Let’s Make Some Noise, vintage movie style: celebrating the films of yesterday and the day before
By: Kevin Vickery
Welcome to the latest feature of my column where I will dive into feature films 50, 40, 30, 20 and maybe even sometimes 10 years ago. Each month I’ll chose a common theme and then highlight and discuss movies of those specific years.
This concept occurred to me when I recently had to swallow my pride realizing that 1996 was 30 years ago and that of course means that my beloved 1980s (particularly 1986) was 40 years in the past. I won’t mention how long ago that makes 1976 but you get the idea.
When I think of all the great music, fashion trends, cars, and especially movies from those good old days and how things have changed within pop-culture over my lifetime, I decided to add this segment as a reoccurring feature for this year. So, we’ll see how it goes and if my boss (that’s you, the readers) enjoy it, then I’ll keep it going.
So, without any further ado, let’s get this party started by rolling back the colander 50 years to feature this rock and roll classic from 1976.
“The Song Remains the Same”: 1976, Rated PG
This documentary concert film features the legendary English rock band Led Zeppelin at their prime. The filming took place during three nights of concerts at Madison Square Garden in New York City and premiered in theaters during October of 1976 in California, New York and London. It was later accompanied by a soundtrack of the same name.
The concert footage features great, live versions of all the standard Zeppelin classics you’d expect like, “Rock and Roll”, “Black Dog”, “Dazed and Confused”, “Whole Lotta Love”, and “Stairway to Heaven” as well as other hits and lesser known songs by the band. Starring band members, vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer, John Bonham, “The Song Remains the Same” is primarily focused on the live show but the film also cuts away to some elaborate, surreal vignettes during instrumental sections that feature a sort of trippy, fantasy sequence of each band member’s personal visions.
I didn’t discover Led Zeppelin until later when I was a Freshman in high school but when I did, my friends and I completely wore out a VHS copy of “The Song Remains the Same” over the course of a Summer’s worth of daily watching.
The film brings back a lot of good memories for me and I’d recommend it to any music fan. So if you’re a classic rock fan, give it an overdue re-watch and or even better, watch it with someone younger who’s never seen it and enlighten them to the mighty Led Zep!
“Labyrinth”: 1986, Rated PG
This musical fantasy film, directed by Jim Henson from Terry Jones’ screenplay is based on a story conceived by Henson and Dennis Lee. A co-production between Henson Associates and Lucasfilm with George Lucas serving as executive producer, “Labyrinth” stars Jennifer Connelly as teenager Sarah and legendary David Bowie as Jareth and follows Sarah’s journeys through a maze to save her baby brother from the Goblin King.
“Labyrinth” underperformed at the US box office but was more successful in the UK and overseas. The film was first met with a mixed critical response upon its release but over the years it has been re-evaluated by many critics and a with it’s success on home video and television broadcasts, “Labyrinth” has gained a large cult following. This following had lead to limited theater runs this year, commentating the 40th anniversary of the films original release.
The plot centers are Sarah who out of jealousy toward her infant half-brother Toby, wishes him into the labyrinth from the book she’s reading and then is forced by Jareth (David Bowie) into the maze herself with 13 hours to rescue him. Along the way she is faced with various obstacles, tricks and traps to prevent her success. Sarah befriends several creations from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop including a dwarf named Hoggle, a troll named Ludo, and Sir Didymus, a talking fox terrier who all play a roll in helping Sarah navigate the labyrinth to find her brother.
I was 15 years old when this movie was released and I enjoyed it to some degree but this particular flavor of fantasy-fiction is not really my jam. Honestly I don’t know the subtle differences between a fairy and a pixie and if you put an elf, a dwarf, a troll, a gnome and a goblin all in a line-up the only thing I’d know is that Smurfs are the blue ones.
For me, it was really all about David Bowie’s performance. His character Jared has a tall, sleek appearance with a long, feathered, blonde wig that is reminiscent of Bowie’s looks during the Ziggy Stardust era. His magical skills include levitation, shape shifting and using crystal balls to spy and manipulate the environment. His real super power is his real-life abilities as a singer, songwriter, and performer.
Bowie wrote and recorded five songs for the film that are featured on the “Labyrinth” soundtrack including, “Underground,” “Within You,” “As the World Falls Down,”“Labyrinth” and my person favorite, “Magic Dance” which are all performed throughout the story.
Overall, “Labyrinth” is a good, fantasy film that’s appropriate for the whole family to enjoy and features great music, especially for David Bowie fans. It is a mid level review for my particular tastes but I would still recommend it to those who are into this style of films.
“Waitung for Guffman”: 1996. Rated R
Turning 30 years old in 2026, this mockumentary style comedy film was written by written by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy and directed by Guest. The film’s ensemble cast includes Guest, Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban and Parker Posey.
The film’s title is a reference to Samuel Beckett’s play, “Waiting for Godot” and as in the other hilarious mockumentary films created by Guest like, “Best in Show”, “A Mightly Wind” and“For Your Consideration”, the majority of the dialogue was improvised. Since the film is about the production of a stage musical, it of course contains several original musical numbers written by Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer all “Saturday Night Live” alumni and also of “This is Spinal Tap” fame.
The plot centers around a small community theater production in Blaine, Missouri led by eccentric director Corky St. Clair (Guest). The show, a musical chronicling the town’s history is to be performed as part of the town’s 150th-anniversary celebration. The stage show operating on a shoe string budget outlines such features of the town as how its founding father confused Missouri’s geography with the Pacific coastline, the town’s past visit by a UFO and why Blaine is known as, “The Stool Capital of the World.”
Corky’s talk of his far-off Broadway connections has lead the cast to believe that they a renowned critic, Mort Guffman may be in attendance and with his positive review, their production could go all the way to Broadway but as he ultimately never appears and is spoofed as in the original “Godot”.
I think Christopher Guest is a genius and love all the films that he’s done with this ensemble cast. It amazes me the way they all comedically riff off of each other, delivering side-splitting lines while remaining in character. “Waiting for Guffman” isn’t my favorite of his mockumentaries but it’s still very good in my opinion and since it’s the only one made in 1996, it earns this slot in my column. I would highly recommend it but if you’re not familiar with Guest’s work, I’d suggest starting with “Best in Show” or “A Mightky Wind” first.
In case you haven’t figured it out, this month’s theme was music/musicals. Tune in next time as we walk down memory with a few more of your favorite feature film blasts from the past.
For more information about the films, stars or directors discussed in this month’s column visit:
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