Wattstax (Mel Stuart, 1973)

This landmark concert film captures the eponymous 1972 concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, organized by Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 riots in LA’s Watts neighborhood. Wattstax features amazing performances by The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, The Bar-Kays, and other great R&B and soul artists, as well as comedy from a prestardom Richard Pryor! (103 mins., 35mm)