Sun Ra: "SPACE IS THE PLACE" - 30th Anniversary

[Rooster_Ties]

from http://www.ejazznews.com

New Releases: Sun Ra in SPACE IS THE PLACE: 30th Anniversary

(Posted by: editoron Monday, August 11, 2003 - 06:01 AM)

Director's Cut on DVD

"An artifact of a time when the hangover of the late 1960's met the disillusioned 1970's; black power and free jazz collided with the fashion sense of SUPERFLY. SPACE IS THE PLACE is the PUTNEY SWOPE of jazz films." -Jon Pareles, THE NEW YORK TIMES

"Outer space is a pleasant place

A place where you can be free

There's no limit to the things you can do

Your thought is free and your life is worthwhile

Space is the place"

-Sun Ra

Sun Ra and the Intergalactic Myth-Science Solar Arkestra in SPACE IS THE PLACE

Director's Cut of legendary cult Sun Ra film gets 30th Anniversary release on DVD with extremely rare Arkestra 1970 Home Movies!

Includes written introduction by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, video interviews with director and producer and moreŠ

On October 28, 2003, Plexifilm will release the director's cut of legendary film SPACE IS THE PLACE (1974) for it's 30th anniversary starring other-worldly jazz bandleader Sun Ra. With over 20 minutes of added footage, the film has been restored to its original theatrical length, reintroducing several subplots heretofore omitted in the previous video version.

Plexifilm's DVD release will be a must-own for any Sun Ra fan and cult film buff: on top of the restored director's cut of the film, the disc also contains 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage taken from extremely rare home movies of the Arkestra's trip to Egypt in 1972 where they played in front of the pyramids, as well as psychedelic projections for the band's live performances shot by Richard Wilkinson, the Arkestra's light and sound coordinator. These wonderful vintage images will be rounded out with liner notes by Sun Ra biographer John F. Szwed, written introduction by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore as well as video interviews with director John Coney and producer Jim Newman and an essay by John Coney.

The DVD will be priced at $24.95 and will street on October 28, 2003 with an order due date of September 12, 2003.

After having traveled through space in a yellow spaceship propelled by music, Sun Ra finds a planet he believes could serve as a new home for the black race. Returning to earth, he lands in Oakland, California circa 1972 and has to fight The Overseer, played by Ray Johnson (from 1971's DIRTY HARRY), a supernatural villain who pimps out the black race. Sun Ra offers those who would follow him into space an "alter-destiny," but the Overseer, the FBI, and NASA--who are after Ra's Black Space Program--ultimately force him to return to space before the destruction of Earth.

Cosmic blaxploitation ***** sociological critique, SPACE IS THE PLACE defies categorization. It is at once a platform for Sun Ra's radical racial philosophies, an indictment of the government's policies in Vietnam-era U.S., cult camp flick, sci-fi movie and concert film with unforgettable performances by the Intergalactic Myth-Science Solar Arkestra featuring June Tyson chanting "Calling planet Earth!"

Since its extremely limited release in 1974--the film played very briefly in San Francisco and New York--SPACE IS THE PLACE has become an underground cult legend spoken about but never seen and if so, in poorly dubbed bootlegs or in the severely adulterated 1992 VHS version. Reminiscent of other 'black' films of the time--it has been compared to Melvin Van Peebles' SWEET SWEETBACK'S BAAD ASSSSS SONG (1971)--the film has a vast mystical quality channeled through the music and words of Ra himself.

Although the mystic and mythic foundations of SPACE IS THE PLACE are similar to another cult classic of the time, Alejandro Jodorowsky's THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (1973), the film started as the brainchild of producer Jim Newman who convinced Ra to make a half-hour PBS documentary. From these beginnings, SPACE IS THE PLACE grew into something which John F. Szwed in his liner notes describes as a "revisionist Biblical epic" and spawned an album of the same name on Blue Thumb records as well as Szwed's highly acclaimed eponymous biography.

SUN RA is considered a giant in twentieth century contemporary music. He pushed the envelope of what music could be: from his mystical philosophies to his band's dress, both of which were an outer space vision of Egyptian costume.

Although claiming to be sent from Saturn to save humanity, it has been documented that Ra was born Herman P. "Sonny" Blount in Birmingham, Alabama in 1914. After playing in many Birmingham based bands throughout the 30s and 40s, Ra relocated to Chicago. In the early 50s, he changed his name to Le Sony'r Ra and slowly expanded his band, which included many players still in high school whom he taught himself. In 1956 Ra established his own independent label, Le Saturn Research, which started releasing records under the name Sun Ra and his Solar Arkestra and continued to release over 100 albums.

Ra explored the vast possibilities of music from exotic instrumentation and composition, from big band, vaudeville to bop, and from the beginning of the sixties his music was labeled as "free jazz" which was being explored by such musicians as Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman. Always a maverick, Ra did not like the term "free," as he claimed his music was very structured and composed. Ra also pioneered the use of electronic instruments such as moogs and various synthesizers‹-he bought one of the first electric organs, the Hammond Solovox, in 1939. Extremely prolific and forward thinking, Sun Ra was a true visionary.

Ra has been highly influential to many popular musicians from Parliament Funkadelic's dress and stage act, the MC5 who incorporated his lyrics into "Starship" off their first album KICK OUT THE JAMS, and more recently to Yo La Tengo's anti-war mini ep which covered "Nuclear War".

About the DVD Edition:

The film is presented in its original Director's Cut with over 20 minutes of restored footage and and includes:

10 minutes of never-before-seen Arkestra home movies from his 1972 trip to Egypt, as well as psychedelic projections and other vintage footage shot by Richard Wilkinson, the Arkestra's light and sound coordinator

Video interviews with director John Coney and producer James Newman

Liner notes by Ra biographer John F. Szwed, author of SPACE IS THE PLACE: THE LIVES AND TIMES OF SUN RA

Written introduction by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore

Essay by director John Coney

Sun Ra in

SPACE IS THE PLACE

A North American Star System production

Starring Ray Johnson, Christopher Brooks and

The Intergalactic Myth-Science Solar Arkestra with

June Tyson, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen and more

Directed by John Coney

Produced by James Newman

Edited by B. Progress, Frank Namei

Written by Joshua Smith

All Music Arranged, Composed and Conducted by Sun Ra

U.S.A. 1974 82 minutes Color 16 mm

DVD release date: October 28, 2003

Catalog No. 010

Price: $24.95

[Rooster_Ties]

I've never seen it, but have the soundtrack on CD. Anyone here seen it before?? Must be a trip.

[jazzbo]

Something to look forward to! Thanks for the headsup.

[.:.impossible]

Wow. Very cool! I can't wait. Has anyone checked out any of the live Sun Ra DVDs? I've only seen one, but the box mentions an entire set. ???

[Claude]

Sun Ra: Films & Video Tapes

[Noj]

I've seen the film. Loads of acid must have played a role in its creation--very strange.

[Late]

Has anyone seen the new "director's cut" of this? I probably won't be purchasing this one for the personal collection, but I'm certainly interested in renting it (if that even ends up as a possibility).

[jazzbo]

First off, Sun Ra was very strange, but NOT into drugs; I don't believe he would have tolerated acid around this film, certainly not in his musical family, and I don't think even in the film producers and workers. Drugs were not allowed around him as far as I can tell.

It is bizaare though, reflecting Ra's bizaare religious/philosophical beliefs FULLY. And it also represents a lot of the blaxploitation film features, as well as being a bit of an homage and a bit of a sendoff of the "B" sci-fi films of the fifties and sixties as well.

This is a nice dvd Late, I think you'll enjoy seeing it. Nice interview with the producer and director, and some fascinating bits of Ra "home movies" as a bonus feature as well.

Edited December 1, 2003 by jazzbo

[Rooster_Ties]

First off, Sun Ra was very strange, but NOT into drugs; I don't believe he would have tolerated acid around this film, certainly not in his musical family, and I don't think even in the film producers and workers. Drugs were not allowed around him as far as I can tell.

Arkestra members (and hangers-on) were not even allowed to drink (alcohol), if I remember correctly. Hell, coffee may not have even been allowed (though I may be imagining that one -- but it wouldn't surprise me either).

Ra ran a tight ship.

[Nutty]

I've never heard any Sun-Ra before, and renting this DVD sounds enticing. As far as the music is concerned, would this DVD be too extreme as an introduction? I'm guessing it would be more appropriate to start with earlier albums like Supersonic Jazz and Jazz in Silhouette and work my up to later material, right? As far as the visuals and Sun-Ra's philosophy is concerned, I think that would be fun to watch....just wondering about the music, though.

[jazzbo]

The music. . . well the music in the film isn't going to be a bad introduction to his music. The music is sort of all over the map in the film, from Ra faking music to back up a stage show, to his electronic keyboard freak out material of this period to a lot of chaotic percussion work. . . .It's all part of the plot in its way. . . .

A good place to start with Ra on reordings may be the compilation "best of" that Evidence has out. . . .

[jazzbo]

I don't really disagree, the movie isn't great shakes but it DOES tell you more about Ra's philosophy and inner style, and it is FUN in a "Reefer Madness" sort of way indeed. And if you are a fan of sort of Zorastrian dualistic thinking this is the best movie of the seventies for that matter.

I'm not saying either that no Arkestrites were toking or poking, BUT this movie was NOT conceived on dope, of that I am pretty sure. The white directors and producers seemed more interested in shooting a pseudoblaxploitation softporn movie, and the "spaced out" elements that may seem to be acid-born pretty much seem to have come from Ra, who was NOT dropping cubes or squares or dots. That's my take on it from viewing and from interviews with Ra's director and producer included on the dvd, and from viewing the "home movies" on there.

I think the bio of Ra is pretty good, but I don't think it's a good introduction to the music or the man; I think the bio is better if you come to it knowing something of Ra and getting a little that you know sort of turned sideways!

[Adam]

I saw the extended director's cut projected last night at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. The producer, Jim Newman, was in attendance. He said this was actually the Los Angeles premiere. It originally showed in San Francisco, Boston, & NY to lousy attendance, and never anywhere else. He said the shortened cut which was the original VHS release came after additional conversations he had with Sun Ra, and reflected some of Sun Ra's concerns about the film. I have not seen the VHS, nor did anyone say what the changes were, but I inferred that some of the "blaxploitation" material was reduced - the two nurses undressing in the hospital for the Overseer, and the whorehouse?

Newman said he felt that the scenes with Ra reflected Ra's beliefs, and most of Ra's lines were just made up by Ra - that's how he spoke. But the rest of it was scripted. Originally he was just wanted to do a 30-minute documentary for a TV station in SF at the time that was commissioning work from various artists. Newman saw the Arkestra in concert at the SF Art Institute, and then approached him about doing the film. After the had filmed another concert or two, and a bit of interview, they decided to make it all something else, and started adding all the other plot - the space ships, the Overseer, the blaxploitation element. The DVD release represents the original theatrical release, and adds the additional home movies. The producer said that the outtakes from the film itself were not in any shape to add to the DVD.

I would agree with Lon's assessment largely. It's a real B-movie, with shots that go on long after they should end, silly lines, funny stuff, cuts that make no sense, cheesy special FX. The space ship is really amusing - a real 1950s sci-fi bad optical. I found it entertaining, but would not think it is the place to start with Sun Ra. Also, there was a disappointing lack of Arkestra in the film. I have the Evidence "soundtrack" album, which has a lot more music than is in the film.

I think the best part is actually the opening, with Ra on another planet with some crazy art design.

Edited May 12, 2004 by Adam

[Alexander Hawkins]

I was curious - and found this thread - has anyone seen the DVD 'A Joyful Noise'? It seems to be some kind of documentary about Ra. If they have, would they recommend this over 'Space is the Place'? Thanks in advance for any comments!

[Rooster_Ties]

I was curious - and found this thread - has anyone seen the DVD 'A Joyful Noise'? It seems to be some kind of documentary about Ra. If they have, would they recommend this over 'Space is the Place'? Thanks in advance for any comments!

I've never seen the DVD, but if I'm remembering right, 'A Joyful Noise' - along with 'Mystery, Mr. Ra' are the two most significant documentaries about Sun Ra.

Here's some info from a link farther up in this thread...

V80a. A Joyful Noise

Film by Robert Mugge, shot in Philadelphia, before the Pyramids in Giza, amidst Egyptian artifacts in a Philadelphia museum, and elsewhere; released 1980. 60 min. Features Ra, June Tyson, John Gilmore, Walter Miller, Al Evans, James Jacson, Eloe Omoe, Danny Ray Thompson, Kenny Williams, and others. Available on video from Rhapsody Films.

V84a. Mystery, Mr. Ra

1984 (probably Spring). 48 min. Documentary featuring footage from 2 Paris concerts, interviews with Ra, and appearances by John Gilmore and Archie Shepp. Produced by Hubert Niogret, directed by Frank Cassenti. Voiceovers in French. Available from Rhapsody Films. [sleeve notes by Michael Shore, rest from rlc]

My memory is that 'A Joyful Noise" was the more informative of the two, but it's been well over 10 years since I've seen either one.

[Guest ariceffron]

SPACE IS THE PLACE IS NOT A ""b' MOVIE--- HOLLYWOOD HAD NOTTHING TO DO WITH IT-- IT IS JUST A LOW-BUDGET INDEPENDENT FILM ABOUT A VERY UNDERGROUND JAZZ ENSEMBLE. IT IS QUITE WHAKY, IM NOT DENYING IT. BUT THE 1ST PT OF THE MOVIE-- THE VERY 1ST SCENE I MEAN, THAT SCENE IS VERY IMPORTANT. IT BRINGS TO LIFE A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHAT THE PUROPSE OF SUN RA ARKESTRA REALLY IS.

[Alexander Hawkins]

Thanks for the tip Rooster!

[Claude]

A have "A Joyful noise". It is an entertaining and quite informative documentary, with music performances shot on top of a building and in a club, and interviews with Sun Ra and some of his sidemen. The only boring passages are Sun Ra's philosophical recitations. Very good picture and sound quality.

Edited May 12, 2004 by Claude

[sidewinder]

Up for a discussion of the Sun Ra DVD 'A Joyful Noise' (produced by Robert Mugge, 1979). Have just been watching this and enjoyed it thoroughly. Live footage from the top of a Philly hotel and from a 'Left Bank Jazz Society' gig in Baltimore. Also Ra philosophising amongst the heiroglyphs in a Philly museum.

What the DVD doesn't give is the full lineup of musicians. Anyone know the full details? The following are confirmed on the film:

Danny Ray Thompson

Eloe Omoe

James Jacson

John Gilmore

Marshall Allen

June Tyson

I suspect that also in the lineup are Michael Ray (trumpet), possibly Luqman Ali (drums). Question marks over the two guitarists though (Disco Kid? - whoever he is), the baritone horn player, the flugel player (Jothan Callins perhaps?), the second trumpet and the vibes player. First time I have heard the vibes in a Sun Ra lineup.

[sidewinder]

Here's a bit of info from a post on the Saturn Net which throws a bit of light on the matter.

Date: Fri, 11 Aug 1995 16:17:38 -0400

Reply-To: Sun Ra and his Arkestra <SATURN@NIC.SURFNET.NL>

Sender: Sun Ra and his Arkestra <SATURN@NIC.SURFNET.NL>

From: Robert Campbell <Robert_Campbell@QUICKMAIL.CLEMSON.EDU>

Subject: A Joyful Noise

Reply to: A Joyful Noise

Michael,

The guy with the rainbow-hued wig looks like a dancer, not a musician with the

band. I have no idea who he was, though. The guys in the House of Ra will

probably know.

I also noticed the acoustic guitarist (!?!) in the rooftop scene when I was

going back through A Joyful Noise a while back. I don't think any disrespect

for the instrument was intended. Sunny used a guitarist named BeBop Sam

Thomas occasionally in the 50s (Thomas appeared on just one recording, the 45

rpm side called "Great Balls of Fire"), Calvin Newborn (Phineas Newborn's

brother) in 1962, a gonzo guitarist known only as Sly around 1974. In the

late 70s, Ra started including guitarists in the Arkestra on a regular basis:

Dale Williams and "Disco Kid" in 1978, Skeeter McFarland and Taylor Richardson

in 1979 and 1980, Carl LeBlanc from 1981 onward, James Glass in 1983, and

pretty regularly since 1984, Bruce Edwards, who plays a major role in the

post-Ra Arkesra.

The rooftop scene in the film was not a regular concert, as it had no

audience--it was organized strictly for filming purposes (and Sunny was

interviewed on the same rooftop before or after the concert). There are some

other odd things about it. Neither Eloe Omoe nor James Jacson is present,

despite their prominence in the film. At the beginning of the rooftop scene

there are three trumpet players (Michael Ray, Al Evans, and Walter Miller);

then all of a sudden a fourth guy (I don't know who he is) pops up. The bass

clarinet player is a young guy I don't recognize and his location in the

lineup jumps around mysteriously. Sunny probably enjoyed the lapses in

continuity!

I used to think the musical scenes in the film were all shot in 1980 (and

that's still a good guess for the rooftop scene, though I suppose it could

have been done in 1979). Then a Ra fan from Delaware showed me the booklet

that was handed out at the premiere of A Joyful Noise, which states that the

filming took two years to complete. And, sure enough, the battered light-blue

instrument that Sunny is shown playing in the House of Ra is his Rocksichord,

which was stolen in the second half of 1978. As Sunny also has the

Rocksichord on the stage at the Left Bank Jazz Society in Baltimore, and none

other than Danny Davis is playing alto sax, that scene is probably from early

1978 also.

That movie has its mysteries...

rlc

PS. I wasn't encouraging the copying of tapes without paying the Arkestra.

Last year, we discussed sending James Jacson 50 cents in "royalties" for each

tape we copy, and I have done so for all of the tapes in my collection.

[ghost of miles]

IU Cinema is showing Space Is The Place this Saturday at 7 p.m. and asked me to write a short piece about it for their blog. The post includes an interview with African-American Studies professor emeritus John McCluskey, who saw the film not long after its (extremely limited) initial release:

Space Race: Sun Ra’s Cosmic Cinema

[Adam]

I saw it last night with the Sun Ra Arkestra performing live, at the Red Bull Music Festival in LA.

https://www.redbull.com/us-en/music/events/space-is-the-place-with-sun-ra-arkestra-live-score

The audience was full in a makeshift cinema at the Ukrainian Cultural Center, a haven decades ago for punk shows, experimental film exhibition in the 1960s, and more.

It was great to see the Arkestra, but as one might expect, the music balance between the Arkestra and the film caused a lot of drowned out dialogue from the film.  Not always a bad thing, as much of the dialogue is silly, and the visuals tell the story.  The film is also really misogynistic; it's a shame that such a crucial film in Afro-futurism has that flaw, which I didn't fully see in 2004.  My partner pointed out how the Arkestra always drowned out any women's dialogue.  Every person presenting as female in the film, besides June Tyson, is a hooker, or the woman of the Overseer or a cigarette seller in a night club.  I mean, it is also low-budget and very much of its time, but those other factors are pretty fun. 

The digital version that was projected seemed to be from a print or a not great negative; scratches in various places.  Producer Jim Newman was in attendance again (see my post regarding the 2004 screening above, which is the previous time I have seen it) but did not speak. 

[JSngry]

2 hours ago, Adam said:

The film is also really misogynistic; it's a shame that such a crucial film in Afro-futurism has that flaw, which I didn't fully see in 2004.  My partner pointed out how the Arkestra always drowned out any women's dialogue.  Every person presenting as female in the film, besides June Tyson, is a hooker, or the woman of the Overseer or a cigarette seller in a night club.

How different is this from most any Blaxploitation film of the time?

Just sayin'...be glad we've come further than where we once were, but the wrinkle with any kind of "futurism" is that it only changes the things it recognizes as a problem in its current time.

[Adam]

Agreed, it's quite consistent with most Blaxploitation films of the time (and other exploitation films) except perhaps Coffey and Foxy Brown, but those can also be read that way.

[medjuck]

Part of a book being done about 2 Toronto music promotors called The Garys.  I saw the band during that engagement.