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Only the Strong Survive

Play trailer Poster for Only the Strong Survive PG-13 2003 1h 41m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
61% Tomatometer 44 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker showcase performers of R & B and soul from the 1950s to the 1970s.
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Only the Strong Survive

Only the Strong Survive

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Critics Consensus

Though this documentary could be more informative, the performances themselves are wonderful.

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Critics Reviews

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Randy Cordova Arizona Republic 06/26/2003
3/5
There's no problem with a little bias, but Friedman's fan-boy perspective puts the subjects of Only the Strong Survive on too high a pedestal. Go to Full Review Gene Seymour Newsday 05/28/2003
2/4
Content to merely serve as a cluttered, heart-shaped scrapbook, missing many more stories than it bothers to include. Go to Full Review Richard Roeper Ebert & Roeper 05/12/2003
... the music is great, but as a film thumbs down. Go to Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com 06/13/2009
C
...fails to give audiences as much frame of reference for the unifying economic, political and atmospheric elements that made the Stax brand of R&B soul music so powerful. Go to Full Review Film Threat 12/06/2005
1.5/5
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 10/01/2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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11/13/2008 Soul is not my prefered type of music,so i didn't think the docummentary has a lot to offer me. Still, the language works really well. See more 08/11/2008 A sweet, although lacking in depth, memorable portrait of a group of soul singers who shine even if the general public dont take notice. Some great performances. See more 06/19/2008 Ok, so get together a bunch of washed up has-been soul singers that never had any real hits, let them play concerts in front of 100 people thinking they're the cream of the crop reminiscing about the good ol' days and that's what you have here. The craziest, funniest, more torturous 95 mins of my life. See more 11/10/2007 this is nice. it's not as stinging as 'wattstax', nor does it encapsulate a history making event like 'woodstock' but the concert footage is great and the performances are wonderful! See more 03/11/2007 Only good memories come from reliving this music, I sometimes feel bad for the younguns, I know they can listen to it now, but you had to have been in that era, to know what I mean. See more Read all reviews
Only the Strong Survive

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Hegedus

Director

D.A. Pennebaker

Director

William Bell

Self

Jerry Butler

Self

The Chi-Lites

Themselves

Isaac Hayes

Self

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Only the Strong Survive

Only the Strong Survive (2002) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker showcase performers of R & B and soul from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Director
Chris Hegedus, D.A. Pennebaker
Producer
Roger Friedman, Frazer Pennebaker
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Pennebaker-Hegedus Films
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Language|Drug Reference)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 2, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$57.3K
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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