Jack Bruce -Rope Ladder To The Moon [1971] [Region 1]

Giving this 5 stars -- not as a rock documentary or music video, but as a film portrait of an artist.As another reviewer remarked correctly the film is dated. That though can be part of the film's charm and insight into Bruce's Glasgow origins, music and homeland. The photography contrasting the nature of Scotland with the industrial harshness of the Glasgow docks and Bruce's former home in the ancient slums of the city is excellent. When Palmer's cinematography is worked into musical sequences complete with impressionistic shots of picturesque Scotland, the effect could be considered quaint -- or wonderfully artistic depending on your point of view.In the end its impossible to say if this film is about rock and roll, and those looking for a rock video will likely be disappointed. As Bruce's musical journey and influences through Glaswegian streets and brass bands, Mingus/Coltrane era Jazz, Bach and Messiaen (as illustrated in this film) is a complex as his reaction to the brief stardom of Cream.Perhaps if there is one criticism is that the film does not delve into Bruce's formative relationship in Cream with Clapton, Baker (and continuing involvement with virtual Cream members Felix Pappalardi and Pete Brown). Much is said about Baker though, and Bruce's earlier musical career and much can be gathered about the history of Cream elsewhere.In any case the 56 minutes of this film has a different tilt and focus that one might expect, still though it is pleasurable and informative enough on a variety of levels to be worth the ride. (The copy I ordered from Amazon included a 30 minute interview with film maker Tony Palmer).

I saw this film on TV many years ago but only recently discovered that it is available on DVD.

' This is an interesting historical film of a brilliant musician. It is very dated and I would have preferred more complete songs. It is a good buy and worth watching in or about the same time as reading his biography .Definitely for the fans.

If this has been remastered i can not imagine how bad the orig was . jacks voice rises and falls , the film quaility is poor with strange colours (bright blue bits of a waterfall look like they are painted on ) and the film stops dead at one point and then jumps. interesting documentary wish it had been longer with more songs , jack is still the man.

Well what can I say - my husband just loves anything to do with Jack Bruce and Cream, so this was a perfect gift for him

Bye Jack

first of all I am a devoted fan of Jack. I bought the dvd at voiceprint so it comes with a different cover image and says it is 1969 as production not 1971. Is it important? Yes. I got before a vhs/dvd from the German tv source from 1971 with excellent film - there is a conversation with Jack at his mansion, solo performance of rope ladder live in the house, piano rendition of theme for western, organs from morning story and 3 tracks live with Jack and Graham Bond, Chris Spedding and John Marshal - clearly from 1971 group. As the German tv film was in fact my expectations I was firstly shocked by the change of the cover and production year and in fact absolutely new thing. The film by Tony Palmer is introduced by current 2010 conversation about the movie and you get from it what it is all about. The film itself is ok however it has a social and documentary value then musical. There are frequent pieces ONLY from the song for a tailor album and an excelent live with John Hiseman and Dick Heckstall Smith as well as some 2 other short performances of the similar kind following exact group members as you see in the album. So yes it is interesting and valuable. You have to buy and see other Tony Palmer movie about Ginger Bakers trip to Africa - again a litlle music more documentary document. So be warned - it is a political and social statement rather musical thing and has nothing to do with any 1971 German tv movie and concert "at home". Anyway thanks for being able to see it.

I saw this on PBS back in '72 (?) And thought I'd never see it again. If you like Jack Bruce you've got to check this out. A real insight to the man with some terrific footage of the musicians involved in the Things We Like album. WOW.

I remember seeing this documentary on PBS Television, Channel 13 in New York, at the beginning of the 70's. As a teenager then, I found it very inspiring. Forty years later it hasn't lost any of it's power. In my opinion, one of the best documentaries ever made about a musician; and Jack Bruce is not only an enormously talented musician, but a wonderful human being and a True Artist as well. In these days of the Dominance of Commercial Waste Products being marketed as music, film, and painting's ; it is good for the soul to watch and listen to a true creative genius like Jack Bruce.The movie was filmed shortly after the break-up of Cream at the end of 1969, originally conceived by Robert Stigwood (then-manager of Cream and J. Bruce) as part of a three part series to highlight the individual personalities and talents of each member of Cream. The Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker films never were realized unfortunately, so we are left only with this wonderful document of the last days of a time when creative depth and commercialism were not contradictory goals.This film should be mandatory viewing for anyone wishing to be an artist.God Save the Queen, director Tony Palmer and his crew, and Jack Bruce !!!Excellent film ... 5 stars !!!

I think I would have enjoyed this much more if I had seen it when it was first produced. Perhaps I am spoiled by modern production techniques and practices. I thought the camera was too close when recording the musical parts. I preferred the treatment of Mr. Bruce's hometown and the island he bought. However, I found the interview with the producer of the film to be more interesting than the movie, itself. That said, I would still recommend this to any Jack Bruce fan. Then again, those people probably already have this.

Well done incitefull intro to Bruce's post Cream life in his solo album phase. High light is amazing church organ solo improvisation. In his bio, 'Jack Bruce composing himself' by Harry Shapiro, he says that when he was in Tony Williams Lifetime with John McLaughlin, organist Larry Young played the best music he'd ever heard!

Palmer's take on Jack Bruce's unique musical life sheds a bright light on an often overlooked aspect of poor, post-war Scotland and the influence it had on Bruce's music.