Ricochet is a 1984 documentary film about the musician david bowie. Cracked actor has become one of the classic documentaries in all of rock n roll and has had a lasting influence on generations of bowie fans. A period often mythologized as a sort of hedonistic manifest destiny gone purgatorial limbo, the always svelte bowie is positively skeletal herea physical. Cracked actor is notable for being a source for footage of bowies ambitious diamond dogs tour at the time he was a cocaine addict and also for showing bowies fragile mental state during this period. Popular title, which has been a sold out is long, longawaited revival in the press dvd. Media radio, spitz said that he wanted to conduct more interviews of bowies acquantainces and to add his own personal anecdotes and thoughts to liven up what could. Bowies overall vocal performance on cracked actor sounds much more forced and showy. However, whereas cracked actor was made for television by the bbcs omnibus strand, ricochet was made for commercial release to the home video market the documentary was filmed in the far. Moreover, in two pieces and rebroadcast version recorded bonus bluray of the same program. Bowie vaults open as two unreleased albums hit shops for. David bowie cracked actor documentary full length part 1 of 4. At the time he was struggling with cocaine addiction and the documentary has become notorious for showing bowies fragile mental state during this period.
While there are major differences in the format of these three previous films, their common trait is that they focus upon bowie at the time in which the film is being made. The image that arises from the documentary is shocking. David bowie cracked actor 1974 extreme edition 1dvd. To mark david bowie s comeback album and a new exhibition, alan yentob looks back at his legendary 1975 documentary, cracked actor. I think it is fair to assume that the crew would have attended prior days concerts to work out camera placement etc. About cracked actor this track, taken from the album aladdin sane is about an aging movie stars sexual encounter with a prostitute. Cracked actor captured david bowie at a fragile stage in his life. The documentary turned out to be an audition tape of sorts for bowies first and richest feature film.
A little over fortyfive years ago, a rock music documentary a rockumentary, if you will was first broadcast, on sunday 26 january, 1975, at 10. The film has become one of the classic rock documentaries of all time, remaining an enduring influence on generations of bowie fans. Produced by bowie and mixed by tony visconti, it was recorded on the diamond dogs tour in september 1974, some material from which appeared in the bbc documentary cracked actor. Bowie got a letter from 14yearold sandra adams now dodd of new mexico when he was 20 years old and wrote his response from his manager ken pitts office typewriter. Notoriously, yentobs expectations of a colourful romp through the glam subculture were confounded, and the film became a disturbing snapshot of bowies rapid descent. However as the brief was a documentary the approach would be different to a concert film, less critical to capture everything or secure swift changes of reel. The 1975 bbc documentary cracked actor captured david bowie at his lowest point, hollowed out so exquisitely by drugs that you wince to. David bowie alan yentobs cracked actor film is forty.
Mark wardels cracked actor book the biography of a. He did the same, with even more artifice, during his 1983 tour. Jun 15, 2010 he did the same, with even more artifice, during his 1983 tour. Cracked actor reveal the true self, such as philanthropy to a new generation of minority and homo sexuality security a specific passions lurking in the back of the aesthetics it is seared out as never before concrete image of the world bowie song unique. Cracked actor dvd 1975 david bowie documenary on dvd. California, usa 1974, september 5, as part of the bbc coverage of bowies 1974 tour and then current period. Riding a limo through the california desert, he mouths. Directed by alan yentob for the bbc, cracked actor is a documentary about david bowies 1974 american tour for the album diamond dogs just as bowie was going into a period of transition away from the glam rock persona of ziggy stardust and towards his fascination with american soul music. If bowie hadnt been hobbled by mainmans excesses, he might well have elected not to release a postdiamond dogspreyoung americans live record at all, but if he had, this stunning performance from las universal amphitheater recorded in september 74 for alan yentobs cracked actor bbc documentary wouldve provided ideal. Cracked actor is a 53minutelong bbc television documentary film about the pop star david bowie. A film about david bowie purported to give uk audiences an inside view of his north american 1974 tour, the diamond. Bbc documentary showing david bowie looking back on his ziggy stardust character during his diamond dogs.
Filmed during bowies legendary diamond dogs tour in 1974, alan yentobs film revealed a man on. David bowie cracked actor documentary full length part 2 of 4. A film about david bowie is a 1975 television documentary film about the musician david bowie, made by alan yentob for the bbcs omnibus strand. Why david bowie is a great cracked actor with the documentary david bowie is hitting theaters, we round up his work as a terrific screen actor, in films like the prestige and the hunger. Absolutelycracked actor outtakes and the missing extra concert footage from those shows. At the time he was a cocaine addict and the documentary has become notorious for showing bowies fragile mental state during this period. Act 2 cracked actor 19761979 finally, bowies musical career spluttered into life. The film follows bowie during the diamond dogs tour of 1974. How did a bbc documentary become a part of bowie iconography. Why david bowie is a great cracked actor with the documentary david bowie is hitting theaters, we round up his work as a terrific screen. A pair of troubled marriages become intertwined via philandering mates and the maverick therapist they encounter during an intense counseling session.
On cracked actor you basically hear the cowbell and thats it. Legendary in part for being partially captured on the cracked actor documentary film by alan yentob, which captured bowie in the process of spiralling into the cocaine addiction that nearly completely derailed him in the mid1070s, this release sets itself head and shoulders above the bootlegs by a fine mastering job at the hands of tony visconti. Unofficial release of the 1974 bbc, alan yentob documentary, which features bowie starting to crack the american market whilst at the same time morphing from a glam star into a soul singer. The blog letters of note came across a treasure from 42 years ago the response to the first fan letter that david bowie received from an american fan. A period often mythologized as a sort of hedonistic manifest destiny gone purgatorial limbo, the always svelte bowie. Cracked actor is a 1975 television documentary film about the musician david bowie, made by alan yentob for the bbcs omnibus strand. David bowie cracked actor documentary full length part 2. The track also gave its name to alan yentobs documentary of the tour. David bowie cracked actor documentary full length part 1. Jun 27, 2012 in 1974, david bowie embarked on an extensive tour of america. Complete, full version of the documentary that was never released commercially. Two unreleased david bowie records announced on limited vinyl.
David bowie, cracked actor documentary deleted alternative ending. It was filmed in 1974 when bowie was struggling with cocaine addiction, and the documentary has become. Cracked actor a film about david bowie full documentary. A weekend at the therapists cabin retreat brings forth struggle, hope, and a secret journey to the brink of death. Forty years later its almost impossible to calculate just how important that screening was to bowiestarved fans in the uk. Bowie s overall vocal performance on cracked actor sounds much more forced and showy.
Absolutely cracked actor outtakes and the missing extra concert footage from those shows. At the time he was struggling with cocaine addiction and the documentary has become notorious for showing bowie s fragile mental state during this period. Around this time on the evening of sunday 26th january 1975, bowie fans were readying themselves for the 10. In celebration of cracked actor, the live release from david bowies infamously depraved yet musically stellar 74 tour, watch the 74 film of the. However, whereas cracked actor was made for television by the bbcs omnibus strand, ricochet was made for commercial release to the home video market. The 1975 bbc documentary cracked actor captured david bowie at his lowest point, hollowed out so exquisitely by drugs that you wince to look. The documentary reveals bowies struggle to change into a different persona as well as work method and. Filmed in 1974, and featuring the only known footage of the. Jun 22, 2017 if bowie hadnt been hobbled by mainmans excesses, he might well have elected not to release a postdiamond dogspreyoung americans live record at all, but if he had, this stunning performance from las universal amphitheater recorded in september 74 for alan yentobs cracked actor bbc documentary wouldve provided ideal. In 1974, the bbcs alan yentob produced cracked actor, a documentary following bowies us tour in support of the diamond dogs lp, the last of his three glam rock albums.
The tracks were mixed by long time bowie collaborator tony visconti. I have been obsessed with this film ever since i first saw it in january 1975 and 2 years ago was lucky enough to attend a screening of cracked actor on the big. After catching cracked actor on tv, director nicolas roeg knew hed found the lead for. His relationship with his wife, angie, was beginning to falter, there was business problems looming, and he was addicted to cocaine, which caused severe physical debilitation, paranoia and emotional problems. California, usa 1974, september 5, as part of the bbc coverage of bowie s 1974 tour and then current period. The quietus film film features cracked actor hooked. Some recordings and footage from the concert were first broadcast in 1975 on the bbc tv special cracked actor. Earl slicks solos on david live are, overall, stronger, tighter, and more searing, though he has some great moments on ca as well. Cracked actor cd and hires download for youre dancing where the dogs decay along with aforementioned gold vinyl releases, 16th june 2017. Jun 29, 2017 the 1975 bbc documentary cracked actor captured david bowie at his lowest point, hollowed out so exquisitely by drugs that you wince to look.
After the bbcs omnibus produced cracked actor 1975, and the selfproduced ricochet 1984 and black tie white noise 1993, the film is the fourth official music documentary sanctioned by david bowie. To mark david bowies comeback album and a new exhibition, alan yentob looks back at his legendary 1975 documentary, cracked actor. Bbc documentary showing david bowie looking back on his ziggy stardust character during his diamond dogs tour. Cracked actor pushing ahead of the dame david bowie.
Abramus digital, aresa, emi music publishing, bmi broadcast music inc. Forty years later its almost impossible to calculate just how important that screening was to bowie starved fans in the uk. His weight was already alarmingly low and his drug use enormous. I have been obsessed with this film ever since i first saw it in january 1975 and 2 years ago was lucky enough to attend a screening of cracked actor on the big screen at picture house central here in london. Performing over 70 concerts and taking 6 months, bowie and his band stepped on stage each even. Cracked actor culture wikia fandom powered by wikia. In 1975 the bbc broadcast the documentary cracked actor. Bbc a film by bowie cracked actor 1975 addeddate 20171107 15. Bowies life has been the subject of many a biography and music magazine column, but spitz wanted to take a different approach with his own work. Use british english cracked actor is a 53minutelong bbc television documentary film about the rock star david bowie.
1082 411 1441 897 633 945 914 518 304 479 393 1297 1316 1417 229 751 1169 1152 980 890 297 1413 573 311 269 427 1516 1488 814 104 876 926 1169 146 54 1465