Floyd on film

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33981, 23 October 1975, Page 4

Floyd on film

The hardest problem for a film about rock music is how to maintain the visual interest while supplying music, and the film “Pink Floyd” is no exception.

The music of Pink Floyd comes from synthesisers, amplifiers, guitars, drums, piano, organs and gong, all of which are placed in an ancient Roman ampitheatre (for amplification?). It manages to overcome some second-rate camera work — in spite of the evidence of having film equipment to produce good visual effects. The cerebral music is so varied and interesting that it is able to hold the attention of the audience, in spite of the fact that the film has no plot or characters, such as in rock films like "Woodstock.” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Mad Dogs and Englishmen.” Some people will find the film disappointing because if features only snatches of Floyd’s most successful

album, “Dark Side of the Moon.” The film was made when the album was being recorded. However, the film does have some classic Pink Floyd music — “Careful With that Axe, Eugene,” “One of These Days I’m Going to Tear You Into Little Pieces,” “Echoes Part I and II,” “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” and “A Saucerful of Secrets,” all lifted from “Ummagumma” and “Meddle.” The danger for the film and Pink Floyd itself is, as one member of the group says, the danger of becoming a “relic of' the past.” Pink Floyd’s music has become an accepted part of the pop genre, although earlier it was considered far ahead of its time. For those people who enjoy the music of Pink Floyd, this film is a must. The film will begin its run in Christchurch tomorrow. —Nevin Topp