THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME (FILM)

I discovered Led Zeppelin in 1975 at the age of 12 after my brother bought LZ II. In early 1976, I got the Presence album, their brand new LP. So by the end of the year, when the movie The Song Remains The Same got airplay in theaters, I only know those two albums. I was disappointed that no songs from Presence were played (I didn't know the film was recorded 3 years before), and only a few from II were included.

But I went out the theater with my ears (and eyes) full of pure magic. On the initial watch, all the scenes between songs, not related to the music, were very funny. The mafia sequence of Peter Grant, the policemen, the paper relating the robbery, etc. Years later, when it came out to video, I realized those scenes were pretty boring and long, distracting the viewer from the concert.

Now about the music. All songs are well performed and typical of what was a Zep concert in early 70's. From the extended guitar solo of Stairway to Heaven to the wonderful version of No Quarter, everything fits perfectly. Perhaps the drum solo and Dazed and Confused are a bit too long for some repeated watch, but it is a minor complaint.

About the scenes played by musicians during the songs, I find them enjoyable. Being included in extended versions of songs, they are not disturbing at all. Special mention to Jimmy Page's scene of the hermit on the mountain.

John Bonham died 2 weeks before the 1980 concert scheduled in Montreal. That would have been my first show. Since I never got the chance to see Led Zeppelin live, this movie, along with the 2003 DVD, remain the only occasions to see what I missed.