The highly-anticipated documentary film, Hitsville: The Making of Motown, will be released September 30 in U.K. and Irish cinemas for one night only, and go on general release from October 4. See the trailer here. Tickets are on sale here.
The movie received its red-carpet U.S. premiere August 8 in Los Angeles, and will debut nationwide August 24 on the Showtime TV network. A Detroit cinematic premiere is schedule for August 23, presented by the Motown Museum, Motown Records and Showtime Networks.
Hitsville: The Making of Motown focuses on the legendary company’s development, growth and success from its birth in Detroit in 1959 to its move west to Los Angeles in 1972. It is the first such documentary made with the active participation of Motown founder Berry Gordy, drawing upon material from his personal archives, among many other sources.
The film includes new interviews with Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and onetime Motown A&R chief Mickey Stevenson, all of whom attended the August 8 premiere, as did current Motown Records president Ethiopia Habtemariam and many others from the label’s 60-year history.
Hitsville: The Making of Motown was directed by Gabe and Ben Turner of Fulwell 73, and is distributed in the U.K. and Ireland by Altitude. News of further international distribution is expected soon. On August 16, Universal Music will release Motown Greatest Hits, a 3CD compilation, while the documentary soundtrack will also be available as the film is widely released.
