performance

performance 

Directed by: Donald Campbell/Nicholas Roeg

Running Time: 105 min   Color  Date: 1968

Performance is an era-defining film, and a dark, sexy portrayal of 60’s Rock ‘n’ Roll and the East End gangster underworld. Though visually and musically exciting, and with star performances from the central characters, the film reveals the darker, rotten layer of sixties bohemia. The film’s main characters are all suffering identity crises, as the sixties dream comes to a sharp decline.
Previously glamorous characters and situations are crumbling because of addiction and violence.

The movie was completed in 1968, but shelved for two years after a disastrous test screening at which audiences yelled at the screen and walked out of the theater. A studio executive’s wife reportedly vomited from viewing the graphic violence and sex. Reported to exist (unconfirmed) outtakes from Jagger and Anita love scene, that apparently were shown at an Amsterdam adult film festival.  The movie’s eventual release was delayed for two years while the film was re-edited; much of the violence was trimmed, and Mick Jagger’s first appearance was moved forward in the film to appease Warner Brother executives. Roeg has already left for Australia and was not involved in the final cut.
Jack Nitzsche composed much of the score on the ninth Moog synthesizer ever built, the Moog probably belonged to Jagger, the Rolling Stones had been one of the first rock groups to include a synthesizer on “Their Satanic Majesties Request” album. Performance was savaged by critics on its initial release, but its reputation has improved over the years. In 2009 Mick Jagger’s Turner ranked number one in Film Comment’s poll of top film performances by a musician.

Performance soundtrack LP features music from Randy Newman, Merry Clayton, Ry Cooder, Jack Nitzsche, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Last Poets and Mick Jagger
A 7" single from the album, "Memo from Turner" by Mick Jagger (b/w the instrumental "Natural Magic") was released worldwide in 1970