Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall

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Han R Apr 26, 2019 After seeing Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall, I was struck not only by the breadth and scope of Marshall's photography, which ranged much further than the famous photos of rock stars for which I'd known him, but by how fully and intimately director Alfred George Bailey revealed Jim Marshall as a human being. Bailey beautifully explores the surprisingly broad scope of Marshall's work ï¿ 1/2 1/2" the civil rights movement, Appalachian poverty, legendary jazz musicians, and of course, the greatest of rock legends. With an artistic talent of Marshall's magnitude, it would be easy to simply focus on his work and give short shrift to his personal life, particularly given the controversy that shrouded his reputation. However, the real power of this documentary comes from the deep and honest examination of the forces that shaped Jim Marshall's early life, the demons that drove him to despair and self-destruction, and the compassion and empathy that allowed him to connect so profoundly with his subjects. As the film progressed, I gained a deeper understanding of Jim Marshall as a whole and complex person, which in turn illuminated his work more intensely than I'd ever experienced it before. To me, the most powerful of Marshall's photos in the film isn't an image of a legendary musician, or even of the stark hardship of the civil rights movement, but of a young family sitting together. To see the depth of feeling between these four people, the innocent playfulness of the children, the love and calm of the parents, all perfectly captured in a photograph, is truly to grasp the magic of Jim Marshall's talent. And to see how skillfully this exposition occurs in the course of the film is to realize how beautifully composed and executed this film is. Alfred George Bailey has made a film that does justice to the brilliant artist that Jim Marshall is, because it captures him with the same compassion and depth of feeling that he showed his legendary subjects. See more

Han W Apr 24, 2019 A touching reflection of an amazing man. This film not only displays his talent but the long lasting friendships he had with so many people and not just big names. Anyone in photography should take note on how to get the perfect shot. He caught real emotion and you feel you were in the room when he took the photo. Magic.....pure magic. See more

Anakin W Apr 23, 2019 Exceptional combination of three elements: the photos are breathtaking, the artist is spellbinding, and the documentary itself is deeply compelling. Compelling in that I was tantalized to learn more about every aspect of the story...and to watch the doc over and over. It joins the ranks of Muscle Shoals, The Wrecking Crew, and Searching for Sugar Man by increasing our understanding and experience of some of the greatest art (photos and music) of the last sixty years. See more

Kylo W Apr 22, 2019 "Cars and guns have gotten me in trouble, cameras haven't."

Poe L Apr 21, 2019 Show Me The Picture: The Jim Marshall Story is a phenomenal film that succeeds brilliantly on multiple levels. It gives the viewer an intimate look into Jim Marshall both as a complex human being and as an artistic talent, the likes of which will never be replicated. The personal revelations create a compelling portrait; Jim Marshall's life is fascinating not only because of his iconic rock photos of every major rock star of the 1960s and 1970s, but because the viewer sees his character unfold in detail through interviews with the people who knew him best. We hear from Amelia Davis, the keeper of the flame, who was his photography assistant for 13 years, who inherited his work and helped produce this film. We hear from his former girlfriend, who breaks down in tears at the end of her interview. We hear from Michael Zagaris, also a rock photographer and many other people who shared his friendship and knew the times in which he lived and how Jim Marshall captured the major players and immortalized them. We learn that Jim Marshall's father deserted the family when Jim Marshall was very young, the abandonment perhaps was a root of his troubles. Yes, those closest to him tell the tales of the guns and the mountains of cocaine and the self-destructive wild stories. But his friends, including movie star Michael Douglas, photographer Michael Zagaris, are clearly in awe of his talent and have great respect for his gifts. The film rises to the challenge of covering his 50-year career as a photographer, with 1,600 images on the screen. The viewer sees both the famous photos: Johnny Cash giving the finger to the camera, Bob Dylan kicking a tire down the street, the Beatles at their last concert at Candlestick Park, Grace Slick and Janis Joplin, but his lesser-known work: documenting poverty in Kentucky, documenting the civil rights movement, the country's reaction to the Kennedy assassination, seeing in print the souls of such jazz greats such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis. His photographs differ from the other artists of his time in that the subjects have such a level of trust that there is no barrier between the subject and the viewer â" the level of revelation in each shot is beyond the beyond. And Jim Marshall took almost two million images in his lifetime and protected them actively with a copyright and a gun. Director Alfred George Bailey documents the creativity and the intense personal torment in all the different decades of Jim Marshall's life that creates a flow of imagery and words that combined, is hypnotic. A must see! See more

Apr 19, 2019 This intimate and honest look at the life and work of Jim Marshall is a treasure. Anyone who has ever been moved by music should see this film. See more

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Show Me the Picture: The Story of Jim Marshall

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