The Agony and Ecstasy of Phil Spector

Synopsis

In a career stretching 50 years, legendary music producer Phil Spector has avoided a substantial interview - until now.

Spector transformed rock and roll, becoming the first music producer to be a star in his own right. He gave the world Be My Baby, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling and John Lennon's Imagine, and soundtracked a generation. In 2007, he was put on trial after being accused of murdering LA nightclub hostess Lana Clarkson. The trial ended in a hung jury and was reopened in October 2008, once again threatening to eclipse Spector's musical legacy.

Taken from an exclusive interview filmed in March 2007, the film dissects Spector's songs from the perspective of his inner world, focusing a spotlight on a unique creative process that is, for the first time, explained by its author. Footage from his first trial provides a dramatic counterpoint to the unprecedented interview.

Credits

Director

Vikram Jayanti

Producer

Anthony Wall

Producer

Vikram Jayanti

Broadcast

1. Sat 25 Oct 2008
   21:40
   BBC Two