Woodstock (1970)

VHS CASE/SLIDE

Length of film:  184 Minutes (Director’s Cut: 224 Minutes)

Rated: R 

Genre: Documentary, History, Music

Director: Michael Wadleigh

Starring: Richie Havens, Joan Baez, The Who, Sha-Na-Na, Joe Cocker, Country Joe an the Fish, Ario Guthrie, Crosby Stills & Nash, Santana, Jimi Hendrix

IMDB Rank: 8.2/10

Part 1 Time: 92 Minutes (Director’s Cut: 101 Minutes)

Part 2 Time: 92 Minutes (Director’s Cut: 123 Minutes)

Where does the first part end? Reporter speaks with Artie Kornfeld and Michael Lang.

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “What kind of a way is that to go through life?” Artie responds to reporters questions.

First line of dialogue on the second part: “Marijuana” Unknown speaker on stage.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? None, at this point in the film weather threatens to stop the festival from proceeding. We all know how the this festival will conclude.

Which part is better? The better part of the film is mixed depending on your purpose of viewing the film. The film as a whole outlines all the major events prior to during the festival. It is a good watch for those who are unfamiliar or interested in learning about the Woodstock Festival. If watching the film for educational purposesPart one is able to demonstrate the cultural impact, planning, implementation, and musical talent presented at Woodstock. However, if watching the film for musical performances, part two highlights many future talents that would become influential including Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, The Band, and Jimi Hendrix.

Academy Awards: Best Documentary-Features, Best Sound (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated)

National Film Registry: 1996