Stop Making Sense(1984)

PG
Rated PG for brief suggestive material
1h 28m
- Documentary
- Music

Release Date: Oct 19, 1984

100%
97%
8.7

A live performance of the band Talking Heads shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and featuring their most memorable songs.

Note: Distributed by Cinecom Pictures

Release Details

Original Release | Oct 19, 1984 | Limited

1999 Re-release | May 28, 1999 | Limited

2023 Re-release | Sep 22, 2023 | Limited

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Box Office Results

All Releases (3)
Total US & Canada:
$10,306,902
Total International
$3,803,301
Total Worldwide:
$14,120,476

Total US & Canada:
$41,666
Total International
$786,733
Total Worldwide:
$828,399

Current Showtimes

orround

Wed Sep 2
Thu Sep 3
Fri Sep 4
Sat Sep 5
Sun Sep 6
Mon Sep 7
Tue Sep 8

Director & Top Cast

Jonathan Demme
Director

David Byrne
Actor

Bernie Worrell
Actor

Alex Weir
Actor

Steven Scales
Actor

Lynn Mabry
Actor

Ednah Holt

Actor

Tina Weymouth

Actor

Jerry Harrison

Actor

Chris Frantz

Actor

Talking Heads

Actor

Technical Specifications

Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo,(original release),Dolby Atmos

Aspect Ratio: 1.37 : 1

Other Details

Country of Origin: United States

Language: English,French

Summaries

Plot Summary

Stop Making Sense opens as lead singer David Byrne walks out onto an empty stage holding only an acoustic guitar and a portable cassette tape player. He introduces the first song, "Psycho Killer" by saying "I want to play a tape." As the show progresses, Byrne is accompanied by the rest of the members of the band as well as some guest performers. Tina Weymouth is the first to appear for the song Heaven. Then Chris Frantz appears for "Thank You for Sending Me an Angel" and Jerry Harrison for "Found a Job". Instruments and equipment are gradually brought out onto the bare stage during the first few songs and the entire group is brought together for the band's big hit, "Burnin' Down the House." The film offers us a glimpse inside the mind of lead singer David Byrne through the progression of the songs and stage effects. In a self-interview included in the film, Byrne talks about the physicality of music and that it doesn't have to make sense to the mind if it makes sense to your body. Director Jon Demme's use of wide angle shots to give the viewer a sense of being in the crowd as they are able to view the whole stage and all of the performers at once. Unlike many concert films and videos, which use more quick-cut editing techniques in an MTV-like fashion, much of Stop Making Sense uses lengthy camera shots to allow the viewer to examine the performances and onstage interaction and the limited amount of crowd shots, which only appear at the end of the film, allow the viewer to make their own judgments about the film. The film is a great look at one of the leading bands in the New Wave movement of the late 70s and 80s and is a must see for any fan of Talking Heads.

Storyline

Talking Heads shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and featuring their most memorable songs. This 1984 film was directed by renowned filmmaker Jonathan Demme and is considered by critics as the greatest concert film of all time. Stop Making Sense stars core band members David Byrne , Tina Weymouth , Chris Frantz , and Jerry Harrison along with Bernie Worrell , Alex Weir , Steven Scales , Lynn Mabry and Ednah Holt (Edna Holt). The live performance was shot over the course of three nights at Hollywood's Pantages Theater in December of 1983 and features Talking Heads ' most memorable songs. — Anonymous

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