Albert Maysles, David Maysles, Charlotte Zwerin, 1970, 91 min
Film Synopsis
The landmark documentary about the tragically
ill-fated Rolling Stones free concert at Altamont
Speedway on December 6, 1969. Only four months
earlier, Woodstock defined the Love Generation;
now it lay in ruins on a desolate racetrack six miles
outside of San Francisco.
Before an estimated crowd of 300,000 people,
the Stones headlined a free concert featuring
Tina Turner, Jefferson Airplane, The Flying
Burrito Brothers and others. Concerned about
security, members of outlaw biker gang The
Hell's Angels were asked to help maintain order.
Instead, an atmosphere of fear and dread arose,
leading ultimately to the stabbing death of a fan.
What began as a flower-power love-in had
degenerated into a near riot; frightened, confused
faces wondering how the Love Generation could,
in one swift, cold-blooded slash, became a
generation of disillusionment and disappointment.
December 6, 1969: the day the Sixties died.
Reviews:
“Pauline Kael vs. Gimme Shelter”
-THE DOCUMENTARY BLOG, 2007
“One of the most important films of the year.”
– NEWSDAY, 1970
“A shocker. Pouting, bumping, crowing into the
microphone, Jagger is completely mesmerizing.”
– DAILY NEWS, 1970
“One of the most powerful films ever made.
I can only implore you to see it.”
– MORNING TELEGRAPH, 1970
“Vivid, scary, revealing, hypertense.”
– PLAYBOY, 1970
“There’s no way to escape the image on the
screen, nor deny its truth. We blew it at Altamont;
GIMME SHELTER lets us watch ourselves blowing it,
and makes us understand how and why. It’s a lot
harder than it looks to make a film as good as this one.”
– ROLLING STONE, 1970
“The most disturbing, powerful, and inciteful moments
to be recorded on film of the young generation raised
on rock.” – NEWSWEEK, 1970
“One of the year’s most important films. A mesmerizing
portrait of the love and drug generation.”
– WALL ST. JOURNAL, 1970
“A mind blowing trip across young America.”
– JEFFREY LYONS, 1970
“A stunning film, a sensational piece of filmmaking,
a landmark.”
– HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1970
Accolades:
Premiered in New York’s Plaza Theater