Gimme Shelter

Maysles. Director David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin; Producer Porter Bibb; Editor Ellen Gifford, Robert Farren, Joanne Burke, Kent McKinney, Mirra Bank, Susan Steinberg, Janet Laurentano

Maysles Brothers' 16mm documentary on 1969 Rolling Stones' US concert tour which culminated in violence and death at the Altamont Speedway in California.

What precedes the satanic finale is a riveting close-up look at the Stones in performance. Contrary to the popular image, lead singer Mick Jagger emerges in off-stage footage as a withdrawn, almost catatonic individual totally involved in his music and virtually immune to events occurring around him.

Onstage it's another matter, and Gimme Shelter captures that petulant omnisexuality that made many adults consider Jagger a threat to their daughters, sons and household pets alike. Pouting and bumping through such numbers as 'I Can't Get No Satisfaction,' he is seldom less than mesmerizing.

(Color) Available on VHS. Extract of a review from 1970. Running time: 90 MIN.

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