Palm Pictures will release the Talking Heads’ acclaimed concert film Stop Making Sense for the first time digitally on July 15. Watch a montage from the film here. Directed by Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) and produced by Gary Goetzman (The Silence of the Lambs, Where the Wild Things Are), Stop Making Sense was originally released in 1984 and has continued to receive critical acclaim. A special limited theatrical engagement of the film will begin this summer, including screenings in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Of the film, Palm Pictures and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell says, “Stop Making Sense is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. It amazes me how timeless the film and the music are. I think this is a great testament to the music of the Talking Heads and the groundbreaking cinematography of Jonathan Demme in creating this film.” Stop Making Sense was filmed over three days at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood in 1983 while Talking Heads were on tour following the release of their album Speaking in Tongues. The documentary is noteworthy for its long camera shots, stripped down lighting, and lack of audience footage, allowing the focus to remain on the band’s intense energy and unique staging. Over the course of their career, Talking Heads established themselves as one of the most critically acclaimed bands of the 1980s. They refined a sound that was equal parts art-funk, polyrhythmic worldbeats, and melodic guitar pop on their acclaimed albums including Talking Heads: 77 (1977), Fear of Music (1979), Speaking in Tongues (1983), Little Creatures (1985) True Stories (1986) and Naked (1988).
Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme is known for his films including Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and Rachel Getting Married as well as his three documentary/concert films about Neil Young. Producer Gary Goetzman’s credits include Where The Wild Things Are, Mamma Mia!, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, That Thing You Do!, The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia.
LIMITED THEATRICAL ENGAGEMENT
May 17 Ithaca, NY Cornell Cinema
May 22 Pleasantville, NY Jacob Burns
May 23-June 5 Ogden, UT Art House Cinema 502
June 4-5 Brooklyn, NY BAM
June 7 Portland, OR Reed College
June 13-14 Kansas City, MO Tivoli Theatre
June 13-19 Missoula, MT Roxy
June 16 Rochester, NY Little Theater
June 18-20 Los Angeles, CA New Beverly
June 18, 22 Columbus, OH Gateway Film Center
June 19-22 Oak Cliff, TX Texas Theatre
June 22 Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Center for the Arts
July Vancouver, Canada Vancity
July 3 Littleton, CO Alamo
July 4-5 Troy, OH Mayflower
July 10 Yonkers, NY Alamo
July 14 Austin, TX Alamo Ritz
July 15, 17 Kalamazoo, MI Alamo
August 1-3 Seattle, WA SIFF Cinema
August 6 Lexington, KY Kentucky Theatre
August 14 Houston, TX Miller Outdoor Theatre
August 14, 16 Chicago, IL Music Box
August 22-24 Kansas City, MO Armour
September 6 New Orleans, LA Shotgun Cinema
September 6, 8 Silver Springs, MD AFI Silver
September 19 Kansas City, MO Kansas City Public Library
TBD Kingston, Canada Screening Room Cinema
TBD Los Angeles, CA Oscar Theatre
TBD Huntington, NY Cinema Arts Center
TBD Portland, OR Academy Theater
TBD Portland, OR Northwest Film Center
TBD Memphis, TN Indie Memphis
TBD Nashville, TN Belcourt Theater
