FILM SERIES
Motown in the Fall at the Nation’s Library
In celebration of the legendary company’s fiftieth birthday, Curated by Norman Middleton, Music Division
Monday evenings at 7:00 pm – Mary Pickford Theater, 3rd Floor, James Madison Building. No tickets required. Seating is limited. Reservations may be made one week before any given screening by calling (202) 707-5677 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Reserved seats must be claimed at least 10 minutes before show time, after which standbys will be admitted. Programs subject to change without notice.
Remaining original member Otis Williams discusses the history of the group featuring sixteen classic Temptations numbers recorded in different venues and television shows, including “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “My Girl,” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” “I Wish It Would Rain,” “Ball of Confusion,” and “I Can't Get Next to You.”
Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard (and her replacement Cindy Birdsong), the original “Dreamgirls” who won over the harshest critics with their looks, their charm and their huge series of hits, are seen in classic appearances in the Ed Sullivan Show and Hullaballo, and in rare footage not seen since it was first aired more than 40 years ago.
Remaining original member Abdul “Duke” Fakir surveys the dynamic group’s forty-year history from its earliest days as “The Four Ames” to its post-Motown career. Duke discusses the Four Top’s relationship to each other and to their beloved production team Holland-Dozier-Holland.
This semi-factual film about jazz singer Billie Holiday—Motown’s initial project after leaving Detroit — is loosely based on her 1956 autobiography, which took its title from one of her most popular songs. Produced by Motown Productions for Paramount Pictures, the film stars Diana Ross, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor, James T. Callahan, and Scatman Crothers.
Hosted by Richard Pryor, this first television anniversary celebration
includes Michael Jackson’s “moon-walking” version of “Billie
Jean” and a Jackson Five reunion; Marvin Gaye’s final television
appearance; Stevie Wonder; the original Four Tops and the Temptations in
a “battle of the bands;” Linda Ronstadt; Smokey Robinson; the
Miracles (including Claudette), and the controversial performance by the
Supremes.
An encore screening of the critically acclaimed film about the Funk Brothers,
Motown’s famed house band, eight years to the day after its world
premiere at the Library of Congress on December 14, 2001. Their unforgettable
story is told through archival footage, interviews, and twelve new live
performances of Motown classics with the Brothers backing up contemporary
performers.
JAZZ IN THE SPRING AT THE NATION’S LIBRARY
Curated by Larry Appelbaum, Music Division
Mondays, April 5-26, 2010. Check back here for updated information.