DAVID (1961)

During the fertile early years of Drew Associates following the breakthrough of Primary, came this seldom-seen portrait of David Allen, a jazz trumpeter struggling in the Santa Monica drug rehabilitation center Synanon House. Pennebaker’s love of music drew him to David and the film prefigures later portraits such as Dont Look Back. He teamed with Life photographer William Ray and producer Gregory Shuker. Never released on video, David will screen on a rare 35mm print recently uncovered in the collection of executive producer Robert Drew. This screening coincides with DA Pennebaker receiving the DOC NYC Lifetime Achievement Award.

Print courtesy of the Academy Film Archive.