A documentary that reveals how the unlikely partnership between aspiring filmmakers Christopher Stamp and Kit Lambert produced one of the greatest rock bands in history: The Who.A documentary that reveals how the unlikely partnership between aspiring filmmakers Christopher Stamp and Kit Lambert produced one of the greatest rock bands in history: The Who.A documentary that reveals how the unlikely partnership between aspiring filmmakers Christopher Stamp and Kit Lambert produced one of the greatest rock bands in history: The Who.
Kit Lambert
- Self
- (archive footage)
Christopher Stamp
- Self
- (as Chris Stamp)
Keith Moon
- Self
- (archive footage)
Constant Lambert
- Self - Christian 'Kit' Lambert's father
- (archive footage)
John Entwistle
- Self
- (archive footage)
Jimi Hendrix
- Self
- (archive footage)
Arthur Brown
- Self
- (archive footage)
Ritchie Blackmore
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- Quotes
Christopher Stamp: It's very difficult to know, you know, the moments you love someone a lot of the time.
- SoundtracksA Quick One, While He's Away
Written by Pete Townshend
Published by TRO - Essex Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Performed by The Who
Courtesy of Polydor Limited / Geffen Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Featured review
Cool doc: Managers who knew nothing about music but a heck of a lot about marketing.
Who are The Who? They're Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp. Of course, you first come up with the names Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey because they actually play that wickedly-good rock. However the first two names in this essay are the founders of The Who, filmmakers with a dream to make a rock documentary but sidetracked into managing one of the best rock bands ever.
Director James D. Cooper hits the right notes: plenty of talking head from handsome, articulate Chris Stamp (brother of famous Terence, who appears with commentary), entertaining clips from the band's early years, and a thriller of a break up story (almost required of all rock band stories, fact or fiction). Never could anyone be bored with such a complex, fascinating rags-to-riches tale.
Pete Townshend, not much to look at as a young man but distinguished now with a naughty glint, gives as much as Stamp, especially when we try to understand the dynamic that led to the breakup. Although the posh Kit Lambert, whose dad was Constant Lambert the maestro, was an intrepid entrepreneur, he pushed himself to early death with cigs and drugs. During the growth times, however, he pushed the band into unknown territory. As did the better thinker, Stamp.
Although Kit Lambert died before the making of this doc, he is so carefully edited in as to make it seem he was here all the time. Stamp is especially effective as we are taken through the creation of the mega-hit rock musical Tommy and the release of Lambert & Stamp from the organization. The Who buying Shepperton Studios, where the founders met, is a nice piece of irony. Lambert's brainy discussion of class and youth with its manifestation in the "mod" era directed by the youth of London elevates the documentary from curiosity to demanding to be heard to understanding the wild youth of London.
Director James D. Cooper hits the right notes: plenty of talking head from handsome, articulate Chris Stamp (brother of famous Terence, who appears with commentary), entertaining clips from the band's early years, and a thriller of a break up story (almost required of all rock band stories, fact or fiction). Never could anyone be bored with such a complex, fascinating rags-to-riches tale.
Pete Townshend, not much to look at as a young man but distinguished now with a naughty glint, gives as much as Stamp, especially when we try to understand the dynamic that led to the breakup. Although the posh Kit Lambert, whose dad was Constant Lambert the maestro, was an intrepid entrepreneur, he pushed himself to early death with cigs and drugs. During the growth times, however, he pushed the band into unknown territory. As did the better thinker, Stamp.
Although Kit Lambert died before the making of this doc, he is so carefully edited in as to make it seem he was here all the time. Stamp is especially effective as we are taken through the creation of the mega-hit rock musical Tommy and the release of Lambert & Stamp from the organization. The Who buying Shepperton Studios, where the founders met, is a nice piece of irony. Lambert's brainy discussion of class and youth with its manifestation in the "mod" era directed by the youth of London elevates the documentary from curiosity to demanding to be heard to understanding the wild youth of London.
helpful•50
- JohnDeSando
- May 28, 2015
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $183,320
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $13,500
- Apr 5, 2015
- Gross worldwide
- $183,320
- Runtime1 hour 57 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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