#892: LERNER, Murray: Festival (1967)

LERNER, Murray (United States)
Festival [1967]
Spine #892
Blu-ray

Before Woodstock and Monterey Pop, there was Festival. From 1963 through 1966, Murray Lerner visited the annual Newport Folk Festival to document a thriving, idealistic musical movement as it reached its peak as a popular phenomenon. Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Howlin' Wolf, Johnny Cash, the Staple Singers, Pete Seeger, Son House, and Peter, Paul and Mary were just a few of the legends who shared the stage at Newport, treating audiences to a range of folk music that encompassed the genre's roots in blues, country, and gospel as well as its newer flirtations with rock and roll. Shooting in goreous black and white, Lerner juxtaposes performances with snapshot interviews with artists and their fans, weaving footage from four years of the festival into an intimate record of a pivotal time in music — and in American culture at large.

98 minutes

Black & White
Monaural
1:33:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2017

Director

Murray Lerner was 40 when he directed Festival.

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Forty-four page booklet featuring an essay by critic Amanda Petrusich and artist biographies by folk music expert Mary Katherine Aldin.

Commentary

None.

Making “Festival”

A program featuring Lerner, associate editor Alan Heim, and assistant editor Gordon Quinn.

When We Played Newport

A program featuring archival interviews with Lerner, music festival producer George Wein, and musicians Baez, Cohen, Collins, Ochs, Sainte-Marie, Seeger, Yarrow, and others.

Selection

Of unreleased performances by Ashley, Cash, Cotten, Hooker, Odetta, and Paxton.

Optional captions

Identifying artists and song titles.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

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