Standing in the Shadows of Motown DVD Review

Entertaining pop music, an affectionate portrait of 13 interesting men, and insight into the 1960s American scene make this one of the very best documentaries I have ever seen.

Pros

Cons

I loved this documentary’s affectionate portrait of 13 Detroit studio musicians who backed up Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, and other popular singers from 1959-1973. I just couldn’t keep my toes from tapping when “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “My Girl” were performed, and the big finish—a performance of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”—brought tears to my eyes. But the documentary would be worth seeing even if it contained no music at all because the 13 studio musicians, collectively known as the Funk Brothers, are such interesting men. Furthermore, the movie gives a lot of insight into the 1960s American scene. This is one of the very best documentaries I have ever seen.