Lambert & Stamp, directed by James D. Cooper, is a documentary film that tells the fascinating story of two young men from London who found themselves on a mission to create what they called an "anti-documentary" about a band that didn't exist yet.
Chris Stamp was a struggling actor, while Kit Lambert was the privileged son of a famous composer. They met by chance at a party, and bonded over their shared love of music and film. Both felt frustrated by the stiff, formulaic nature of British entertainment at the time, and longed to bring something fresh and rebellious to the scene.
Their idea was to follow a band on the rise, and capture the raw energy and chaos of their performances, as well as the personalities and struggles of the musicians behind the scenes. After considering several options, they stumbled upon four young lads from the suburbs who had a unique sound and attitude that resonated with them.
Those lads were Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon – soon to be known as The Who. Lambert and Stamp became their managers, mentors, and creative partners, helping them evolve from a scrappy local act to a global phenomenon.
The film combines rare archival footage and photos with new interviews featuring surviving members of The Who, as well as Stamp, Lambert's brother, and others who knew them. It also includes scenes from a short film the duo made about The High Numbers, the band's early incarnation, which is now considered a cult classic.
Lambert & Stamp is not only a tribute to The Who and their impact on music and culture, but also a portrait of two visionaries who used their own mischievous, rebellious spirits to inspire and shape a cultural movement that continues to resonate today.
