Becoming Led Zeppelin is a forthcoming documentary film directed by Bernard MacMahon which charts the formation and early years of Led Zeppelin.[1] The film is an independent production made with the full co-operation of the band[2] and represents the first time Led Zeppelin have agreed to participate in a biographical documentary.[3] A work-in-progress was screened at the 78th Venice Film Festival in 2021[4] [5] to a 10-minute standing ovation.[6]
| Becoming Led Zeppelin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Bernard MacMahon |
| Screenplay by | Bernard MacMahon Allison McGourty |
| Starring | Jimmy Page John Paul Jones John Bonham Robert Plant |
| Cinematography | Vern Moen |
| Edited by | Dan Gitlin |
| Music by | Led Zeppelin |
Production companies | Big Beach Paradise Pictures |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics (United States) |
| Countries | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
Synopsis
editBecoming Led Zeppelin traces the journeys of Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant through the music scene of the 1960s, their meeting in the summer of 1968 and meteoric ascendancy throughout 1969, culminating in 1970 when they become the No. 1 band in the world.[7] The story is told exclusively by the band members with the late John Bonham represented by previously unheard audio interviews. The film features full performances, never-before-seen footage of the band's early U.S. and British concerts[8] and unseen material from the band’s personal archives.[9]
Background
editBecoming Led Zeppelin is preceded by two concert films, the 1976 film The Song Remains the Same and the Celebration Day footage of the 2007 reunion concert at London's O2 Arena. Becoming Led Zeppelin was researched and written by Bernard MacMahon with screenwriter and producer Allison McGourty.[10] According to Jimmy Page, he turned down a lot of "pretty miserable" pitches over the years to make a documentary about Led Zeppelin. However he received a deeply-researched proposal focusing almost exclusively on the music and chronicling the band's birth in 1968 and its early rise. The film was developed on a storyboard and presented to the band members in a leather-bound book. Page commented, "When we first met, we were probably a little nervous of each other. But the conduit was the storyboard", adding "And I thought they’ve really got it, they really understand what it was about".[11]
John Paul Jones gave his blessing, saying "the time was right for us to tell our own story for the first time in our own words" and that the time was right for the film to be made.[12] Robert Plant praised MacMahon’s work on American Epic, the Emmy-nominated 2017 documentary that chronicled the early American roots music recordings of the 1920s and cited it as a reason for agreeing to participate in the film, "Seeing Will Shade, and so many other important early American musicians, brought to life on the big screen in American Epic inspired me to contribute to a very interesting and exciting story".[13]
The film was announced in 2019, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the band forming.[14]
Production
editVariety noted that the work-in-progress screening at the Venice Film Festival "premiered to bursts of rapturous applause across its 137-minute runtime".[15] Rolling Stone described the rough cut of the film as "revelatory",[16] and The Hollywood Reporter described it as "an eye-opening delight", adding that sections of the rough cut "could be cut without damaging the film".[17] Steve Pond of The Wrap described the rough cut as "potent as hell and as excessive as Physical Graffiti, the 1975 album whose excess was pretty much inseparable from its power".[18]
Release
editIn May 2024, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film in North and Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia (excluding Japan) and the Benelux.[4] In June 2024 it was announced Tohokushinsha Film had acquired the rights to Japan, Madman Entertainment for Australia and New Zealand, NonStop for Scandinavia and the Baltics, Cinemart for Czechia and Slovakia, and MCF for former Yugoslavia.[7]
References
edit- ^ Reed, Ryan (8 May 2019). "Led Zeppelin Documentary to Feature Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (2 August 2021). "Led Zeppelin Documentary, With Unprecedented Access to Band, Has Been Completed". Yahoo Finance. Yahoo 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Barraclough, Leo (8 May 2024). "Cannes: Altitude Boards Led Zeppelin Feature Documentary From Bernard MacMahon". Variety. Variety Media. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
- ^ a b Grobar, Matt (15 May 2024). "Sony Pictures Classics Acquires First Authorized Led Zeppelin Doc 'Becoming Led Zeppelin' From Bernard MacMahon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
- ^ "Becoming Led Zeppelin". La Biennale di Venezia. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Amabile, Michele (13 September 2021). "Led Zeppelin Documentary Gets Standing Ovation". 107.1 The Boss. Press Communications. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (4 September 2021). "'Becoming Led Zeppelin': Watch The First Clip From New Rock Doc About Iconic Brit Band — Venice Film Festival". Deadline. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Triscari, Caleb (5 September 2021). "Watch the first teaser for upcoming documentary 'Becoming Led Zeppelin'". NME. NME Networks. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ "Becoming Led Zeplin". Altitude Fulfillment. Altitude Film Entertainment. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ La Biennale di Venezia (3 August 2021). "Becoming Led Zeppelin by Bernard MacMahon to screen out of competition". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Winfield, Nicole (4 September 2021). "Jimmy Page at Venice film fest to present Led Zeppelin doc". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (8 May 2019). "Whole Lotta Love! Led Zeppelin documentary announced to mark their 50th anniversary". NME. NME Networks. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ White, Peter (8 May 2019). "Led Zeppelin Gets Feature Doc Treatment From Team Behind 'American Epic' – Cannes". Deadline.com. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Maxwell, Jackson (4 August 2021). "The first-ever band-sanctioned Led Zeppelin documentary has been completed". Guitar World. Future Publishing. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Ravindran, Manori (4 September 2021). "Jimmy Page Gets Whole Lotta Love at Venice for First Led Zeppelin Documentary". Variety. Variety Media. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Fear, David (5 September 2021). "'Becoming Led Zeppelin': What's In The Authorized Documentary?". Rolling Stone. Penske Business Media. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ DeFore, John (4 September 2021). "Becoming Led Zeppelin: Film Review -Venice 2021". Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Pond, Steve (4 September 2021). "'Becoming Led Zeppelin' Film Review: Like the Band, the Movie Is Potent and Excessive". The Wrap. Retrieved 2 March 2023.