Best Music Movies of 1978
The Last Waltz
Martin Scorsese's documentary intertwines footage from "The Band's" incredible farewell tour with probing backstage interviews and featured performances by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, and other rock legends.
The Wiz
Dorothy Gale, a shy kindergarten teacher, is swept away to the magic land of Oz where she embarks on a quest to return home.
The Buddy Holly Story
A chronicle of the rise and brief career of rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly, who aspires to play music the way he wants it to sound. Holly and his band, the Crickets, are first invited to record in Nashville, where they encounter creative differences with the producing staff. Later they play a major booking at the Apollo Theater, scheduled there under the mistaken assumption that they're a black band. Holly's career eventually goes solo -- until the tragic day the music dies.
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
The story of the rise and fall of the Pre-Fab Four.

She Loves Me
BBC production of the 1963 Broadway musical which was based on Ernst Lubitsch's 1940 film "The Shop Around The Corner."

Tannhäuser and the Singers' Contest at Wartburg Castle
TANNHÄUSER UND DER SÄNGERKRIEG AUF WARTBURG is a grand opera by Richard Wagner in three acts. After experiencing boundless sensuality and freedom with the fun-loving Venus (soprano), the singer Tannhäuser (Tenor) finds it impossible to conform to the cultured setting of his betrothed Elizabeth (soprano), who loves him. During a singing contest, Tannhäuser describes the affair with Venus as the ultimate love experience and because of that, he is cast out from the established society. Thanks to Elizabeth's intervention, he is allowed to undertake a pilgrimage to the Pope to ask for the Holy Father's pardon. If the Pope accepts to forgive him, he would be allowed to take back his place in society. Tannhäuser accepts. But fate will not allow him to meet with his beloved Elizabeth again in this life. This is a recording of the legendary staging by Götz Friedrich for the 1978 Bayreuth Festival conducted by Sir Colin Davis.

American Hot Wax
This is the story loosely based on Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who introduced rock'n'roll to teenage American radio audiences in the 1950s. Freed was a source of great controversy: criticized by conservatives for corrupting youth with the "devil's music"; hated by racists for promoting African American music for white consumption; persecuted by law enforcement officials and finally brought down by the "payola" scandals.
FM
Q-SKY is the #1 radio station in Los Angeles mainly because of the music they play; running the station the way they want to, it has made them a ratings success.

Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
Big Bird worries when Oscar tells him that if Santa Claus can't fit down the chimney on Christmas Eve, nobody would get presents.

Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
Thin Lizzy in concert during their "Live and Dangerous" tour of 1976 in London.

Renaldo and Clara
Filmed in the autumn of 1975 prior to and during Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue tour – featuring appearances and performances by Ronee Blakley, T-Bone Burnett, Jack Elliott, Allen Ginsberg, Arlo Guthrie, Ronnie Hawkins, Roger McGuinn, Joni Mitchell, Mick Ronson, Arlen Roth, Sam Shepard, and Harry Dean Stanton – the film incorporates three distinct film genres: concert footage, documentary interviews, and dramatic fictional vignettes reflective of Dylan's song lyrics and life.
Stony Island
"Stony Island gives you a priceless look back at Chicago’s South Side neighborhood, at a time when very few films were made in within the city at all — and features a legion of legendary Chicago players (Gene Barge, Phil Upchurch, Larry Ball, Richie Davis, Tennyson Stephens, Ronnie Barron, and a young Susanna Hoffs) alongside Dennis Franz (“NYPD Blue”) and Rae Dawn Chong. Telling the story of a group of multiracial R&B performers, and how they’re affected by the death of a veteran musician from their circle, Stony Island is an incredible time capsule, and provides a sweetly funky soundtrack to boot!" -- The Cinefamily

Tom Waits: A Day in Vienna
Short documentary film on the great and powerful Tom Waits, including clips from live performances and interviews.

Ringo
Ringo, stressed out by fame, trades places with a schmuck who looks exactly like him. Then the problems start!

The Water Babies
This children's fantasy tells the story of a 12-year-old boy who discovers a complex underwater world where young children are held prisoner by an evil shark and an eel.
Jubilee
Queen Elizabeth I visits late 1970s England to find a depressing landscape where life has changed since her time.

The Devil and Daniel Mouse
When a young female mouse makes a deal with the devil to become a rock star and learns the price, her boyfriend has to help her avoid damnation.

Callas: A Documentary
Narrated by cinema legend Franco Zeffirelli, this intimate made-for-television documentary traces the life and times of the mercurial Maria Callas, one of the most renowned and respected operatic divas of the mid-20th century. Rare authentic footage, candid interviews and breathtaking performances help paint a portrait of an artist remembered as much for her quick and explosive temper as she is for her immeasurable talent.
Thank God It's Friday
It's Friday and everyone is going to the hot new disco. The Commodores are scheduled to play if Floyd shows up with the instruments and Nicole dreams of becoming a disco star. Other characters are there to win the dance contest, or to put a little excitement into a fifth anniversary.

Honky Tonk Nights
Former stripper turned aspiring country singer Bette Barnette gets a gig performing at a seedy tavern run by the no-nonsense Georgia. However, poor Bette can't get the rowdy male patrons to take her seriously as a singer. Meanwhile, evil local businessman Sam Diamond plots to get his greedy hands on Georgia's place, feisty and ambitious younger singer Dolly Pop doesn't take it lightly that Bette has taken her job, and Bette's sister Doris Ann has problems of her own with her wannabe daredevil boyfriend Danny.

Black Sabbath: Never Say Die
Recorded live in 1978, Never Say Die is a defining moment in Black Sabbath's history. This unique concert is one of Sabbath's final performances with the original line-up of Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward. Setlist: 1. Symptom Of The Universe 2. War Pigs 3. Snow Blind 4. Never Say Die 5. Black Sabbath 6. Dirty Women 7. Rock And Roll Doctor 8. Electric Funeral 9. Children Of The Grave 10. Paranoid

Wiz on Down the Road
A short promotional film on the making of “The Wiz” (1978). Includes a brief history of Oz portrayals in film and behind the scenes interviews.

Cotton Candy
An uncool high-schooler forms his own group to beat the local hotshots in a battle of the bands.
Stunt Rock
Australian stuntman Grant Page goes to Los Angeles to work on a television series. He uses his spare time to lend his expertise to rock band Sorcery. Page helps the band develop pyrotechnic magic tricks for their shows, and also recounts to his own exploits as a stuntman and daredevil as well as various stunts by other greats.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
A small town band makes it big, but loses track of their roots, as they get caught up into the big-time machinations of the music biz. Now, they must thwart a plot to destroy their home town. Built around the music of The Beatles, this musical uses some big name groups like Peter Frampton and Aerosmith.
Disco Fever
Jaded night club owner stages the comeback of an ex-teen idol for revenge.

The Carpenters: A Christmas Portrait
Richard and Karen Carpenter host a musical celebration of the holiday with celebrity guests Gene Kelly, Georgia Engel, and Jimmy & Kristy McNichol.
Steve & Eydie Celebrate Irving Berlin

Mitzi... What's Hot, What's Not
Mitzi Gaynor and her guests Gavin MacLeod (The Love Boat), John McCook (The Young and the Restless), and musician Benny Goodman explore trends of the 1970's ranging from Jazz and Disco to Soap Operas and King Tut-mania. Songs include "Satin Doll," "I'm Hip" (with Goodman), "Nice Work if You Can Get it," and "Can't Smile Without You."

The Bay City Rollers Meet the Saturday Superstars
Fall preview special highlighted by original comedy skits and musical performances by the Bay City Rollers and others.

The New Adventures of Heidi
Heidi leaves the mountains of Switzerland for a trip to New York City.

Grateful Dead: The Closing of Winterland
The Closing Of Winterland documents the Grateful Dead's landmark New Year's Eve 1978 concert that marked the end of the famed San Francisco Bay Area venue Winterland Aena. The Dead celebrated the closing as an approximately five-hour-long party (complete with breakfast with the audience at dawn) and invited some guests including guitarist John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service and Ken Kesey as well as actor Dan Aykroyd who provided the midnight countdown.

Amahl and the Night Visitors
One night in Judea, a disabled shepherd boy-turned-beggar and his mother are visited by three strangers. They are the Three Kings, and they are on their way to Bethlehem to visit the Christ Child, who has just been born.

The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1978
For his 1978 Christmas special, the third in as many years, Johnny Cash moved the taping of the Christmas Special to Los Angeles, and, predictably, the program takes on a Hollywood feel. Guests include Kris Kristofferson and singer Rita Coolidge, both friends of the Cash family who perform a heartfelt "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," and Steve Martin, one of America's hottest new comics at the time. June Carter Cash, as always, performs with her husband, and other family members make appearances in this special as well.
Sextette
On the day of her wedding to her sixth husband, a glamorous silver screen sex symbol is asked to intervene in a political dispute between nations, which leads to chaos.

The Carpenters... Space Encounters
Take a magical, musical trip through time and space with the Carpenters and their guests... including a "Star Wars/Close Encounters" fantasy that will dazzle and delight you.
Alice Cooper and Friends
A TV concert special showcasing performances by Alice Cooper and support acts Sha Na Na, The Tubes and Nazareth. Filmed June 19, 1977 at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CA, this special was broadcast in September 1977 on US television.
Alex and the Wonderful Doo-Wah Lamp
Alex is annoyed when he loses out on being picked as class president. When visiting a local antique shop he finds a magic lamp, with three singing Genies, who grant him three magical wishes.

The Goldie Hawn Special
Goldie Hawn’s second TV special was in 1978, “The Goldie Hawn Special” and it was a sort of comeback for her, after she had been out of the spotlight for over two years. On the TV special she performed show tunes and comedy bits alongside comic legend George Burns, teen idol Shaun Cassidy, television star John Ritter and even the Harlem Globetrotters joined her on the show. The special later went on to be nominated for a primetime Emmy Award.

Rockpalast - Meat Loaf
Rockpalast series featuring Meat Loaf

Cindy
A revisionist twist on Cinderella with an all-black cast and set in Harlem during WWII. Cindy is a country bumpkin who moves from South Carolina to live with her father and his new family. When her stepmother and two stepsisters refuse to take her to the Sugar Hill Ball, her draft-dodging, chauffeur neighbor whips up a little "magic" and at the ball she catches the eye of the richest man in Harlem.

The Dancing Princesses
A made-for-TV retelling of the story "The Twelve Dancing Princesses," directed by Ben Rea, featuring Jim Dale as the Soldier, Freddie Jones as the destitute King, and Gloria Grahame as the Witch. Significant changes were made to the story, including reducing the number of princesses to six, and the soldier ultimately declining to marry any of the princesses due to their deceitful nature.

The Oriental Nightfish
The infamous short film that accompanies the Linda McCartney song of the same name.

Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Paris, France. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster Télévision Française 1 (TF1), the contest was held at the Palais des Congrès on Saturday 22 April 1978 and was hosted by French television presenters Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone. This was the first time that more than one presenter had hosted the contest and the first to have a male presenter since 1956. In addition to hosting, the two presenters also served as commentators for France.
Big Apple Birthday
Every day is boring and the same to Amy, even her birthday. All the evidence her family puts forth that each day is different she rebuts with well-thought out responses of sameness. She is supposed to visit her Aunt Lucy to pick up her present from her, and instead meets weird characters who insist that her aunt has a beagle named Charlie and that she has turned into a butterfly. Eventually she encounters fairytale folk who thought their lives were normal before the events in their stories occurred. (IMDb)

The Things We Did Last Summer
This episodic comedy features the original cast of Saturday Night Live as they present individual skits that describe their summer vacations. Among the highlights is a concert segment featuring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as the Blues Brothers.

Mongoloid
A short film, accompanied by Devo's title track. Insightful editing techniques reveal the dreams, ideals and problems that face a large segment of the American male population.

Mongoloid
A documentary film exploring the manner in which a determined young man overcame a basic mental defect and became a useful member of society. Insightful editing techniques reveal the dreams, ideals and problems that face a large segment of the American male population. Educational. Background music written and performed by the DEVO orchestra.

Sammy Stops the World
A man who sells coffee for a living gets his boss's daughter pregnant. This changes his life and eventually leads to his becoming a powerful business tycoon with no moral center. (TCM)
Metal Messiah
A bizarre sci-fi rock opera like little else being produced under the banner of Canadian film at the time, Metal Messiah is about an enigmatic metallic-skinned stranger trying to stop society's self-destructive obsession with rock and roll. Anchored in Toronto's live music scene if the late 1970s, this dystopian parable was the feature film debut of local music impresario and director Tibor Takács. Working with screenwriter Stephen Zoller, Takács' film is a crudely crafted, episodic work that plays out like a glam version of Amos Poe's avant-punk NYC flick The Foreigner (1978), but with even more ambition, attempting to scale to the bombastic rock opera heights of films like Phantom of the Paradise (1974) and Tommy (1975). (from: http://www.canuxploitation.com/review/metalmessiah.html)
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