The Woodstock Festival of 1969 was much more than a concert, unintentionally becoming the symbol of the decade’s youth/hippie movement shortly before it came to an end. The potential those “3 [August] Days of Peace & Music” offered was so appealing at that time in the United States it spoke to hundreds of thousands of people, inspiring them to descend on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel, New York, to take part in the festivities.
The event lives on through Michael Wadleigh’s excellent Academy Award-winning film, which documented the experience as well as the medium could allow. Wadleigh and his team of cameramen captured not just a portion of the musical performances on stage but presented points of view ranging from the workers behind the scenes to the attendees down in the mud.
This home video release celebrates the 40th anniversary of the event (the film came out a year later in 1970), and the 15th anniversary of the director’s cut extended to a run time of 225 minutes. The first disc goes right into the film as preparations are underway. The organizers talk with a reporter as the stage and rigging are being set up. The local townsfolk seem to appreciate the business brought about by the initial “influx of humanity,” some of whom have slack-jawed, deeply focused stares moving past anything taking place in front of them.
The famous announcement warning the attendees about the brown acid is heard and then Richie Havens and his acoustic guitar open the concert. It’s refreshing to watch him play and sing in such long, uncut segments during “Handsome Johnny.” Modern-day editors should be mandated to watch and learn from the work of Thelma Schoonmaker and Martin Scorsese on display.
People are shown sneaking in and breaking down fences. The organizers decide to make Woodstock a free concert, but they don’t have much choice in the matter. Since they don’t have the security to handle the problem, it’s not as noble a decision as they make it out to be. In a parallel, some audience member jumps on stage while Canned Heat plays. He starts hugging lead singer Bob “The Bear” Hite, and even bums a smoke off him.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Excellent review Bicho, and I 100% concur that people should experience this.
-Glen
2 - doug
Haven't seen this in ages. Extras sound interesting. Wish the kids had got me this for father's day