The candid, definitive and hugely entertaining tale of the rise of The Who, named for the cinephilic pair of Swinging Londoners who figured that managing a band would be a great way to get a movie made.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2015
Lambert & Stamp 2014
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“More combustible than most bands (or most explosives), The Who had a street fighter for a frontman, a thorny intellectual for a guitarist, a lunatic whirlwind for a drummer and John Entwistle on bass. As we learn in the puckishly entertaining Lambert & Stamp, the guys needed a firm hand: Oxford-educated Kit Lambert and East End schemer Chris Stamp (brother of actor Terence) were both frustrated filmmakers until they found a mission in polishing the rock quartet for stardom. Roger Daltrey’s punching problem had to be addressed, while Pete Townshend required creative encouragement (and Lambert’s classical vinyl) if he was ever going to finish Tommy. Blessed with a wealth of golden b&w footage (Lambert and Stamp always planned to document their managerial brilliance), James D. Cooper’s poundingly fun, scrappy profile has an unusually satisfying nutsand- bolts perspective on the 60s fame machine.” — Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out NY
“This isn’t myth-burnishing hokum… Lambert & Stamp just happens to illuminate the glory and tumult of the band’s rise with unexpected candour.” — Alan Scherstuhl, Village Voice