Only the Strong Survive

Old bluesmen, unlike old soldiers, do not fade away. They keep on performing, as long as anyone wants to listen, and even afterwards. D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus meet up with veteran Motown musicians, talk with them, and record some of their performances.

Sometimes I can't comment usefully on a movie because it is so alien to me. Since I was going through adolescence at Motown's peak, it's just the opposite; I can't comment usefully because these are the songs and performers at a time when I was figuring out who I was, and so I am hopelessly biased in favor of them. Their performances seem just as strong as they ever did, and their time in the spotlight seems even more joyous than ever before.

But how grey and old they've gotten!