Search - Groupies: The Movie on DVD

Almost famous

D. Hartley | Seattle, WA USA | 10/02/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This cinema verite documentary from 1970 attempts to capture the zietgiest of late-60's rock'n'roll groupiedom, with mixed results. Filmed during the transition when idealistic Peace Love and Dope hippiedom was morphing into the more seedy and decadent excesses that would define the 70's music scene, you may feel like taking a shower after a viewing. Not as involving or professionaly crafted as the Maysles brothers or D.A. Pennebaker offerings from the era ("Gimme Shelter", "Monterey Pop"), the film suffers from sloppy editing and inferior audio mastering (it is difficult to understand what the stoned-out-of-thier-mind groupies are prattling on about most of the time, not that the majority of them have anything very enlightening to say!). It's too bad the filmmakers didn't spend more time with the two most "famous" groupies of the era, Pamela Des Barres (aka "Miss Pamela") and Cynthia "Plaster Caster" (At least they display some personality and the ability to communicate an amusing anecdote or two) Most of the film time is devoted to an assortment of needy, parasitic wannabes listlessly killing time backstage, clamoring to be acknowleged. The film holds more interest as a musical document, with largely intact performances from the little seen (and underappreciated) Terry Reid, as well as Ten Years After and Joe Cocker And The Grease Band. The great Spooky Tooth is seen in snippets-featuring a very young and somewhat dopey Luther Grosvenor, who I am sure winces now when he watches it (especially during a less-than-flattering discussion of his, er, "shortcomings" by a couple of giggling groupies comparing notes). The 2006 DVD release has no extras or commentary, and it appears no effort was made to restore picture or sound. Worthwhile to hardcore 70's rock fans for historical value, if nothing else."

Such BS!

S. Jones | USA | 11/02/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I am in this movie, so I think I am qualified to say that much of the non musical content contained was in fact manipulated by the brothers Maysels, who really reached for the bottom of the barrel shock value in their superficial and unkind telling of what life was like for the women who dated the rock stars.



To set up a "Party" in an art gallery of erotic art..well there you go. The Maysles were looking for seamy, and they got it, even if the punch had to be spiked."