Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Standing in the Shadows of Motown

Watch Standing in the Shadows of Motown Online Free

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In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit's thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined - which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history o... (Full plot summary below)

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Actors in Standing in the Shadows of Motown:

Richard 'Pistol' Allen
Jack Ashford
Bob Babbitt
Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin
Eddie 'Bongo' Brown
Bootsy Collins

Full Plot Details

In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit's thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined - which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They called themselves the Funk Brothers. Forty-one years after they played their first note on a Motown record and three decades since they were all together, the Funk Brothers reunited back in Detroit to play their music and tell their unforgettable story, with the help of archival footage, still photos, narration, interviews, re-creation scenes, 20 Motown master tracks, and twelve new live performances of Motown classics with the Brothers backing up contemporary performers.

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Movie Reviews

Entertainment Weekly - 10/10 by Owen GleibermanOffers terrific interviews with the surviving Funk Brothers, who provide a tasty insider history of 4 a.m. recording sessions inside ''the snake pit'' (as the fabled Studio A was known) as well as a chilling description of their final kiss-off from Berry Gordy, the Motown mogul who treated them like indentured servants.
Christian Science Monitor - 10/10 by David SterrittRollicking documentary that will have your toes tapping and your ears sizzling whether you're a die-hard Motown fan or not.
Montreal Film Journal - 10/10 by Kevin N. LaforestI got so involved with the Funk Brothers that by the last half hour the musical numbers brought tears to my eyes.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - 9/10 by Eleanor Ringel CaterI promise, you'll never listen to a Motown classic in the same way ever again.
Deseret News (Salt Lake City) - 9/10 by Jeff ViceIf anything, the film is doing something of a public service -- shedding light on a group of extremely talented musicians who might otherwise go unnoticed and underappreciated by music fans.
Charlotte Observer - 9/10 by Lawrence ToppmanImpassioned concert sequences with Ben Harper, Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert and especially Joan Osborne prove the Brothers' balanced approach still works on Motown chestnuts.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - 9/10 by Eleanor Ringel GillespieI promise, you'll never listen to a Motown classic in the same way ever again.
Journal News (Westchester, NY) - 9/10 by Marshall FineReminds you of just what an amazing moment in musical history Motown produced at that time -- as well as the price these musicians (who never received a dime of royalties) had to pay for their loyalty.
Wall Street Journal - 9/10 by Joe MorgensternWhat blasts off the screen like a heat wave, burning in the heart, is the sheer toe-tapping, booty-shaking joy of making music.
The New York Times - 9/10 by A.O. ScottSo good because it is one of those rare documentaries that combine information with smashing entertainment.

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