Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture is a 1973 documentary and concert movie by D.A. Pennebaker. It features David Bowie and his backing group The Spiders from Mars performing at the Hammersmith Odeon, July 3rd 1973. Pennebaker had been asked to come to London and film just a few songs but when he saw the first of the two London shows he realized that "there was a full-length film here asking to be made". Though he had onl... more

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture is a 1973 documentary and concert movie by D.A. Pennebaker. It features David Bowie and his backing group The Spiders from Mars performing at the Hammersmith Odeon, July 3rd 1973. Pennebaker had been asked to come to London and film just a few songs but when he saw the first of the two London shows he realized that "there was a full-length film here asking to be made". Though he had only scant knowledge of Bowie's music, apart from Space Oddity, he was impressed by the star's onstage charisma and the range of his songs and quickly prepared to shoot the entire second gig, without knowing that it would include a dramatic final coup.. Jeff Beck participated on two songs midway through the concert but was edited out from the final cut at his own wish. The expanded version of The Width of a Circle was shortened by a few minutes for the soundtrack on vinyl and cd. The film was shown a few times at festivals in late 1973 and... less