Apr 9, 2013

An artist in transition: David Bowie's Cracked Actor (1974)


For my money, no David Bowie film is as good as the 1974 documentary, Cracked Actor. None of the others, which are essentially concert films, cover the ground that this one covers - combining live & behind-the-scenes (what Bowie allows anyway) footage, as well as the perspective of the fans. I wonder what became of these kids?

On another note, I can't think of anyone who preceded Bowie for his sense of showmanship. I would venture to say that, live in concert in the mid-70's, he was the true originator of the style which later became (and continues to be) the style for the likes of the big arena pop acts like Madonna, and more recently, Lady Gaga. Set pieces, costume changes, you name it...

Cracked Actor was shot in & around Los Angeles on Bowie's 1974 Diamond Dogs tour, and was then broadcast in early 1975 in the UK.

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