Mad Dogs and Englishmen

Leon Russell organised the caravan tour of the States in the spring of 1970 which featured Joe Cocker, the Greaseband and about forty others, and which this film documents. A team of 16mm cameramen followed them around, concentrating on simple, multi-camera coverage of concert numbers, and filling in the touring gaps with ungimmicky shots of the troupe in buses, hotels and streets. The sound recording for the first few numbers leaves something to be desired; but considering the pleasantly chaotic formation of the 'family' onstage, this is perhaps understandable, and is made up for in the unpretentious appearance of the movie as a whole. So it comes down to whether you like the music of the Cocker/Russell team. If you do, you won't be disappointed.