?

    Details

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    • Release date
      • July 26, 2013 (United States)
      • United States
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Gil Friesen Productions
      • Tremolo Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 31 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital

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