For a few short years in the 1970s, no one made funk as raw as Betty Davis did. A major label, Island, geared up a big national push for her third album, “Nasty Gal,” in 1975. The film includes glimpses of virtually the only known concert footage of Ms. Davis in her lascivious, head-turning prime, performing at a 1976 French rock festival. The present-day Ms. Davis is shown mostly from behind and heard in voice-over, though there is one poignant close-up of her face. This month Ms. Davis, 72, gave a rare interview by telephone from her home near Pittsburgh to talk about the film and her music.

Source: New York Times May 22, 2018 18:09 UTC