Charlie Is My Darling

Charlie Is My Darling {aka. Rolling With The Stones}

Directed by: Peter Whitehead   Producer: Andrew Oldham/ Peter Whitehead

Running Time: 60 min   Black & White   Date: 1965

Produced for cinema and television by Andrew Loog Oldham in January 1966 from footage of the Stones' Irish tour

in the autumn of 1965. Songs featured are 'Get Off My Cloud','Heart Of Stone','Play With Fire','Satisfaction','I'm Alright',

'The Last Time' and 'Maybe It's Because I'm A Londoner'.

Charlie Is My Darling
Withdrawn 2005 Australian DVD

Charlie is My Darling is the rarely seen documentary shot during the Stones‘ two city tour of Ireland in 1965. Conceived by their manager Andrew Oldham as something of a necessity after the massive success and impact of The Beatles‘ A Hard Day’s Night, the film was completed in 1966, but was never released - having become trapped in the unfortunate legal problems between the Stones and Allen Klein over the years. Recently released in America and other countries in DVD format, this film has been widely available over the years in awful quality, tenth generation bootleg videos!

It was given its premiere at the Mannheim Film Festival in 1966 when Joseph von Sternberg was Director of the Festival. He said  that "When all the other films at this festival are long forgotten, this film will still be watched - as a unique document of its times."

Filmed over three days in Dublin and Belfast, the film captures the Stones in all their pristine glory, soon after the release of "I Can't Get No Satisfaction".

Opening with an instrumental version of Play With Fire, a teenage fan admits she likes “the fella that plays the drums”, Charlie is My Darling has Bill Wyman debating about whether or not he should wear a tie, whilst Brian Jones seems acutely aware of his alienation from the band “Let’s face it, the future as a Rolling Stone is very uncertain. My ultimate aim in life was never to be a pop star. I enjoy it, with reservations, but I’m not really satisfied either artistically or personally”. Great performances are wrecked by fans getting on the stage and the scenes in the dressing room are highlighted by Keith playing guitar and their interviews, especially Charlie Watts confession that he’s happier at home, as he only plays drums, is not a musician and doesn’t know how to express half of what’s in his head.

On a train journey Andrew Loog Oldham picks his nose, talks about Ken Dodd, everyone sings Maybe its because I’m a Londoner followed by an "Andrew Oldham Orchestra" version of Satisfaction which plays over a montage of obsessed fans, whilst a priest worries about the levels of screaming.

In the film's final scene, a late-night post-gig moment, Mick & Keith, who are not interviewed separately like the others, finish off with a shit-faced impersonation of Elvis around the piano. “Who do you think you are?” asks Keith. “I feel like Robert Browning”, Mick jokes, all too knowingly, “I wish this was all on film, man, it’d be great”.

KRLA Beat, February 19, 1966

Though the Rolling Stones were perpetually reported to be making a full-length feature movie, nothing ever emerged

from their many false starts. "Charlie Is My Darling", on the other hand, was reported by the press during the Stones' 1965 US tour and the 1966

Pacific tour and stated that it was intended for viewing on British television and negotiations for its American airing started with US networks as well.

Track Listing:

Andrew Oldham Orchestra:

Play With Fire/ Heart Of Stone/ Satisfaction

The Rolling Stones: 

Play With Fire/ Heart Of Stone/ I´m Goin´Home (studio versions)

Backstage Jam/ Get Off Of My Cloud Riffs/ Salty Dog (Adelphi Theatre, Dublin, September 3, 1965)

The Last Time (Lip-synched performance of official version with over-dubbed audience backing) 

I’m Alright (lip-synched performance of EP version with vocal over-dubs)

Maybe It’s Because I’m A Londoner (the boys sing on the train to Belfast, September 4, 1965)