The Song Remains the Same (1976)
In Concert And Beyond

This review is based on the original cinema release

This early documentary style music movie features footage of a Led Zeppelin concert at Madison Square Garden in 1973, along with later close-ups and re-shoots at Shepperton Studios England, and extra segments that were shot on location around the United Kingdom. The filmed concert footage was taken towards the end of a tour that followed the release of the band's fifth album Houses of the Holy earlier the same year.

During the making of the film, creative issues were reported and the eventual release in 1976 was from two different directors (started by Joe Massot and finished by Peter Clifton). The result was a juxtaposition of Hollywood-style cinematic fantasy, behind-the-scenes narrative, and edited concert footage. Both the extra cinematic scenes and a slightly different track listing created an unexpected diversion for those who had listened to the soundtrack album before seeing the film.

The extra non-concert scenes were filmed on location in England, Scotland, and Wales and portray a fantasy persona of each band member, wrapped up in ancient historical and mystical references set in grand country mansions, rural locations, and castles. The exception was drummer John Bonham's sequence which featured family life at home, a visit to the pub, cars, bikes, dragsters, a tractor, and an uncooperative bull. These fantasy scenes are mixed-in with the onstage action during some of the longer tracks. Other location scenes during the introduction offer glimpses into the personal family lives of the band members.

Manager Peter Grant, and tour manager Richard Cole also have their own gangster-style fantasy scene at the beginning of the film, and between live tracks there are cuts to location shots and backstage 'chats', giving a rare insight into the people and stories behind concert promotion and touring during the seventies.

Unfortunately, at the time of release, critics, management, and the band themselves were not kind about the finished film, with the fantasy scenes and overall production receiving the most criticism.

However, it should be remembered that back in the seventies, there were few ways to visually experience a band such as Zeppelin other than seeing them live in concert. The film stands as an important visual record of the original band members performing together. Despite the cheesy fantasy scenes and clumsy visual effects, the attempts at showing more than just the music is what makes this a movie and not just another concert film, especially when viewing it today.

In terms of reaching Zeppelin fans and box office returns, the film did reasonably well - especially in America. In the cinema, Zeppelin fans could share this more visual musical experience together on the big screen in a theater environment, with the soundtrack blasting through the cinema's sound system. It was large, loud, and available in local cinemas, meaning accessibility went far beyond the reach of tour dates, while the theater sound systems retained the impact of the music, avoiding the watered down sound often experienced with TV broadcasts (an aspect astutely considered by Peter Grant).

The film may be an historical piece, and not such a great production, but the songs themselves do remain the same and the film captures not only great music, but also the atmosphere as it was in New York during the hot and steamy summer of 1973.

Matt Sheen - Asylum Cinema / ★webstar MMXX