The Doors Are Open (1968, documentary/film)

The Doors - The Doors Are Open:


Sex, death, reptiles, charisma and a unique variant of the electric blues gave the Doors an aura of profundity that has survived the band's demise. In September, 1968, The Doors gave a history making performance at The Roundhouse in London's Chalk Farm. They gave powerful renditions of their best songs including: "Light My Fire", "When The Music's Over", "Five To One", "Hello, I Love You", "Back Door Man", "Unknown Soldier", and "Spanish Caravan". Part of the Pioneer Artist Concert Film Series.





Actors: Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, John Densmore
Directors: John Sheppard
Producers: Jo Durden-Smith

Run Time: 56 minutes

















Track listing:

- "When the Music's Over" - 1:30
- "Five to One" - 16:30
- "Spanish Caravan" - 21:35
- "Hello, I Love You" - 27:20
- "Back Door Man" - 29:48
- "Light My Fire" - 37:12
- "The Unknown Soldier" - 49:13

"In 1968, as the Vietnam war raged and the world responded with political turbulence, the Doors made a live appearance at the Roundhouse in London. Captured here are dramatic performances of songs that convey the band's strong messages about the war, such as a powerfully effecting rendition of "Unknown Soldier." While the music plays, the presentation cuts from the live onstage action to display rows of soldiers' graves in a cemetery that looks like Arlington National. Back in the club, Jim Morrison writhes in his tight leather pants and white poet's shirt, flinging his curls and dancing to extended versions of "When the Music's Over," "Five to One," and "Spanish Caravan." The cinematography, in black and white grainy stock, takes care to spotlight each of the band members, not the audience, making this live show seem especially intimate. In a section called "The Doors talk about their music" Morrison is drifty and unable to focus his eyes while sharing thoughts about songs he'd like to make, before the film cuts back into a spirited "Hello I Love You." An intimate portrait of one of the Doors' unique live shows in England, THE DOORS ARE OPEN also highlights the political relevance of Morrison's opinionated lyrics.

In the introduction to the film, a British commentator offers a mission statement: "This film is an attempt to illustrate The Doors' report on the state of the world."

Jim Morrison's political comment in the film is, "I think, these days, especially in the States, you have to be a politician or an assassin... to be a superstar."



Source: a.o.: YouTube