Just as King Crimson has been, for more than half a century, an atypical rock band, this film is a refreshingly atypical music documentary. A film about the sacrifices we need to make to bring things of beauty and meaning into the world. But with jokes.
Toby Amies’s film In The Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson at 50 provides a unique insight into the working process of a complex touring band, interspersed with contributions from previous band members to provide a contextual backdrop to the band’s past, as the most recent (2014-2021) line-up tours the world just before and during its 50th anniversary.
As King Crimson producer and band manager, David Singleton observed of the film: “All of life is here, not just music, and certainly not just rock. It has rightly been described as going beyond King Crimson into a ‘universal, inspirational study of what it is to work or dream to work as an artist.’”
While director Toby Amies writes of the experience: In the Court of the Crimson King is not a film that wants to tell the audience what to think, rather it presents several different points of view about the creative process and what it means to be in this most unusual band; leaving the audience with a sense of both how complicated it all is, but also just how incredibly rewarding the King Crimson experience is both for the musicians and its fans.”
Robert Fripp announced that King Crimson had “moved from sound to silence” on social media after their final date in Japan in December 2021, making this release all the more poignant as a unique record of the band’s longest lasting line-up with tantalizing glimpses of the band’s history.
“This unflinching portrait of the prog rock band is like an episode of The Office but with huge drum kits, grizzled roadies and rapturous fans”. —THE GUARDIAN
“By turns comical and melancholy, it may be the most revealing film about working life in a band since Spinal Tap.” —THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
“A fascinating look at both a venerable institution, the dynamics of working as a multi-limbed unit that’s ruled by a single iron fist, and what it takes to play this type of music.” —ROLLING STONE
“Doc about a Prog-Rock Perfectionist Is Nearly Perfect Itself. About as good as Rock documentaries get.” —VARIETY
“Revelatory”. —UNCUT
“A compelling insight into the tetchy men of prog rock. Their dedication to music is a joy, the persistence of Toby Amies ranks alongside Nick Broomfield. Even if you go in knowing next to nothing about King Crimson, you will leave feeling like lifelong enthusiasts.” —BBC RADIO SCOTLAND / RADIO TIMES, Siobhan Synnot
“The film ponders mortality, why music matters, and the sacrifices that bringing difficult art to the stage entails.” —THE TIMES
“In The Court of the Crimson King : King Crimson at 50 goes straight into the pantheon of those documentaries which enable us to appreciate the painful truth of what being in bands is actually like... there is no higher echelon.” —MOJO
Sister Dana Benedicta
Bill Bruford
Mel Collins
Robert Fripp
Michael Giles
Trey Gunn
Gavin Harrison
Jakko Jakszyk
Tony Levin
Jamie Muir
Ian McDonald
Bill Rieflin
Peter Sinfield
Jeremy Stacey
Nick Freand Jones
David Singleton
David Singleton
Toby Amies’s film In The Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson at 50 provides a unique insight into the working process of a complex touring band, interspersed with contributions from previous band members to provide a contextual backdrop to the band’s past, as the most recent (2014-2021) line-up tours the world just before and during its 50th anniversary.
As King Crimson producer and band manager, David Singleton observed of the film: “All of life is here, not just music, and certainly not just rock. It has rightly been described as going beyond King Crimson into a ‘universal, inspirational study of what it is to work or dream to work as an artist.’”
While director Toby Amies writes of the experience: In the Court of the Crimson King is not a film that wants to tell the audience what to think, rather it presents several different points of view about the creative process and what it means to be in this most unusual band; leaving the audience with a sense of both how complicated it all is, but also just how incredibly rewarding the King Crimson experience is both for the musicians and its fans.”
Robert Fripp announced that King Crimson had “moved from sound to silence” on social media after their final date in Japan in December 2021, making this release all the more poignant as a unique record of the band’s longest lasting line-up with tantalizing glimpses of the band’s history.
Praise for “In The Court Of The Crimson King – King Crimson At 50”
“The film is angular and abrasive, exacting and playful, extremely funny and achingly melancholy.” —THE OBSERVER“This unflinching portrait of the prog rock band is like an episode of The Office but with huge drum kits, grizzled roadies and rapturous fans”. —THE GUARDIAN
“By turns comical and melancholy, it may be the most revealing film about working life in a band since Spinal Tap.” —THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
“A fascinating look at both a venerable institution, the dynamics of working as a multi-limbed unit that’s ruled by a single iron fist, and what it takes to play this type of music.” —ROLLING STONE
“Doc about a Prog-Rock Perfectionist Is Nearly Perfect Itself. About as good as Rock documentaries get.” —VARIETY
“Revelatory”. —UNCUT
“A compelling insight into the tetchy men of prog rock. Their dedication to music is a joy, the persistence of Toby Amies ranks alongside Nick Broomfield. Even if you go in knowing next to nothing about King Crimson, you will leave feeling like lifelong enthusiasts.” —BBC RADIO SCOTLAND / RADIO TIMES, Siobhan Synnot
“The film ponders mortality, why music matters, and the sacrifices that bringing difficult art to the stage entails.” —THE TIMES
“In The Court of the Crimson King : King Crimson at 50 goes straight into the pantheon of those documentaries which enable us to appreciate the painful truth of what being in bands is actually like... there is no higher echelon.” —MOJO
Coming to Select Theaters
- New York City—November 3rd @ Alamo Drafthouse
- Los Angeles—November 3rd @ Alamo Drafthouse
- San Francisco, CA—November 3rd @ Roxie Theatre
- San Francisco, CA—November 3rd @ The Castro Theater
- Larkspur, CA—November 3rd @ The Lark Theater
- Vancouver, WA—November 3rd @ The Kiggins Theatre
- Hartford, CT—November 3rd @ Cinestudio
- San Francisco, CA—November 8th @ 4 Star Theater
- Ann Arbor, MI—November 8th @ Michigan Theater
- Bellingham, WA—November 8th @ Pickford Film Center
- Santa Ana, CA—November 8th @ Frida Cinema
- Seattle, WA—November 8th @ Grand Illusion
- Camas, WA—November 8th @ Liberty Theatre
- New York City—November 8th @ Rosendale Theater
- Des Moines, IA—November 8th @ Fleur Cinema
- Austin, TX—November 8th @ Moviehouse & Eatery NW Austin
- Austin, TX—November 8th @ Moviehouse & Eatery SW Austin
- Columbia, SC—November 8th @ BTM Dutch Square Cinema 14
- Richmond, VA—November 8th @ BTM Movieland at Boulevard Sq
- Irvine, CA—November 8th @ Irvine Spectrum 20 IMAX & RPX
- Knoxville, TN—November 8th @ Pinnacle Stm 18 IMAX & RPX
- Atlanta, GA—November 8th @ Regal Atlantic Station
- Chicago, IL—November 8th @ Regal City North
- Cleveland, OH—November 8th @ Regal Crocker Park
- Albany, NY—November 8th @ Regal Crossgates
- Syracuse, NY—November 8th @ Regal Destiny
- Los Angeles, CA—November 8th @ Regal Edwards Long Beach
- San Diego, CA—November 8th @ Regal Edwards Mira Mesa
- San Francisco, CA—November 8th @ Regal Hacienda Crossings
- Portland, OR—November 8th @ Regal Lloyd Center
- Nashville, TN—November 8th @ Regal Opry Mills
- Las Vegas, NV—November 8th @ Regal Red Rock
- Los Angeles, CA—November 8th @ Regal Sherman Oaks Galleria
- Miami, FL—November 8th @ Regal South Beach
- Charlotte, NC—November 8th @ Regal Stonecrest
- Seattle, WA—November 8th @ Regal Thornton Place
- Philadelphia, PA—November 8th @ Regal UA King of Prussia
- New York, NY—November 8th @ Regal Union Square
- Albuquerque, NM—November 8th @ Regal Winrock
- Lowell, MA—November 8th @ Lowell
- Foxboro, MA—November 8th @ Patriot Place
- Providence, RI—November 8th @ Providence Place
- Warwick, RI—November 8th @ Warwick
- Farmingdale, NY—November 8th @ Farmingdale
- Holtsville, NY—November 8th @ Island 16
- Holtsville, NY—November 8th @ Broadway
- Springdale, OH—November 8th @ Springdale
- Cambridge, MA—November 8th @ The Prattle Theatre
- Beverly, MA—November 8th @ Cabot Performing Arts Centre
- Inglewood, CA—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Del Mar, CA—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- San Mateo, CA—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Dallas, TX—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Austin, TX—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Austin, TX—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Coconut Grove, FL—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Gaithersburg, MD—November 8th @ Cinepolis
- Sedona, AZ—November 8th @ Mary D Fisher Theatre
- Minneapolis, MN—November 8th @ Riverview Theatre
- Cleveland, OH—November 8th @ Cedar Lee Theatre
- Bantam, CT—November 9th @ Bantam Cinema & Arts Center
- Chico, CA—November 9th @ Pageant Theater
- Eugene, OR—November 10th @ Art House
- Dallas, TX—November 12th @ The Texas Theatre
- Portland, OR—November 12th @ Cinema 21
- Los Angeles, CA—November 13th @ Orpheum Theater
- Somerville, MA—November 13th @ Somerville Theatre
- Maitland, FL—December 18th @ Enzian Theater
- Sacramento, CA—November 22nd @ Crest Cinema
- Pittsburgh, PA—November 28th @ Harris Theatre
Synopsis
What began as a straightforward documentary about the cult rock band King Crimson as it turned 50, mutated into an exploration of time, death, family, and the transcendent power of music to change lives. But with jokes.Directed by
Toby AmiesFeaturing
Adrian BelewSister Dana Benedicta
Bill Bruford
Mel Collins
Robert Fripp
Michael Giles
Trey Gunn
Gavin Harrison
Jakko Jakszyk
Tony Levin
Jamie Muir
Ian McDonald
Bill Rieflin
Peter Sinfield
Jeremy Stacey
Produced By
Toby AmiesNick Freand Jones
David Singleton
Executive Producers
Kat MansoorDavid Singleton
Running Time
86 MinutesFor more information contact Glass Onyon PR - William James.
