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Reviews (21)

A cultural/historical perspective of impact of, and the force against...Elvis
I saw the film in 1981 when it came out, but not since, so my memory isn't as clear as those having just seen it. What impressed me so much then, that I've not forgotten, that in the '50s, our country's culture was sooo different. The movie is good for reasons shared by others (though I don't "get" the goofy "hurtin" review; apparently not many did).
Good Documentary
This video has Elvis singing 2 songs from his last tour when he was fat from the CBS TV special done 2 weeks or so before he died. This is rare footage. He actually does an inspired performance of "My Way". He was truly "facing the final curtain" as the words to that song say. This is probably one of the best documentaries available. It's interesting though. I saw this movie when it came out in the theatre in 1981. This movie has been edited to cut out dirty words Elvis used during the filming of some of the concert tour footage from 1972. Most notably in the back of a limo, Elvis in unaware that a microphone is on during filming. He tells Joe Esposito he didn't see the launch of the Apollo space craft because he was busy doing something with some lady at the hotel that night. What he really said was scrubbed and new words were dubbed over his voice making him appear to say something completely different or really toned down at least. Also, arriving at another coliseum he jokes with his body guards about what he was doing with a lady the night before at the hotel. Once again in this video, his original real words are scrubbed out and a voice double is used to put other words in Elvis's mouth which I guess are supposed to be less offensive. What he originally said might not even rate a PG rating but it's interesting to note that someone thought it better to edit out the truth and replace it with a lie apparently to make Elvis appear less... I don't know what. The new words kind of say the same thing but in much toned way which only comes out kind of weird though. The story of his life. Like Elvis says in one interview, "The image is one thing and the human being is another." Yea, even in death. If you want a good summary of the Life Of Elvis with some decent concert footage thrown in, this can work for you.

A lovely introduction to Elvis.
I am a new Elvis fan, having only discovered the King about four months ago, and only much more recently did I become curious about his life. I purchased _This is Elvis_ four days ago and have watched it no fewer than eight times since then.Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

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Reviews (16)

My Soul Sister No1
The first sight I ever had of Janis Joplin was in 1977 when I was 11 years old, and with my pocket money one day I bought a book, 'The Illustrated Rock Almanac'. The photos were tiny, but I marvelled at a woman who looked to be wailing like a wild animal - hair frizzy and flying, mouth open wide enough to swallow the rest of the 8 X 10 book! Then my first experience of hearing her voice was in 1980 - I heard 'Move Over' on the radio one Sunday lunchtime, and I could not continue eating my food! I hadn't heard a woman sound like that and I was enthralled. Then this film was shown on TV here in the UK and I finally saw Janis in action.
Fantastic Video
This is a fantastic compilation video of Janis. Like Jimi Hendrix, Janis and her music was 25 years ahead of their time. It should also be noted that Grace Slick, along with members of the Jefferson Airplane, were good friends with Janis and all lived in the San Francisco Haight-Asbury area as they build their music careers. Grace and Janis were THE two women of the 60's that were pivotal in shaping rock music as we know it today.

brilliant
This is a great documentary, chronicling the rise of the great star that was Janis Joplin.This film focuses more on the wisdom, amazing set of pipes and great stage charisma that the late, great performer has, than her battles with depression, and drug addiction (which finally led to her death, before even reaching the age of thirty, within two weeks of Jimi Hendrix's death).
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Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. Documentary    3. Music Video    4. Performance    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rock/Pop   

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Reviews (4)

Brilliance on Brilliance
This is an incredible documentary about an amazing man.The film takes you on a ride through the histroy of jazz while telling the story of the phenomonal genius and versatility of Quincy Jones. The movie, and the life it reflects, are structured like a fine jazz number, layered and intricate with a rythem and flow gracefully linked by a unifying theme. Quincy Jones is high on music and life. Do yourself a favor and... Listen Up!!!

Brilliance on Brilliance
This is an incredible documentary about an amazing man.The film takes you on a ride through the histroy of jazz while telling the story of the phenomonal genius and versatility of Quincy Jones. The movie, and the life it reflects, are structured like a fine jazz number, layered and intricate with a rythem and flow gracefully linked by a unifying theme. Quincy Jones is high on music and life. Do yourself a favor and... Listen Up!!!

Brilliance on Brilliance
This is an incredible documentary about an amazing man.The film takes you on a ride through the histroy of jazz while telling the story of the phenomonal genius and versatility of Quincy Jones. The movie, and the life it reflects, are structured like a fine jazz number, layered and intricate with a rythem and flow gracefully linked by a unifying theme. Quincy Jones is high on music and life. Do yourself a favor and... Listen Up!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Musical Features   

Features

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• Color
• Original recording reissued
• Special Edition
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Reviews (21)

A cultural/historical perspective of impact of, and the force against...Elvis
I saw the film in 1981 when it came out, but not since, so my memory isn't as clear as those having just seen it. What impressed me so much then, that I've not forgotten, that in the '50s, our country's culture was sooo different. The movie is good for reasons shared by others (though I don't "get" the goofy "hurtin" review; apparently not many did).
Good Documentary
This video has Elvis singing 2 songs from his last tour when he was fat from the CBS TV special done 2 weeks or so before he died. This is rare footage. He actually does an inspired performance of "My Way". He was truly "facing the final curtain" as the words to that song say. This is probably one of the best documentaries available. It's interesting though. I saw this movie when it came out in the theatre in 1981. This movie has been edited to cut out dirty words Elvis used during the filming of some of the concert tour footage from 1972. Most notably in the back of a limo, Elvis in unaware that a microphone is on during filming. He tells Joe Esposito he didn't see the launch of the Apollo space craft because he was busy doing something with some lady at the hotel that night. What he really said was scrubbed and new words were dubbed over his voice making him appear to say something completely different or really toned down at least. Also, arriving at another coliseum he jokes with his body guards about what he was doing with a lady the night before at the hotel. Once again in this video, his original real words are scrubbed out and a voice double is used to put other words in Elvis's mouth which I guess are supposed to be less offensive. What he originally said might not even rate a PG rating but it's interesting to note that someone thought it better to edit out the truth and replace it with a lie apparently to make Elvis appear less... I don't know what. The new words kind of say the same thing but in much toned way which only comes out kind of weird though. The story of his life. Like Elvis says in one interview, "The image is one thing and the human being is another." Yea, even in death. If you want a good summary of the Life Of Elvis with some decent concert footage thrown in, this can work for you.

A lovely introduction to Elvis.
I am a new Elvis fan, having only discovered the King about four months ago, and only much more recently did I become curious about his life. I purchased _This is Elvis_ four days ago and have watched it no fewer than eight times since then.Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie    3. Music Video - Pop/Rock   

Editorial Review

Two distinct portraits of Chuck Berry emerge in this lavish four-disc set built around Read more

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Reviews (47)

The Real Chuck Berry Story
Very interesting You will learn a lot you did not know about this Rock n Roll legend.
This is The Real Deal!
At long last, Taylor Hackford's 1986 gem about Chuck Berry comes out on DVD, and it's a grand slam!
It's all about the music
All you need to know, hear and see in one package.I have seen at least a dozen Chuck Berry gigs in my lifetime.Some incredibly inspirational and others not worth the price of admission.As we all know Chuck takes a beating for being angry and cheap etc.I've had the fortune at a number of these gigs to say hello to the man, and never once was he anything but nice to me.On one occasion he spent a good half hour just shooting the breeze while waiting for his rental car to be brought up.He's a human being just like us.Get this DVD and Happy 80th Chuck! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Music Video - Pop/Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock & Roll   

Editorial Review

If any artist deserved a hagiography it was Jimi Hendrix, and Joe Boyd's1973 "authorized" tribute adequately sanctifies the legend. Perversely for adocumentary, it achieves this simply through well-chosen concert footage ratherthan through the insights of the various talking heads. Pete Townshend, EricClapton, Mick Jagger, Lou Reed, and Germaine Greer are all wheeled out to waxlyrical about their days with Jimi, but nothing is more eloquent than watchingand listening to him play. From "Hey Joe" in grainy black and white on theRead more

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Reviews (42)

GREAT DOCUMENTARY FOR THE CURIOUS HENDRIX BEGINNER AS WELL AS THE HENDRIX DIEHARDS!
Since today is 2 October 2006, before I start my whole review, I would like to take this opportunity in wishing my Dad a very Happy Birthday. My Dad has been the biggest inspiration in my life and I will NEVER forget what he has done for me. There is no man I respect more. Love You Dad, J.L.
stuff
I really enjoyed this movie.It has tons of footage of Jimi at his best, his most impressive.Every time I see this guy perform it blows me away.There never was another before or since who could do the original and amazing things he did with the guitar.Outstanding film.The only thing bad about it is that occasionally the segue from one scene to the next is choppy.Other than that I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in the life of Hendrix.

Aunique and definative documentry
It could be said that this film only scratches the surface of Hendrix's life story but having read a few biographies I would say the important stuff is all there in this film. Hendrix had an un-nurturing, improverished childhood and a hard struggle to the top of his game. But this film concentrates largely on the happier aspects of his life, particularly his music, his success and hints at the rest. And that's all you really need to know.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Blues-Rock    3. Hard Rock    4. Music Video    5. Music Video (Concert/Performance)    6. Performance    7. Pop    8. Psychedelic    9. Rock    10. Rock & Roll   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (3)

Great Series about Elvis!!!
IMAGINE BEING ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH ALL OF ELVIS'S CLOSES BUDDIES AND HAVE THEM TELL YOU EVERY INTIMATE DETAIL OF THEIR LIFE WITH THE KING AND THINGS ELVIS WOULD NEVER WANT HIS LOYAL FANS TO KNOW! All the Kings Men
Its a departure from most of the films about Elvis. Very Candid, I liked it very much. I grew up in Memphis, It reminded me of some of the Things that were going on in memphis with Elvis as I was growing up. I would Liketo find the rest of the video series. I have only seen The secret life ofElvis.

Excellent Series!
This is an illuminating collection that should become part of every Elvis fan's collection. An up-close documentary featuring the original five members of the "Memphis Mafia," Elvis' personal assistants andfriends, telling anecdotes about their experiences with the King. The"Memphis Mafia" justify their closeness with Elvis and shoot downmany long running rumors that have circulated for years. This first in the"All the Kings Men" series reveals how the men of the"Memphis Mafia" first met Elvis, and how their relationship tothe King grew to be incredibly important to his happiness and well-being.Despite the fallen relationship with Elvis in his final years, the"Memphis Mafia" conclude the tape by saying they will neverforget the influence and impact the King had on their lives and for therest of the world. Get the entire set if you can. The anecdotes will haveyou laughing just as well as crying at times. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

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Reviews (2)

excellent overall intro to John Cage
This 56-minute documentary on America's most controversial and unique composer manages to cover a great many aspects of Cage's work and thought. His love for mushrooms, his Zen beliefs and use of the I Ching, and basicbio details are all explained intelligently and dynamically. BlackMountain, Buckminster Fuller, Rauschenberg, Duchamp are mentioned. YokoOno, John Rockwell, Laurie Anderson, Richard Kostelanetz make appearances.Fascinating performance sequences include Margaret Leng-Tan performing onprepared piano, Merce Cunningham and company, and performances of Credo InUs, Water Music, and Third Construction. Demystifies the man who made musicfrom silence, from all sounds, from life.

john cage-what a interesting guy
This is a interesting movie about a wonderfully strange man (I wish I could have known). It made me look at a lot of things differently. Be open minded if your going to watch it though-he isn't your average entertainer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classical Artists    2. Documentary    3. Movie    4. Performing Arts    5. Performing Arts - Concerts   

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Reviews (11)

our forever man
'Eric Clapton: The Cream of Clapton' features 17 tracks, reaching back to the mid-1960's for a black and white Yardbirds performance (the feisty 'Louise' from BBC television), and pouring out a fairly generous helping of Cream before turning, for the most part, to Clapton's prodigious 1980's video productions.Unfortunately I've yet to see any footage of Clapton's years with Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos, and have all but concluded that there simply must be none, of any desirable quality, to avail ourselves of.I suppose everyone was thinking "we'll get around to it sometime", but once Blind Faith disbanded without producing a film record, someone should have had the foresight to commit Clapton and his Dominos to tape.Perhaps the closest we'll get is 'The Concert For Bangladesh' which featured Clapton and the Dominos backing George Harrison and friends.
Quite good
As Clapton videos go this one is pretty good -- not as great as Unplugged but better than some of the others from the 70s/80s.Overall a good video for fans, with a nice mix of old and new(er) footage. Vintage Clapton....
This would have been worth it just for the fact it had the original Layla (spliced from several performances, including one with Phil Collins backing up on drums.Now, I do like Clapton's accoustic version, but the original is so different that it is almost like two different songs.Bonus is frankly, everything else-- including 'Cocaine.'I also own 'Chronicles,' which I would also recommend.But to get the old stuff, electronic versions intact, better snatch this up.It is getting harder to find.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Blues-Rock    2. British Blues    3. Music Video    4. Music Video - Pop/Rock    5. Performance    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Rock    9. Rock & Roll    10. Rock/Pop   

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Reviews (17)

Could have been so much more
It's quite hard to pin down this one. Great music - a good selection of hit songs very well performed by a talented artist. The acoustic pieces are especially good, the performance of "Make Love Stay" is superb. Easily 5 stars for the content.
Dan Fogelberg Live-Greetings from the West
I have the VCR copy of this and I purchased the DVD, hoping to have another way to watch it. However the quality of the DVD is horrible. It's like someone pirated it from the VCR copy. I could've done a better job with lesser equipment.

Great Concert, Great Performance, Poor transfer to DVD
I've had this concert on VHS for several years, and it is one of the very first great concert videos.I couldn't wait until it was on DVD, but I shouldn't have bothered.My VHS tape looks better and sounds better than the DVD.The audio CD of this concert blows away the VHS tape, so I know good audio is there--why didn't we get it on this DVD?And the video looks like a VHS dub, and not even to DVD, but maybe to another VHS tape.The video smear and blur added to the audio dullness and distortion makes for a very poor transfer to DVD.I kid you not, I did an A/B comparison of my VHS tape to this DVD, and the tape won on both audio (VHS-HiFi) and video!Read more

Subjects:  1. Music Video - Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock   

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Reviews (1)

Jazz is hell and paradise
They were two brothers who were both in jazz but so different that they could not work together. At least till after the death of their father which brought them together for the production of the concerto of Janet Blair's husband's concerto, and yet under the conducting of a third party. But when they were together they made miracles particularly in their trombone-saxophone duets. The film shows how difficult life was for jazzmen at the beginning, but also how the radio transformed the spreading of this music, and then this spreading was amplified by the recording of their music on records. Jazz is typically American in its use of rhythm and new instruments like the saxophone, and old instruments like the clarinet and the trombone which are perfectly transformed in the process. But most of all, jazz would not have existed if they had not used the radio and records to reach the wider public. Jazz is the first music of modern ages. It was also a great success because it expresses life in our modern times of cars, factories, machines, industrialisation and mechanisation. People expected a new type of music in phase with this new life and jazz provided it to them. This film is thus both historically and humanly true and sensitive.Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie    3. Musicals   

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Reviews (4)

as
i will enjoy my favorite vide

amusing
interesting, to watch over and over again, learn about his childhood, No really probing questions and it seems like his answers were written before the interview, but neccessary if your a real George fan.You should havejust recorded it of the tele when it was on, DOH!!

Informative
This borderline documentary of George Michael's career starting from WHAM! up until his Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 release is informative but not necessarily entertaining.If you are a George Michael fan it is probablyalready in your video library.The video covers George in the studio aswell where he talks about how he generally writes and records his tracks. Now that we know so much more about George Michael's "privatelife" this video seems to be a bit out-dated, however it's worth yourbuck if you can't live without a hot brit with a hip sound. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Dance Music    3. Dance-Pop    4. Music Video - Pop/Rock    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock   

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Reviews (15)

A valuable documentary for Bee Gees fans
Produced in Britain in 1997, this documentary seems to give the viewer a very deep, personal look into Barry, Robin and Maurice's lives. We see the place in Manchester where they grew up, the theatre where they first sang, even their school. We are also invited into the studio to witness how the guys craft a typical song. Numerous celebrities offer comments about their talents such as Sir George Martin. Some of their songs (interspersed throughout) have also been made into low-budget video clips (obviously just for the benefit of this production), some of them live, some lip-synced.
Outstanding Piece as told by the brothers Gibb themselves!
This is a must have in your video library.It's their life story as can only be honestly told by Barry, Robin, and the late Maurice Gibb.It's astonishing, chilling, extraordinary, real. ITS GREAT I LOVE IT!
ITS GREAT I LOVE IT THE INTERVIEWS WERE GREAT I HAVE ON VHS!Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Contemporary    2. Music Video    3. Music Video - Pop/Rock    4. Performance    5. Pop    6. Pop/Rock    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Soft Rock   

Features

• Color
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (28)

More like 10 STARS
Ms. Day should have received an Oscar for this.Miss Girl Next Door really showed what she was made of.If you like suspense, glamor and real singing and acting, this is the movie for you.The restoration is wonderful and the sound terriffic.One of my favorite movies of all times. Cagney is at the top of his game and he and Day work GREAT together. This movie was produced when all the big musicals were coming to an end. SHE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN AN OSCAR, I'M TELLING YOU.

Why are some films so memorable even if we don't identify with their main characters?
Why do certain movies stay in the mind even though they do not have characters the viewer particularly identifies with?
Doris Days Greatest Triumph
One of the most talented performers to come out of the big band era a wonderful singer, and pretty good dramatic actress,
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Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie    3. Musicals    4. Musicals & Cast Recordings   

Editorial Review

John Coltrane is easily one of the key innovators, visionaries, and virtuosos of American Jazz. Coltrane's spiritually influenced and challenging music not only turned the jazz world upside down in the 1960s, but directly impacted all modern music for decades to follow.It is this relationship between music and spirituality that is the core of Read more

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Reviews (9)

Very enlightening!
Even though this DVD is rather short (60 minutes), it captures the essence of the spirituality of Coltrane's music.Covers the approach of openess Coltrane took to his music incorporating Indian and eastern rythmns which inspired him and which was a basis of his spiritual development. It has a complete take on "My favorite things" which is really electrifying and also shows Coltrane jammin with Miles Davis as well.John Coltrane's music captures you and takes you on a spiritual journey unlike any other jazz musician (except maybe Miles).Very introspective interviews with his former sidemen as well.Even though the picture quality is grainy on some parts, the music is alive and mystifying and conveys Coltrane's musical genius.I highly recommend this DVD to any Coltrane fan, this is now one of my favorite DVD's in my collection along with "Miles Electric".

The best ever My Favorite Things...

Excellent Documentary
The performance footage alone would be worth the price of this 1 hour documentary that focuses on the music and life of John Coltrane. Clips are included from his work with Miles Davis and also his classic quartet in an extended version of My Favorite Things. In addition there is a clip that flashes back and forth between the Southern Church tradition and Coltrane'ssoloing that clearly links the two and demonstrates the roots of his art in a tangible way.The interviews with Alice Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and others are illuminating and show how influential Coltrane was for other musicians. For any fan of Coltrane's music that never had the chance to see him perform this DVD offers a great opportunity to get a glimpse at the man behind all of that wonderful music. I absolutely loved it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Avant-Garde    2. Documentary    3. Jazz    4. Music Video    5. Performance    6. Pop   

Editorial Review

Norman Mailer may have come up with the title Read more

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• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Special Edition
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Reviews (79)

Is this DVD out of stock?
I'm not lucky enough to own this product, but I just did a search on it to compare its contents with those of the I'm Going to Tell You a Secret, which I do own, and realized that the DVD is currently only being sold by external users and sellers, and not by Amazon itself.
A Document for Madonna's Times
16 years after this documentary was released, and Madonna is still with us.Has anything changed?She's had kids, maintained musical mastery of her work and kept on chugging.
fun but dated
IN BED WITH MADONNA (aka "Truth or Dare") charts the legendary pop star's "Blonde Ambition" World Tour in 1990.This fly-on-the-wall docudrama captures all the cat-fights, pre-show prayers, scandals, celebritites and sights.Includes clips from the show: "Express Yourself", "Like a Virgin", "Holiday" and "Vogue".
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Subjects:  1. Documentary    2. Movie   

Editorial Review

It can hardly be a coincidence that this "deluxe edition" of Read more

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Reviews (65)

John Lennon in His Own Words
"Imagine" is a feature length documentary about John Lennon's life, centred around the "Imagine" recording sessions, but also featuring footage from the Beatle era, his marriage with Yoko, his "lost weekend" period and a few home movies, all the way to the year of his death. It uses John's own voice as narration, taken from the hours of interviews he did throughout his life, and features alternate and remixed versions of his songs as a soundtrack of sorts, as well as interviews from all sorts of people, from Sean Lennon to George