Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary Bird on a Wire.

sirius · Post by **sirius** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:16 pm

Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary Bird on a Wire

I am not sure if anyone has seen these clips or posted them on this forum before, from Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary Bird on a Wire. I saw the film at the cinema back in 1974. I was also at the Belle Vue Manchester Concert in March 1972 where I remember them filming the concert and Leonard making comments to the effect that they were filming him for posterity. I believe quite a few songs from that concert made it on to the final documentary Film. I believe the film is lost to us forever. I have never seen it surface ever again. Perhaps Jarkko can tell us more about what happened to this film. This is the first time I have seen extracts or anything about this film for over thirty years.

Peter S

Leonard Cohen Bird on a Wire The title song for the Tony Palmer's 1974 Film

The title song for the Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary lost to modern technology because it was in such poor condition. Bird on a Wire remains Cohen's signature song, a little bird even appearing on the cover of the recent The Book of Longing.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2lv4t ... wire_music

Leonard Cohen sings Avalanche From Film Bird on a Wire 1974

From the rare 1974 documentary of a European tour, Bird on a Wire, this strange melange of grandiosity and self-hatred make up this Cohen classic. Sorry the film maker cut it off before the end.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ls9d ... -a-w_music

Leonard Cohen Bird on a Wire pt 3

A medley of early Leonard Cohen songs including Improvisation, You Know Who I Am, It Seems So Long Ago, Nancy, Famous Blue Raincoat and others, then Leonard on his tour bus introducing his people including Jennifer Warnes, then a back up singer. Followed by the Partisan Song. From Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary Bird on a Wire.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2lweu ... pt-3_music

Leonard Cohen Bird on a Wire pt 4

Tony Palmer's camera follows Leonard as he experiences (suffers?) the ups and downs of touring: handling mobs of people, dragging through airports with musical instruments, unwanted solicitations from women, autographs he must sign, dumb interview questions he doesn't feel like answering and must politely decline. All this he carries off with dignity and grace to face the cheering crowds. Clip from the lost documentary about his 1972 European tour Bird on a Wire.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2m1bw ... pt-4_music

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 5:32 pm

Sirius - I know it is not lost forever as it can still be got in bootleg form. I see Lighting posted the video for that link. Lighting is a member here.

I did have a copy but I lost it somewhere along the line. But thanks for putting those links up I can at least watch some of it again much appreciated

sirius · Post by **sirius** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:57 am

Paula wrote:Sirius - I know it is not lost forever as it can still be got in bootleg form. I see Lighting posted the video for that link. Lighting is a member here.

I did have a copy but I lost it somewhere along the line. But thanks for putting those links up I can at least watch some of it again much appreciated

I would sure appreciate a copy of this bootleg. I will try and contact Lightning if that is possible.

Peter S

Post by **jarkko** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:35 pm

It's not totally impossible that this documentary would surface again (on DVD); some information I have received would hint that Tony Palmer has the original film material and owns the rights to it...

sirius · Post by **sirius** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:21 am

jarkko wrote:It's not totally impossible that this documentary would surface again (on DVD); some information I have received would hint that Tony Palmer has the original film material and owns the rights to it...

Jarrko

That is very encouraging I hope this will be sooner rather than later, especially now while all the energy, love and interest that has been generated by Leonard's current tour, I am sure it would sell well.

I want to say also having just seeing Leonard last week at the Manchester Opera House for the first time in twenty years. I have an existential, neigh even spiritual need to reconnect with the Leonard Cohen's of both past and present. I first saw Leonard at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970 when I was just sixteen, and have attended seven concerts over the last thirty-eight years. In way I feel that being present during the filming of this Documentary at Belle Vue Manchester in March 1972 It would be only fair to be able to see this film properly once again.

Peter S

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:10 am

Hi Sirius,

These clips appear to be from the bootleg that is in circulation, since they have the German sub-titles. I love this movie, and originally saw it when it was shown at The Rainbow Theatre with a short film called "Naked Yoga". I then made it my duty to attend all of the subsequent London showings! It would be nice if "Bird on a Wire" were officially re-issued whatever the condition (and possibly given the "Don't Look Back" treatment" if extra footage exists?). Let's hope we also get to see the Leonard's whole Isle of Wight concert on film.

All good things, John E

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:46 pm

Somewhere I read that IOW DVD is announced... As for the Palmer's movie, we had the discussion here last Summer, I recall that Lightning has posted an mail from Mr. Palmer commenting the movie's destiny.

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:04 pm

I would be very glad to see this reissued. I know the bootleg copy was pretty poor but I think the original film was not to the best standard. I am sure the powers that be can tart it up a bit and make it better quality. It does seem a shame still having the material and not releasing it.

Henning · Post by **Henning** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:18 pm

I saw this movie in 1978 in London. I think it was a cinema in Camden where they had a double feature for one price. It was "Bird on the wire" and "Jonathan Livingston Seeagull". My friends were waiting in a pub. When I rejoined them I was still mesmerized by what I just had seen. I got myself a pint and oversaw a step and stumbled and poured that golden juice all over the floor and I was the attraction of that bar. My friends had great fun. I always wanted to see "Bird on the wire" again. The prospect of having it on DVD adds to this amazing year of Leonard Cohen live.

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:23 pm

Henning we nearly crossed paths. I was meant to be going to Camden to see this film but we got lost on the way. Never arrived and I was gutted as it was never released. I once ordered "Bird on a Wire" video from HMV specifying it was a Leonard Cohen film and ended up with a crap Goldie Hawn film.

When I saw LC at the RAH they were filming for the BOAW film so I was totally gutted not to have seen the film

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:13 pm

It was in November 2007, the topic was titled "Bird on Wire Lost Celluloid", by Lightning: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9708

John Etherington · Post by **John Etherington** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:38 pm

Hi Henning and Paula,

The Camden showing of "Bird on a Wire" is one that I did miss, since I've never seen "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" (I guess that they were trying to bracket Leonard and Neil Diamond toghether as people sometimes do!). After the first showing of "Bird on a Wire" at the Rainbow Theatre, I remember seeing it at a small arty cinema in Wardour Street, and most likely at the ICA - 6/7 times in total.

All good things, John E

Henning · Post by **Henning** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:53 pm

Paula - interesting that we almost crossed paths in 78. If I had seen you, I would have asked are you the one whom I will meet in Dublin in 2008 ? Or so. BOAW has never been shown here. In late 78 a local theatre had it on its schedule when the day arrived it was called off and another music film was shown "Rockers". I asked the manager and he said that there have been license problems with BOAW.

John - I remember I was in a cinema that showed music films, two in a row. Could have been that artsy cinema you have been two. I just remember an old woman selling the tickets. I now have JLS on DVD. I always liked the music, the scenery, the message. I watch it once in a while. It has something to do with my life.

Dear Father, we dream, while we may dream.

sirius · Post by **sirius** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:41 am

Just had this from Tony Palmer replying to an inquiry about his film Bird on the Wire.

----- Original Message -----
From: TONY PALMER
To: Peter Solomon
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 8:28 PM
Subject: Re: Concerning your Film Bird on a Wire

Dear Peter,

The short answer to your question is that the copy Thema Blitz sent me (as I told her) is terrible quality and subtitled in German and not even the complete film.

I would not allow you to pay one cent for such a poor copy.

We have been trying for years to find a copy of the original film and restore it to its former glory and release it on DVD.

Leonard himself has no idea where it is; but we keep looking.

But it's remarkable that you remember the filming in Belle Vue..........seems like yesterday.

I wish I could bring you better news.

Best wishes
TONY P.

Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary Bird on a Wire.

Tony Palmer's 1974 documentary Bird on a Wire.

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