Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019)

About Hitsville: The Making of Motown

"Hitsville: The Making of Motown" is a fascinating 2019 documentary that chronicles the conception and growth of the iconic music label, Motown Records. The plot and narration offer a comprehensive understanding of the journey of Motown founder, Berry Gordy, and the assembly of talent he brought together that shaped the sound of a generation. The movie is filled with archival footage, behind-the-scenes looks at the label's operations, and intimate interviews with the artists who made Motown a music landmark.

Making / Production

This documentary was directed by Benjamin and Gabe Turner, who also produced it along with others. Production was conducted under the banner of Fulwell 73 Productions. With detailed research and excellent narration, the directors effectively brought the iconic era of Motown back into the limelight.

Actors

• Berry Gordy: Playing himself, Gordy shares insightful anecdotes about founding Motown Records and the challenges he faced through its journey.
• Smoky Robinson: Also portraying himself, Robinson discusses his relationship with Gordy and provides an intimate reflection of the early days of Motown.
• Martha Reeves: Reeves adds spice by sharing her experiences leading the Vandellas and adding her unique sound to the Motown roster.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title "Hitsville" stems from the nickname of Motown's first headquarters, a narrow Detroit house known as "Hitsville U.S.A."
• The film is the first documentary about the Motown Records that was made with Gordy's participation.
• It includes rare performances footage from the Motown vaults and interviews with key players in the label's prolific output.

Awards

'Hitsville: The Making of Motown' was nominated for the category 'Music Film' at the NME Awards in 2020.

Quotes

• "It was a little factory. It was a production line." - Smoky Robinson.
• "We didn't just make music, we made memories." - Berry Gordy.

Music, Soundtrack

• The film features an original score by Harry Gregson-Williams.
• In addition, the documentary soundtrack presents a time capsule of Motown hits from artists like Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, and The Supremes.