The Big T.N.T. Show is a 1965 concert film featuring performances by numerous popular rock and roll and R&B musicians from the United States and the United Kingdom.[1]

The Big T.N.T. Show
GenreBlues
Rock
Folk
Country
Directed byLarry Peerce
StarringDavid McCallum
Ray Charles
Petula Clark
The Lovin' Spoonful
Bo Diddley
Joan Baez
The Ronettes
Roger Miller
The Byrds
Donovan
Ike and Tina Turner
Country of originUnited States
Production
Executive producersSamuel Z. Arkoff
James H. Nicholson
Henry G. Saperstein
ProducerPhil Spector
Production locationsLos Angeles, California, United States
CinematographyBob Boatman
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time93 minutes
Original release
ReleaseDecember 1965 (1965-12)
Related
The T.A.M.I Show

A sequel to the T.A.M.I. Show (1964), the film was directed by Larry Peerce and produced by Phil Spector. It was distributed by American International Pictures.[2]

Filming

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The film was shot before a live audience at the Moulin Rouge club at 6230 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles on November 29 and November 30, 1965.[1]

The Big T.N.T. Show was aimed at the teenage demographic and featured 3,000 teenagers in the audience.[3] "T.N.T." was an acronym for Tune 'n' Talent.[2] The film was a follow-up to the T.A.M.I. Show, which was released a year prior. "T.A.M.I." was an acronym for "Teenage Awards Music International."[2]

The concert was shot on videotape and transferred to 35-millimeter film.[4][5] Director Larry Peerce used four television cameras to record the performances. Record producer Phil Spector was the producer and musical director.[1]

According to executive producer Henry G. Saperstein, 140 minutes of footage was shot,[1] but the film was cut down to 90 minutes for the theatrical release.[6] Each of the acts performed their set three times.[1]

Its pre-release title was This Could Be the Night—The Big T.N.T Show.[7] The film's theme song, "This Could Be the Night", was written by Harry Nilsson, produced by Phil Spector, and performed by the Modern Folk Quartet.[8]

Notable appearances

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During the opening sequence of audience shots, Ron Mael and Russell Mael, who would later form the band Sparks can be seen at 4:44 and Sky Saxon, singer and frontman for The Seeds can be seen at 5:21. Frank Zappa appears very briefly in the movie at 6:30 as an audience member and can also be seen in the movie's trailer. Marilyn McCoo of the Fifth Dimension also appears as one of the backing singers during Ray Charles' performance.[9]

Release and reception

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The Big T.N.T Show premiered in theaters in late December 1965.[10][11][12][13] A general release date was initially planned for January 26, 1966.[1]

UPI Hollywood columnist Vernon Scott wrote that the "film is aimed solely at kids who buy recoding of the performers in the cast. It's a musical orgy for pubescent swingers."[2]

List of performers

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The Lovin' Spoonful performing on stage for The Big T.N.T Show. From left to right: Steve Boone, Zal Yanovsky, Joe Butler, John Sebastian.
 
The Byrds performing on stage for The Big T.N.T Show. From left to right: Chris Hillman, David Crosby, Michael Clarke, Gene Clark, Roger McGuinn.

In order of appearance in the film:

Artist Song Title
David McCallum "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (instrumental)
Ray Charles "What'd I Say"
Petula Clark "Downtown"
The Lovin' Spoonful "Do You Believe in Magic",
"You Didn't Have to Be So Nice"
Bo Diddley "Hey Bo Diddley"
"Bo Diddley"
Joan Baez "500 Miles"
"There but for Fortune"
Ray Charles (reprise) "Georgia on My Mind"
"Let the Good Times Roll"
Joan Baez (reprise) "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
The Ronettes "Be My Baby"
"Shout"
Roger Miller "Dang Me"
"Engine Engine #9"
"King of the Road"
"England Swings"
The Byrds "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)"
"The Bells of Rhymney"
"Mr. Tambourine Man"
Petula Clark (reprise) "You're the One"
"My Love"
Donovan "Universal Soldier"
"Summer Day Reflection Songs"
"Bert's Blues"
"Sweet Joy"
Ike & Tina Turner "Shake"
"A Fool In Love"
"It's Gonna Work Out Fine"
"Please, Please, Please"
"Goodbye, So Long"
"Tell the Truth"
David McCallum (reprise) "1-2-3" (instrumental)

Home video

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Some footage from the concert film was reused in the film That Was Rock[5] a.k.a. The T.A.M.I. / T.N.T. Show (1984).[14] The Shout! Factory released it on DVD and Blu-ray in 2016.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Scott, John. L (1965-12-01). "Performers Rock, Audience Roll at Pop-Folk Concert". The Los Angeles Times. pp. Part V 21. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  2. ^ a b c d Scott, Vernon (1965-12-05). "'Way Out' Move Set For Youths". Sunday Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. pp. E-5. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  3. ^ "'Big TNT Show' Has Many Music Stars". Irving News Texan. December 30, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  4. ^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 9 April 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ^ a b Leonard Maltin's Film & Video Guide, multiple editions
  6. ^ "The Bible in Rock 'n' Roll". The San Francisco Examiner. June 13, 1966. p. 23.
  7. ^ Turner Classic Movies: "Notes for The Big T.N.T. Show (1966)"
  8. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p24606
  9. ^ FZ Videography: The Big T.N.T. Show
  10. ^ "Trail Drive-In Theater - Tonight at 7:00, 1st Run! VA. Premiere - The Big "TNT" Show (Advertisement)". Roanoke World-News. December 22, 1965. p. 30. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  11. ^ "The B-I-G "TNT" Show Starts Friday - Dec. 24 (Advertisement)". The Danville Register. December 22, 1965. pp. 4-D. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  12. ^ "Now Playing at Hometown Theaters - The Big T.N.T. Show (Advertisement)". The Charlotte Observer. December 25, 1965. p. 17. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  13. ^ "The Big TNT Show - Gala New Year's Eve Big Midnight Show! - Lyric & Park-Vu (Advertisement)". Deseret News. December 30, 1965. pp. B3. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  14. ^ FZ Videography: The T.A.M.I./T.N.T. Show (That Was Rock) (a.k.a. Born To Rock: The T.A.M.I./T.N.T. Show)
  15. ^ "T.A.M.I. Show/The Big T.N.T. Show: Collector's Edition Blu-ray Review". Home Media Magazine. 2016-12-12. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
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