Editorial Review

Given the often inextricable relationship between art and suffering,it's no coincidence that Billie Holiday, popularly acclaimed as jazz's greatest (if not technically best) female singer, was also one of its most tragic figures. While both triumph and tragedy are covered in this hourlong documentary, we are mercifully spared excessive details about the more sordid aspects of Holiday's life (her drug and alcohol addictions, her disastrous relationships with abusive men) in favor of careful consideration of her music. Testimonials are offered by those who played with her (pianist Mal Waldron and trumpeters Buck Clayton and Harry "Sweets" Edison), were influenced or inspired by her (singers Carmen McRae and Annie Ross), or worked with her (producer Milt Gabler). Together, they paint a portrait of a woman who was both tough and vulnerable, sad and defiant, an unschooled musician who became a supreme innovator. Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (7)

Kultur, this time you missed it!
If you are interested in the (ever fashionable) approach to Jazz, via the contemporary interpretation of the social environment in which the Jazz artists created, then there is a good chance you may like this DVD. SO INFLUENTIAL!!!!
This Billie Holiday album was like a ray of light to me when I first listened to it!It's so inspiring!You can see why so many artists of today are influenced by it!The music really took me to the borderline.I thank my lucky star that this album came along.

If Your A Fan......
Billie Holiday is a figure of her time and this movie just about justifies that statment. Although the footage isent anything out of the ordinary...including 'Strange Fruit', the infamous 'Fine annd Mellow' and a personal favorite 'Please Don't Talk About me When I'm gone'. She shows no real emotion during these short performances, but you can tell what she is thinking and feeling, during them. Read more

Subjects:  1. Ballads    2. Classic Female Blues    3. Jazz    4. Jazz Vocals    5. Music Video    6. Performance    7. Pop    8. Swing   

Editorial Review

Everyone starts somewhere, even the greatest golfer in the world. Ofcourse, Tiger Woods's start came much earlier than most of us. From his initialtime on the greens as an 18-month-old, his appearance as a 2-year-old on Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Movie    2. Sports   

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Wonderful History of Gospel Music
This wonderful collaborative of the history and song of gospel music was exhilirating. The slaves wrote so much of this music to find their hope and their relationship with God. From Thomas Dorsey to Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin and so many other wonderful gospel singers, you will feel yourself wanting more and more of this video. I was dissapointed when it ended! You won't be sorry to have this in your collection as it is a video you can watch over and over. I borrowed it from my local library and now I plan on purchasing it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

Could have just bought an AUDIO cassette!
This video is very "skinny" on actual video footage of Malcolm. It's well done as far as the quality of the footage (audio and video), however, you could buy an audio cassette and in some ways get much more for your money.I was hoping for a series of full speeches and interviews but what I got was short clips disbursed between audio played over civil rights movement footage. Superb speaking, good clips, should have been more
Malcolm X was as close as the 20th century gets to a master of all the aspects of rhetoric, from tight logic to raw power of delivery, and from shrewd audience analysis to deep pathos.These speech clips give you achance to see why.Several major speeches are represented, and there areespecially good clips from the Jesse Gray rally and from hisprobably-best-single speech, "the Ballot or the Bullet" (AudubonBallroom March 29 1964).Editing is smooth and intelligent -- andexcessive, because there could easily have been 20 instead of 10 minutesout of "Ballot or Bullet", and there is only one clip from one ofhis many speeches on Islam, where at least three would be needed torepresent the major periods in his thought.His speech against the draftand against enlisting is excellent, also; for a good example of how fine hewas at extemporaneous work, see his replies to televisioninterviewers. Good Material (short video)
For people looking for archival footage of Malcolm X -- this is a good start. The video features film and audio of the great leader Malcolm X -- mostly as excerpts from some of his famous speeches. While the video isgreat because it is packed solid with Malcolm X and no supplementarynonsense, it is very short, at 41 minutes -- the film will end long beforeyou want it to. I can't say this video gives a great overview of Malcolm X,but it is definately good to have if you've never seen him in video orheard some (parts) of his speeches. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. TV Shows   

Editorial Review

This little-seen, 1947 drama is a treat for jazz fans, thanks to an otherwise creaky, if nobly intentioned story built around the music's Crescent City genesis that provides an ample excuse to turn the camera on authentic jazz greats. Nick Duquesne (Arturo De Cordova) is a Bourbon Street charmer whose gambling club provides the mythic stomping grounds for none other than Louis Armstrong, whose vocalizing sweetheart Endie, played by none other than Billie Holiday, proves no slouch herself. A newly arrived debutante, Miralee (Dorothy Patrick), arrives in New Orleans and falls first for the music and then for the roguish but ultimately gallant Nick. The movie follows knee-jerk plot machinations revolving around her family's efforts to excise Nick from her life, her own dream of mingling jazz and classical music, and the gambler's transformation into a jazz promoter.Read more

Features

• Black & White
• NTSC

Reviews (6)

A jazz enthusiast must see
I am so very glad I bought it, as a person who loves great music and provocative movies, with love as a theme, in all vernaculars (except hip-hop), and a jazz enthusiast at heart it's a love story dotted with great musical contributions from the authentic jazz greats, Louie Armstrong and Billie Holiday to name a few.

Forget the story!
The film itself it trite and inconsequential. Buy this for the music alone. It's a delight to see Louis Armstrong in such a casual environment, with so many jazz legends, not to mention one of Billie Holiday's rare movie appearances. This DVD is honestly a treasure.

Great footage of many early jazz legends
I have always found jazz performances much more captivating live rather than recorded, and although I can't travel back in time and see Louis Armstrong play during his prime, this video is the next best thing.Read more

Subjects:  1. Movie    2. Musical Features    3. Musicals    4. Musicals & Cast Recordings    5. Musicals (Theatrical)   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

Another testament to Dr. King's legacy of greatness
I first saw this documentary air on television. I knew then how important it was that I add it to my vast CD and DVD collection. The film itself is a brief but, informative look into a movement that was led by one of the greatest figures of our time. Just when I thought I knew everything there was to know about the life of Dr. King; along comes yet another documentary that contains a few interesting facts that I had no knowledge of. A true disappointment.
Do not purchase this DVD.It doesn't even have the March on WAshington speech in its entirety.I thought that it would be equal in quality to the "Montgomery to Memphis" documentary of which I have an old copy.It wasn't even remotely close.So take my advice.Pass on this purchase and hope that some day there will be a DVD version of the original "Montgomery to Memphis" video.

Keep searching!
Well I purchased this video believing that I would get a better perspective on Dr. King's speeches, but I was somewhat disappointed. First, this tape is recorded in EP/LP (long play) speed. Therefore it is easily visible to notice the inferior quality of the recording. The documentary is only a hour long, there shouldn't of been a reason to apply it in long play mode. I was appreciative of the time spent on his second triumph-the war on povery and his staunch opposition to the Vietnam War. But when the video gets near the end and ventures on the Memphis sanitation workers strike in March/April 1968. You see footage from his 1966 Chicago equal housing campaign. Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

Michael Jordan had won two championships and lived through two small scandals when this documentary-lite was made in 1993. During his 1991-1992 season, the unauthorized book Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (6)

Review On Air Time
This video sends chills through my body when I watch it.It shows Michael at his best and in the prime of his leaping days.This video is a motivation to me, I try to put it on every morning when I wake up.I strongly reccomend this video.

IF you like Mike you will like Airtime
Airtime came out after the Bulls second championship, during a time when Jordan was being touted as the greatest player that ever was just preceding the final season before his first retirement. What is captured here is the last of the youthful Jordan who beat you with speed because he didn't have to out think you. This video is only second to Micheal Jordan's playground in capturing the athletic marvel that Air Jordan possessed. Whether you are a basketball -or- Jordan enthusiast or impressed by the things Micheal Jordan could and did do on the court, I recommend this video. The people at NBA Entertainment packaged it so that it is not some romp for enthusiasts only. Quite entertaining. Expect to see Micheal Jackson, as well! Hey, maybe that works for you, eh 8-)

It's air time
"Air Time," like all Michael Jordan videos, is awesome and scores a thundering slam dunk.It has a lot of Jordan's best gravity-defying shots and dunks, but it has a lot more than just highlights.Out of all the Michael Jordan videos I've seen, this one has more about Jordan as a person than any of the others.You'll see him spending time at home with his family, playing golf, and off the court at the Barcelona Olympics in '92.It also has a lot of insight from Jordan himself on what it's like to be a superstar, what he thinks of his friends in the NBA, and he talks about what he thinks of himself when it comes to basketball and as a role model.Read more

Subjects:  1. Basketball   

Editorial Review

Maya Angelou, one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century, grew up during--and became a vital part of--one of the most volatile periods of American history. The inspiring, tragic, outrageous life of Maya Angelou could be the subject of an entire college course, but this video serves as a terrific first primer. This Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN
Maya Angelou has moved this nation with her poetry. Her voice has soothed our hearts, challenged our minds and called us to live life to its fullest. We know about her life from her intimate biography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, and its subsequent sister volumes. Intimate Portraits gives us the honor of going into the personal lives of women who moved the world. In this series we get the opportunity to listen, look and take in the life of Maya Angelou.Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (11)

A wonderful DVD bringing together many people who at least tangentially, knew Robert Johnson.
This DVD offers a wealth of information about the life of Robert Johnson.We meet a girlfriend of Robert Johnson, who claims she knows where his actual burial ground is, and another girlfriend who had a song written about her by Robert (and who hears it for the first time on the DVD). A man is interviewed who claims to be Robert Johnson's son, along with a birth certificate showing that in fact this may be the case.Johnny Shines talks about how they would play the game of "cutting heads" in Helena, with Robert stealing away the audience every time.We get the insight that the person who poisoned Robert Johnson's drink admitted as such to one interviewer, after first presenting an alibi for a question which was never asked.We are also presented with three possible grave sites of Robert Johnson, though none of them can proven to be incontrovertible as such.In short, there is a lot of good information on this DVD about the enigmatic bluesman known as Robert Johnson (and pseudonyms in various other places).This DVD is clearly a window into the past which will slowly disappear as the years go on......Hammond does us all a great service by documenting Robert Johnson's life and that of his contemporaries.
An eccentric and informative film
What I loved most about this film was how it gave a window into the culture that produced Robert Johnson.When a woman who'd been a girlfriend of Robert Johnson's was asked whether she thought that Robert Johnson had really sold his soul to the devil, she replied "that's what people say."But then she said, (and I paraphrase her), "Why are you asking me?You're a musician, you know how these things work."When John Hammond then said, "I didn't sell my soul."Her reply was an unbelieving "Um-hmm!"Also, when the story was told of how the man who'd poisoned Robert Johnson finally admitted to the deed, his response was "I never thought there'd be all this trouble by killing that man."As though killing most men didn't cause much trouble at all!Anyway, the production is nice, having been shown on the BBC.It's not flashy Hollywood special effects, but for those interested in classic blues its a great trip through the Mississippi Delta.

Spectacular DVD
This is definitely for any music enthusiast.Experience the old stomping grounds of pure Delta Blues.Robert Johnson was an extraordinary musician that died under unexplained circumstances.No one really knows for sure how he died, and there is still a lingering mystery of where he is buried.This DVD literally takes you back to the time when Robert Johnson started a new revolution in Blues music.The birth of the Delta Blues is embedded in the narration of this DVD. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Blues    2. Documentary    3. Movie    4. Music Videos - Blues   

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (3)

A True Warrior
Hank Aaron is a Great Human being.He took the Key that Jackie Robinson,Larry Dolby&the Negro League Pioneers had&openedit&Split it in half.He overcame so much Hatred for breaking a Record.hePaved another road after the one set before him.not that he broke BabeRuth's number but the fact that he was a Black Man doing it caused themaddness.He is a Hero.

Hard Hitting and Glorious!
By "hard hitting", I'm referring not only to Hammerin' Hank's vicious home run swing, but also the vicious racism he faced as he pursuedthe home run king's record.This video pulls no punches.The racistletters, the kidnapping threat on his daughter, and the long lonelyoffseason between dingers 713 and 714. Then, he met a new ladyfriend, andwas ready for the new season, and the big challenge. If you appreciate HankAaron for the great player, and man, he was--buy this video. It tells thewhole ugly and beautiful story of a poor southern black child whoworshipped Jackie Robinson, then went on to fight the same battle...and WINBIG!Go Henry, I'm your biggest fan!

Hard Hitting and Glorious!
By "hard hitting", I'm referring not only to Hammerin' Hank's vicious home run swing, but also the vicious racism he faced as he pursuedthe home run king's record.This video pulls no punches.The racistletters, the kidnapping threat on his daughter, and the long lonelyoffseason between dingers 713 and 714. Then, he met a new ladyfriend, andwas ready for the new season, and the big challenge. If you appreciate HankAaron for the great player, and man, he was--buy this video. It tells thewhole ugly and beautiful story of a poor southern black child whoworshipped Jackie Robinson, then went on to fight the same battle...and WINBIG!Go Henry, I'm your biggest fan! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

The Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Shiloh
The second episode of Ken Burns celebrated documentary on the Civil War focuses on McClellan's Peninsula Campaign in the East and Grant's military successes in the West leading up to the Battle of Shiloh during the second year of the war.Although David McCullough's narration is truly the voice of this documentary, it is the figure of Shelby Foote, relating the Battle of Shiloh and its importance in transforming beliefs about the war, that stands out in this particular episode.Other notable moments cover the clash of Ironclads with the Monitor and the Merrimac, the fall of New Orleans to Farragaut's Federal fleet, as well as the introduction of Nathan Bedford Forrest.Again, the use of hundreds of still photographs, contemporary film shots of locales, the recognizable voices of noted actors such as Morgan Freeman and Jason Robards, Jr., and the simple but evocative music are powerfully woven together.This episode begins with the rising star of George B. McClellan and the cry of "On to Richmond," but ends with the first recognition of the military genius of Robert E. Lee.It is at this point that the parallels between the American Civil War and Homer's "Iliad" that Burns sees becomes fairly obvious. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. War Documentaries   

Editorial Review

This ambitious mixture of dramatic reconstruction with traditional documentary affords excellent insight into legendary bluesman Robert Johnson's life, the enduring power of his music, and the myth which surrounds him. Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (13)

A Steady Rollin' Man
Robert Johnson was one of the most enigmatic bluesmen of the 20th century and his life is still a mystery today.Fans only have two grainy pictures of Johnson and various accounts of the mans' life by those who knew him and those who purport to have known him.Having died at the age of 27 by poisoning only adds to the legacy.Johnson, like many of his contemporaries in that early century era, liked women and whiskey and that became his undoing...a jealous husband poisoned his drink and sent Johnson off into the history books forever.In this documentary, other bluesmen will tell you what Johnson was all about, right up to those final hours but some of their testimony is questionable, as was Johnsons' entire life.But the music is there and it lives up to the Johnson image. Many songs are haunting (Hellhound on My Trail, Come On In My Kitchen) and many are sad (Drunkenhearted Man,From Four Til Late)but they all carry Johnsons'unique stamp on the blues. One listen and you'll hear it.Danny Glover's narration is compassionate and blues musician Keb Mos' silhouetted figure makes you feel that you are watching actual footage of Johnson himself. Good stuff...

Ambitious, a little cheesy?
6-7 years after John Hammond provided us with a decent (if somewhat slight) documentary on Robert Johnson in 'The Search for Robert Johnson', 'Can You Hear the Wind Howl' attempted a far more ambitious interpretation of Johnson's life which, whilst offering little new information (and rehashing stories from interviewees [Johnny Shines, David Edwards] that have long circulated in 'blues' circles), nevertheless provided a good deal of (musical) context missing from the Hammond outing.
Not quite long enough...
This DVD is a decent documentary of Johnson's life. I found the interviews with those who knew Johnson to be the best part. Johnny Shines and Honeyboy Edwards were both the best part. If your a fan of the Blues and Robert Johnson this is worth the money. However, my only complaints are that it wasn't very long and Danny Glover wasn't the best narrator for the documentary. The interviews and the music make the DVD worth the price. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

It seems elementary in the age of mega-league professional sports, many of which have been revolutionized by African American athletes, to point out that before Jackie Robinson major league baseball waslily white. The Negro Leagues were the crucible where African American players honed their skills. But it took over two decades, until Robert Peterson published Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Color
• HiFi Sound
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

This is a rare piece of negroe league and black history......
Although this film is too short, that does not deminish it's importance nor its brilliance. This film is clearly the forerunner to the succeeding film, 'THERE WAS ALWAYS SUN SHINNING SOMEPLACE.", because many of the same players were interviewed for both films. I would venture to guess that the budget was too small to allow a longer film to have been made. This film is truly a fine historical document....

A too-short documentary about the Negro Baseball Leagues
"Only the Ball Was White" was the title of the book Robert Peterson published about the history of black baseball and the Negro Leagues, and this 1988 documentary covers the same ground.Narrated by Paul Winfield, this 30-minute documentary uses vintage photographs, historical film footage and interviews with former Negro League ballplayers such as Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard, Roy Campanella, Don Newcombe and Jimmy Crutchfield.My only complaint with this documentary is that it is way too short and only scratches the surface of this fascinating topic.One of the old ballplayers bemoans the fact that young kids do not know about Jackie Robinson; they only know about Willie Mays.Well, true baseball fans know about Rube Foster and Josh Gibson, as well as another dozen great black ballplayers who never got their change to play in the "Major" Leagues.In the context of this documentary, Gibson and Robinson become the key counterparts of the tragedy: while Robinson is honored as the ideal man for the job of breaking the color barrier (Paige candidly admits he never could have endured what Jackie had to go through), Gibson is mythologized as the greatest hitter of all time, dying at the age of 35 the same year Jackie played with the Dodgers.Granted, there is no greater irony to be told in this story, but there is still so much history that is not being told here.There is a nice section where Campy tells about the stuff veterans pulled on him when he was a 15-year old rookie ("Go back and make your bed" and "Fetch me a bucket of steam"), but given there is only 30-minutes of tape this seems an odd choice.Again, my solution is to make the documentary a lot longer (two tapes, easily).Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary   

Features

• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

The epilogue to Ken Burns' celebrated documentary
"The Better Angels of Our Nature" (a line from Lincoln's First Inaugural address) is essentially the epilogue to the celebrated documentary on "The Civil War" from Ken Burns. The war is finally over and after touching upon the execution of those involved in the Lincoln assassination and the review of the Grand Armines of the Republic, the primary focus of Episode 9 in on what happened to the people we have followed throughout the documentary.Not only do we learn the final fates of Generals Grant and Lee, but what happened to Elisha Hunt Rhodes and Sam Watkins when they returned from the war.Burns tells not only about those the Civil War had made immortal, such as George Pickett, but those who's reputations were restored by this documentary, most notably Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain.The most memorable moment comes at the very end, when we see film of the 50th reunion of the Blue and the Grey at Gettysburg and a reenactment of Pickett's Charge.A fitting end to an epic documentary series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. War Documentaries   

Editorial Review

As the first black man to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, Henry Ossian Flipper faced institutional racism on a daily basis, but once he was assigned as an officer to the 10th Cavalry, a regiment of the legendary "Buffalo Soldiers" of the Old West, he thought he could happily live his lifelong dream of being an Army officer.But in this innovative video, which is based on a one-man, one-act play, the viewer meets an elderly Henry Flipper, who recounts the story of how his military career came to a tragic end when he was falsely accused of embezzlement and was court-martialed at a frontier military post.As portrayed by actor George Robert Snead, Flipper is unbowed as he relates his fate and tells the story of how racial prejudice probably doomed his military career.Interwoven with this engaging dramatic presentation is historical narration, provided by actor Ossie Davis, that fills in the details of Flipper's unfortunate career.The video, which begins with an introduction by General Colin Powell and ends with the account of how Flipper's name was eventually cleared 40 years after his death, is both entertaining and enlightening, an evocative look at a little-known yet resonant episode in American history.Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

A FEARLESS FIGHTER
The first Black graduate of West Point Military Academy never got the chance to serve a distinquished career in the United States Army as an officer. Henry O. Flipper(a young man with great promise was born in slavery) felt the isolation and redicule of his plebe classmates and ended up being court martialed in 1881 and dismissed from the service he loved.Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. TV Shows   

Editorial Review

Rising from a childhood in the South Bronx as the son of Jamaican immigrants, Colin Powell became a hero in Vietnam, climbed through the ranks to become the most powerful officer in the U.S. military, and, upon his retirement from the ranks, had the nation talking about him as a credible candidate for president of the United States. In this installment from the A&E series Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (2)

Loved it!
This video is a must for any political enthusiast!I, personally reccomend it!This video not only offer us an in-depth look into Colin Powell's astonishing military career, but offers us a glimpse into his private life as well!I was deeply moved by his confidence, to overcome racial barriers, to become one of the most prominent figures in politics today!He is definitely, without a doubt, an example of the "American Dream"!

good but not great
this is an intelligent book written very nicelyil iked it very much but sometimes i felt like i kdidn't understand it very well colin is a very smart man with star potential but he isn't the amn that i thought he was thatnk you ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. TV Shows   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Educational    2. History    3. Kids & Family    4. Special Interests   

Features

• Box set
• Black & White
• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. TV Shows   

Features

• Compilation
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Africa    3. Documentary   

Editorial Review

The prestigious PBS series Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie