Murray Lerner

Directing

Murray Lerner

Born May 8, 1927 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Died September 2, 2017 · aged 90

Murray Lerner (May 8, 1927 – September 2, 2017) was an American documentary and experimental film director, best known for his Oscar-winning work on the 1981 documentary feature From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China. He earned another nomination in 1968 for the documentary Festival, which featured performances, interviews and conversations at the Newport Folk Festival. He also helmed films fea…

Known For

Amazing Journey: The Story of The WhoAmazing Journey: The Story of The Who · 2007
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
★ 7.12007
MovieDocumentaryMusic
A documentary on The Who, featuring interviews with the band's two surviving members, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey.
Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 · 2009
Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970
★ 7.62009
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Forty summers ago on a windswept island just off England's southern coastline, a young Canadian folksinger-songwriter-poet-novelist named Leonard Cohen delivered the performance of a lifetime.
The Doors: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970The Doors: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 · 2018
The Doors: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
★ 7.72018
MovieMusicDocumentary
Filmed on August 1970, 2AM, in front of 600,000 people, with Jim Morrison’s ongoing Miami obscenity trial still weighing heavily on the band, they traverse such staples as “Roadhouse Blues”, “Break On Through (To The Other Side)”, and “Light My Fire”.
FestivalFestival · 1967
Festival
★ 6.01967
MovieDocumentaryMusic
Black and white footage of performances, interviews, and conversations at the Newport Folk Festival, from 1963 to 1966. The headliners are Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan, who's acoustic and electric. Son House and Mike Bloomfield talk about the blues; John Hurt, Howlin' Wolf, and Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee show its range. The Osborne Brothers perform bluegrass. Donovan, Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Mimi and Dick Farina, and others less well known also perform. Several talk musical philosophy, and there's a running commentary about the nature and appeal of folk music. The crowd looks clean cut.
The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan: Live at the Newport Folk FestivalThe Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan: Live at the Newport Folk Festival · 2007
The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan: Live at the Newport Folk Festival
★ 8.12007
MovieMusicDocumentary
An unvarnished chronicle of Bob Dylan's metamorphosis from folk to rock musician via appearances at the Newport Folk Festival between 1963 and 1965.
Miles Electric - A Different Kind of BlueMiles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue · 2004
Miles Electric - A Different Kind of Blue
★ 7.02004
MovieMusicDocumentary
Documentary about Miles Davis' legendary gig at the Isle of Wight Festival, August 1970. Includes full live footage and recent interviews with band mates and others.
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of WightListening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight · 1998
Listening to You: The Who Live at the Isle of Wight
★ 7.41998
MovieMusicDocumentary
Mod rockers the Who are captured live by director Murray Lerner at the legendary Isle of Wight festival in 1970, attended by 600,000 people. All the old classics are included in a typically energetic set; Moon the Loon, Roger the Dodger and Pete... the guitarist. And John Entwistle on bass. This is the first DVD release, without the extra material found on the DVD/Blu-ray re-release of 2006.
Message to Love - The Isle of Wight FestivalMessage to Love - The Isle of Wight Festival · 1996
Message to Love - The Isle of Wight Festival
★ 6.81996
MovieMusicDocumentary
In August 1970, 600,000 fans flocked to the Isle of Wight to witness the third and final festival to be held on the island. Besides the music, they also got a look at the greed, cynicism and corruption that would plague the music industry for years to come. They also witnessed the final, drugged out performance of Jimi Hendrix in England just two weeks before he would meet a tragic death. When it all was over, the fans view of rock and roll was never the same.

Filmography

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Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now - Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now - Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 · 2018
Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now - Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
★ 7.52018
MovieMusic
Directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Murray Lerner, Both Sides Now: Live At The Isle of Wight Festival features new interviews with Joni, discussing her recollections of the event intercut with festival footage, both onstage and behind the scenes, offering a fascinating insight into a now legendary concert from the artists point of view and putting the events of the day into context. Alternatively, fans can enjoy the uninterrupted live concert footage featuring classic songs such as "Woodstock", "Both Sides Now" and "Big Yellow Taxi". This was the final film from Murray Lerner, who sadly passed away not long after the films completion.

Producer

The Moody Blues: Live at the Isle of Wight FestivalThe Moody Blues: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival · 2009
The Moody Blues: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival
★ 9.02009
MovieMusic
In late August 1970, shortly after the release of their album "A Question Of Balance," The Moody Blues took to the stage of the Isle of Wight Festival in front of an audience estimated at over half a million. The band were at their creative and commercial peak after a succession of albums that had enjoyed unprecedented global success. This film from award winning director Murray Lerner combines the band's live performance from the 1970 festival with archive footage and new interview with Graeme Edge, Justin Hayward, John Lodge and Mike Pinder setting the band's performance in the context of the time. Tracks include: - Gypsy - Tuesday Afternoon - Never Comes The Day - Tortoise And The Hare - Question - The Sunset - Melancholy Man - Nights In White Satin - Legend Of A Mind - Encore: Ride My See Saw

Director