Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune (2011): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2011, Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune is a music and documentary film directed by Kenneth Bowser, running about 96 minutes.

What it’s about. From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.

Who’s in it. Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune stars Phil Ochs as Self (Archive Footage), Tom Paxton as Self, Jello Biafra as Self and Christopher Hitchens as Self, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.7/10, Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on OVID. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune page.

If you liked it. Fans of Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco, Green Book and The Legend of 1900.