Reviews (4)

Planning to show to my daughter and friends!!!
I;ve been talking about this movie for years and everyone though I was nuts. I'm so glad to see that it's available, I've pre-ordered this one. I've got a date set for my daughter and her girlfriends to come watch this movie when it arrives. I know they'll get the best kick out it. It's such a sweet movie, and many good tips are very useful. I've used many thruoughout the years!!!!!!!!

Finally!
I saw this movie when it first came out and I loved it then. The story centers around a woman who marries the love of her life but is concerned about keeping him interested. Her mother, a French woman, instructs her on the art of "keeping your man happy" by giving her a book on dog training. All this works very well until he finds out that he's being trained!
The main stars of the film are Sandra Dee, Bobby Darin, and Stephanie Powers. I definitely would recommend this film and That Funny Feeling - both with Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee.
These films are great examples of the comedies of the sixties.

Great movie for all ages!
I loved watching this movie when it used to play on the Family Channel and I was tweener. I have been on the lookout for it since! Everyone at the stores thought I was crazy, especially when I gave them the premise. I am so excited If a Man Answers is finally being released, I have been waiting ten years for this!

If A Man Answers
I grew up with Sandra Dee films airing on television in 1970s and IF A MAN ANSWERS is one of my all time favorites. Sandra Dee plays a newly married woman to a photographer who feels taken for granted by her husband. Her mother has the perfect self help book for her titled HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG. When the husband learns of this it's time for step two. An imaginary lover to call you. If a man answers..hang up. ... Read more

Description

Now for the first time, viewers get an up close and personal look at Darin'slast television performance that was never aired! Presented in its originalunedited format, audiences can experience the show from the front row, as ifthey were there. And although recorded in 1973, the vibrant colorcamera-work, lighting and audio production of NBC studios appear as currentas Mr. Darin's timeless appeal.The DVD also features family photographs andnever-before-released home movies of Bobby with his wife Sandra Dee and theirson Dodd. Seldom-seen TV footage of The Andy Williams and Flip Wilson Showsand rare Hollywood trailers of his early feature films Come September andPressure Point are included as well as commentary about Darin'sOscar-nominated role in Captain Newman, M.D.by the film's star GregoryPeck. Plus, the interactive discography makes the DVD an invaluable source onthe Darin era. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Mack is back!
Mack is back! Yet legends like Bobby Darin are always with us-on recordings, in films, on Questar's exclusive new program, and on the tip of our tongues.

Even Kevin Spacey is talking.

In an interview that aired in July, the two-time Oscar winner told Leslie Stahl of 60 Minutes he is ready and willing to play Bobby Darin on the big screen. And why not? Darin's short life was filled with big achievements.

Once regarded as the successor to Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin set his own unique stamp on the entertainment industry. Despite a failing heart, he released a string of successful movies, TV shows, and of course, songs. From his Grammy win in 1959 to his 1990 induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Darin stands among the true great American icons of music.

His legacy continues with the DVD Bobby Darin: Mack is Back! Throughout the 70-minute recording, Bobby belts out his biggest hits. But the show doesn't end there because the DVD goes beyond the stage, with a behind-the-scenes story of Darin's life by way of home-movies and clips from his early films.

With the resurgence of retro-lounge music, Bobby Darin is as popular now as ever before. And like Kevin Spacey, who publically expressed his admiration for the singer, I must say this Bobby Darin program proves Mackie is not only back in town, he's the talk of it as well.

A great performer! They don't make them like Bobby anymore
I just finished watching this concert and enjoyed every minute of it. Bobby Darin was an incredible performer and in my opinion, the best I have ever seen. From If I Were A Carpenter to Splish Splash, Bobby Darin tears it up on stage. It is amazing to watch this knowing that 7 months later, Bobby Darin would die from complications from blood poisoning and a bad heart. The only disappointing thing about the DVD is that Mac The Knife is at the end and is playing while some of the credits are playing. Otherwise, it is a great DVD with lots of bonus material.

Pure Darin
Get this DVD if you want to see Bobby become the music he loved so well. The material presents Darin as he was in 1973: a blend of everything he had learned as a human being and performer up to that point. No matter what your taste in music, Darin never lets you down. From "Beyond the Sea" to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" to "Midnight Special" to "Lonesome Whistle" Bobby Darin displays why he was such a unique performer; he could do it all. The extra bonus clips with Flip Wilson, Sandy, Dodd, and George Burns are priceless.

A fantasic film.
I just finished watching this performance on my locas PBS station. Before I saw this video, I had not heard or seen much of Bobby Darin. My father called my in to watch it and I throughly enjoyed it. I had heard him sing songs like, Mack the Knife, Beyond the Sea, and Splish Splash, but was really impressed at how versatile his singing was. I never realized how talented he actually was.

In the film, he was very enthusiastic. He had a good band with him and he played several instruments himself. He even made the audience laugh at times with his humor. This video really shows that Bobby Darin was on top, all the way to his untimely death.

He put on a very good performance and performed a good variety of music. As much as I enjoyed it, I think any Bobby Darin fan would like this video. I will definatly be buying this video and it is well worth the price. It's the kind of performance that I wouldn't mind watching many times. Bobby Darin was one of, if not the best singer this world has ever known and this video does an excellent job in showing that. The more I think about the film, the more I like it.

WOW! WOW! WOW!
I just watched this last taped performance of Bobby Darin in "Mack is Back!" on my PBS station. I had always been a fan of Darin's, but was blown away by his varied performance and his gargantuan talent. The man could do EVERYTHING! His performance felt untouched by time. The energy he exuded and the fun he was having lifted me out of my chair. He was like a child playing in a sandbox and we were able to watch him pull out all the stops. He was definitely enjoying himself--- unencumbered by the audience's reaction. This video will definitely be on my wish list! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Hanging out at an Italian villa with Rock Hudson and Gina Lollobrigida sounds like a painless way to kill a vacation--and Come September is a pretty painless movie, too. Rock is a millionaire who spends a month at his home on the Riviera every year, except this year he's come early and surprised his staff, who've been running the place as a paying hotel. This is one of those comedies of sexual frustration--Rock can't get alone with Gina, because the "hotel" is overrun with American teenagers (chief among them Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin, who married after meeting on the shoot). The plot is labored, and director Robert Mulligan shows little feel for farce (he would shortly hit his stride with To Kill a Mockingbird). At least the location shooting has a nice summer breeze to it, and Darin sings "Multiplication" in a nightclub, complete with hepcat moves. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (7)

September continued
Come September is a unique comedy, sparkling with the touch of the Italian summer, American opulence and oriental moods. A must see for people who love cinema and want to keep smiling.

This escapist saga is about two people who are in love but cannot get married due to various reasons, the principal onebeing the hero's unprepared ness. Paradoxically, the time he really decides to tie the knot, he faces the most bizzare week of his life which leads to another September, god knows, how many more.

The best part of the film is that it leaves a lot to the imagination, at at the same time guarantees that you go home feeling good, having spent some quality time. Icing on the cake is the beautiful Italian landscape , it evokes both a sense of grandeur and nostalgia, though Mulligan has ensured that the film does not become a tourist's guide to the south of Italy.

Yes Siree, you don't see many like that!
This is one of the best classic comedy movies. If you are a fan of Gina Lollobrigida, chances are you won't be disappointed and will get to see her beauty and superb acting in this film. If you are a fan of Rock Hudson, then you will be delighted to see his humorous act in this movie. Nothing can be added to make this movie better than what it is now.

Come September is one of those very light, romantic, and comedy movies ever made. You can see this movie whenever you want a break from all the movies we get to see these days. If you will buy this DVD, I can assure you that you will see it many times and won't let dust settle on it like it happens to many of the DVDs on our shelves. Worth spending each and every penny on purchasing this title.. GO FOR IT!

You will love it.

One of those great classic comedies, never gets old
One of those great classic comedies, never gets old, still funny and very refreshingly entertaining after all these years..

A Hudson/Lollobrigida Classic!
A wealthy tycoon,with many abodes, only visits his place (and part-time girlfriend) on the Italian Riveria once each year, in September. This year he arrives early to discover that his caretaker/major domo has been operating his villa as a hotel the other eleven months. And, his girlfriend (Gina Lollobrigida) is about to be married to someone else. To add to the distress, the current guests in the hotel include a group of nuns who are chaperoning three young females. Now, add three college boys in a Jeep with romance on their minds and you have the makings of a great comedy. Some vocals by the late Bobby Darin and a look at a young Joel Grey of Broadway fame. All around a great comedy.

Gee mister, she's a beaut.
Robert Talbot (Rock Hudson) returns to his Villa as he does every September. He naturally expects Lisa (Gina Lollobrigida) to be waiting for him as usual. Of course she has different ideas.

When he is away Maurice (Walter Slezak) uses the villa as a Hotel. It is occupied by a tour group of American girls, a chaperone, which is sweet on Maurice, and Cedric (who is drunk). I think Cedric was a nice touch. Due to circumstances out of Roberts's control, he ends up chaperoning the girls.

Parallel to this a group of American Boys are heading for a hotel (Being the villa) that actually does not exist. They confront Rock Hudson on the road and antagonize him repeatedly referring to his car. "Gee mister she's a beaut". Later with no where to stay the boys camp out in front of the villa full of girls. To get Rock Hudson out of they're way thy try out drinking him and out running him.

Just as you thing Rock Hudson has the upper hand he pulls a faux pas. In an attempt to ward off Tony (Bobby Darin) he tells Sandra Dee that no man would buy something if he could get free samples. She tells Lisa and the fun begins.

There may be some formula scenes, but this is not a typical movie. Instead of a lot of separate personalities they work off of each other. ... Read more

Description

Beyond the Song is the quintessential tribute to an innovative performer whose tragically brief life was often stranger than fiction. With songs like Splish Splash, Beyond The Sea and the classic Mack The Knife under his belt by age 23, Bobby Darin soon found himself confronted by simply everything he had ever wanted; but it wasn't nearly enough. He died on December 20, 1973 from heart trouble. Featured in the show are live performance clips including: Mack the Knife, Splish Splash, Dream Lover, Beyond The Sea, As Long as I'm Singing, If I Were a Carpenter, That Funny Feeling, Higher and Higher, Simple Song of Freedom and For Once in My Life. This engaging program traces Darin's career from his first television appearance in 1956 to his last in 1973. Along the way, interviews with family and friends help to illustrate the deep impact that Bobby had on those fortunate enough to know him. Bobby Darin left a rich legacy of music and memories. He was an entertainer of unparalleled ability whose real impact lives on, long Beyond the Song. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Spend some time with the real deal
At sixty-five minutes or so, this is a very generous documentary about the great Bobby Darin, the highlights being several extended clips of Bobby performing on various TV programs of the day, including his own variety show.I would have liked the voiceover narrator to be a little more subtle and introspective, instead of using a booming radio announcer-style voice, but this is a quibble.This DVD offers many little-seen clips of Bobby performing, a handful of interesting interviews, and overall a very good overview of Bobby's entire musical and film career.And a brief aside for a moment: for those who think that Kevin Spacey didn't look all that much like Bobby Darin in the recent Darin biopic "Beyond the Sea," check out the footage here of Bobby later in his career, during the year-or-two period when he let his sideburns grow, put aside the tuxedos, and sang a lot of folk songs.It's downright eerie how MUCH alike Darin and Spacey look in those scenes.In any event, I heartily recommend this DVD to hardcore Bobby Darin fans, as well as casual fans who want to learn a little more about the real person after seeing the Spacey film.It also doesn't hurt that, for what you get, the price of this DVD can't be beat.

Loved this guy.Still do
This is Mother's Day 2005 and I have just received this DVD as a gift from my son.Didn't pay attention as I opened it and put it into the computer thinking it was an audio disc. I sat entranced as Bobby Darin's life unfolded on the screen.Now it is 2:10 am Pacific Time next morning.I have played parts of it several times during the day and night since it was received.It was so great to see sweet, beautiful Sandra Dee and their son both as a child and now adult. The musical skit with
Darin impersonating Duranteand their later interchange was very amusing. Chapter 17 - The family secret - is something that I had not known before. Sad.But could be nothing but happy listening to Splish Splash, Bayond the Sea and the other great songs.
Love this DVD.

just wow
I first saw this on PBS some years ago and have been looking for it ever since. This doc is beautifully put together and will leave you with the best kind of ache in your soul. BD was so young and so damn talented. Watching him glide about like he's on wheels during the "Higher and Higher" segment is pure joy.

Beyond the Song goes Beyond every Documentary on Bobby!
One of the finest documentaries on the late crooner Bobby Darin, this dvd chronicles the rise of his career to his too early demise.Showcasing his first appearances with songs such as the early "Rock Island Line" song and his appearances on Bandstand with "Dream Lover" plus interviews with many who knew Bobby including CONNIE FRANCIS this is a must have for anyone interested in Mr. Mack himself! Excellent!

A really smart piece on Bobby Darin
This DVD does an excellent job chronicling the career of Bobby Darin.It is very professionally put together.The film clips in color are excellent and the black and white ones are good considering.If you like Bobby Darin, you'll love this and you'll probably shed a tear. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Movie That Continues To Entertain Generations...
"That Funny Feeling," starring Sandra Dee & Bobby Darin, is a wonderfully entertaining movie. The plot of the movie is about a struggling actress (Dee) who is embarrassed of where her and her room-mate live, so instead of allowing the man (Darin),who claims to be an interior decorator, she keeps running into to take her home, she takes him to the apartment that she cleans daily, because she is under the impression that the owner will be out of town for a week, not knowing that the man she met was the owner!
The movie is filled with comedy(!), especially Donald O'Connor as Bobby Darin's neurotic boss/best friend. Nita Talbot also stars as Sandra Dee's room-mate. After 39 years since it's theatrical release and of never being released on VHS, "That Funny Feeling" is finally coming to DVD. It was worth the wait. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Don Siegel brings his tough worldview and crisp, no-nonsense direction to this quintessential World War II drama of an undermanned American platoon in France holding off a German advance through sheer bluff and bravery. Steve McQueen is curt and surly as the insubordinate loner whose tactical skills and soldiering savvy make him indispensable to his new unit. His reputation precedes him, but commander Fess Parker is in no position to be choosy when he learns that his tired platoon will not be shipping home as rumored, but tossed into a ragged new offensive. Harry Guardino costars as the soulful Sarge; James Coburn is the slow-talking, forever-tinkering mechanic; Bobby Darin is the scavenger with a small fortune in trinkets; and Nick Adams is the Polish orphan and unit mascot. Bob Newhart makes his feature debut as a hopelessly lost typing clerk drafted into the undermanned unit and re-creates his nightclub shtick making phony phone calls near a Nazi listening post in the pillbox. Like Pork Chop Hill, this film is less a patriotic flag waver than a "war is hell" drama that frames the battle not in its tactical importance (which is negligible) but in its cost in human life. McQueen's taciturn performance as a ruthlessly effective soldier and Siegel's tough, lean direction make it a modest classic of the genre. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (21)

McQueen Brings It To Life
Gritty realism and a riveting performance by Steve McQueen highlight the World War II action/drama "Hell Is For Heroes," directed by Don Siegel. The setting is France, 1944, and American troops are spread thin across a sector of the Siegfried Line. When heavy action in another area precipitates troop movement, a squad of six men is left behind to hold the position until reinforcements arrive, which means a day or maybe two of making the Germans believe they are actually up to strength with a full complement of men. Not an easy task, but like the man said, war is hell. With Sergeant Larkin (Harry Guardino) in charge, and left to their own devices for survival, the men of the 2nd Squad dig in for what just may be the longest night of their lives. And for some, it will prove to be not only the longest, but their last. In the shadow of a murderous pill box held by the enemy, the soldiers make their stand and add yet another footnote to another chapter in the history of the eternal struggle for freedom.

Filmed in stark black&white, Siegel's film succinctly captures the fatal brutality of war, in terms perhaps not as graphic, but every bit as effectively as Steve Spielberg would do some thirty-six years later with his monumental film "Saving Private Ryan." Siegel may not have had the special effects in 1961 that Spielberg had at his disposal in 1998, but he did have an excellent screenplay (by Robert Pirosh and Richard Carr) from which to work. He tells his story in a direct, unromanticized way that maintains the focus and conveys the sense of urgency of the moment, through which he builds the tension and suspense that makes the peril of the situation immediate and real. Siegel had two predominant elements going for him that helped him achieve success with this venture: One was an instinctive knowledge of what works and how to deliver it; but most of all, he had Steve McQueen to sell it.

McQueen plays Pvt. John Reese, a veteran soldier who transfers into this particular outfit on the very day they are ordered to the front line. And that's just the way Reese wants it. When he reports for duty (three days late), he runs into Sergeant Pike (Fess Parker), who had served with him in another campaign. It's late evening, and the troops are assembling at an old church outside of town that now serves as a makeshift barracks; Pike sees Reese and asks him how he is. "Thirsty," Reese replies. "Town's off limits," Pike tells him. The very next scene shows Reese walking into town and finding what appears to be the only bar on a lonely street. Stepping up to the counter, Reese asks the bartender (a woman) for a bottle. "One pack or two?" he asks. "We aren't allow to serve soldiers--" she says. "Two," he replies, and setting the cigarettes on the counter, he walks around and takes a bottle. And now, without a doubt, we know exactly who and what Reese is; the personification of the iconoclastic loner, embodied to perfection in the form of Steve McQueen.

By all accounts, McQueen was not only a tough guy on screen, but in real life as well; tough meaning that he was always up for a challenge of any kind, and determined to live by his own set of rules, no matter what the cost. But he was a complex individual, and that was but one side of his true persona. To play Reese, McQueen went to that dark, stoic side of himself, exaggerated it, and the result was one of the most intense characters he ever created. Reese is a force of one, adamant and relentless, single-minded and fatalistic. At the moment he's on the Siegfried Line, but for him it's just another battle in a war he's been waging with life since the day he was born. And he knows deep down that it's a war he's never going to win; it's just a matter of time before his hand plays out, and being on the line is just as good a place as any. For him, it's not a matter of options, but of inevitability. It's an exemplary performance, and one for which McQueen never received the acclaim he was due, which unfortunately was not an isolated instance in his career. There was Vin in "The Magnificent Seven," Frank Bullitt in "Bullitt" and Tom Horn in "Tom Horn," as well. And that's but a sample of the work he did for which he never received enough recognition. His only real acknowledgement came with his creation of Jake Holman in "The Sand Pebbles," a role for which he was nominated and should have received the Oscar for Best Actor. But Reese was one of his first, and one of his best.

The supporting cast includes Bobby Darin (Corby), James Coburn (Henshaw), Mike Kellin (Kolinsky), Joseph Hoover (Captain Loomis), Bill Mullikin (Cumberly), Nick Adams (Homer) and Bob Newhart in his film debut as Pvt. Driscoll. Hard-hitting and with unforgiving realism, "Hell Is For Heroes," though on a smaller scale, perhaps, than Spielberg's "Ryan," is one of the most effective and memorable war films ever made; Siegel gave it direction and focus, McQueen brought it to life. And it's quite simply one of the best of it's kind you'll ever see.

One of the all-time greatest War movies! Not to be missed!!
I was born in 1954 and went to see this one when it first came out. I was all of eight years old. What an extremely profound impact it would have on my life. I eventually went on to serve as an officer in the USMC, partly because of the heroism depicted in this movie. Each time that I watch it now, I sympathize with the characters that are sent to cover a sector of the Sigfried line and one morning wake to find that the rest of the company has pulled leaving only their squad to defend the company-sized front. How desperate their reaction! They do the right thing - they go on the offensive! I won't spoil it for you. It is an excellent movie well worth adding to any collection. No war movie collector would be without it. Great performances by Fess Parker, Steve McQueen, Nick Adams, Bobby Darin, James Coburn, Bob Newhart, Harry Guardino and others who also went on to become famous character acters. Well worth owning at any price!!!

"You show up on the line.....I'll blow your head off."
4.5 stars. This is the sort of War film I wish they would make more often. Where the story centers around a platoon of characters, all of which are memorable with depth of individual character. A movie with the same type of ensemble acting in a War film is Olver Stone's "Platoon." The fact that this particular film predates "Platoon" by 24 years is remarkable. This is a story about a small, 6-man platoon left to hold a mile-wide stretch of ragged countryside until reinforcements arrive; but there is no telling if or when they will. It's that sort of tension that is held all the way to the explosive finale. But it's the journey that makes this film worthwhile. The entire cast is excellent, with Steve McQueen heading the list with another of his under-appreciated performances. He is one of those rare types that is a movie-star that can act; it's the ones who can do both who become legendary. The plotting in this film is also noteworthy, with ingenious ideas and interesting characters joined together to hold the line. The script is both sharp and intense. There were a couple of extreme moments, one of which I actually exclaimed aloud. However, there are two reasons why I just can't give this film 5 stars. The first happens in the final, climactic battle, where many of the extras fall over (shot dead) so badly and with such fake screaming that I was crestfallen. All the scenes leading up to the end are well-done and authentic, so it was a let-down to see mediocrity of any kind, particularly during the climax. The second and last thing I didn't like was the splicing of real War footage in with the final assault. All the voices are obviously dubbed, which was another moment to shake my head in dismay. There are some great moments during that last battle, so take my criticism with a grain of proverbial salt. "Hell is for Heroes" is nearly a great film, if not for those two inconsistencies. This film has great acting, a solid script with more humor and intelligence than I would have imagined, and another legendary turn by Steve McQueen. I should mention that I first saw this on VHS, then later rented it on DVD. The transfer to DVD is pristine, and the sound quality is excellent. Take it easy.

Taut Combat Drama
From Don (Dirty Harry, The Shootist) Segal comes this engaging World War II combat drama with an all star cast including Steve McQueen, Harry Guardino, James Coburn, Bobby Darin (!), Bob Newhart, LQ Jones and Nick (`Godzilla vs. Monster Zero') Adams.

The story begins when a squad of combat-weary GI's is sent back to the front and then left behind by the rest of the Company to defend an insignifigant portion of the Siegfried Line. Then the Germans decide it is not so insignifigant after all. The hook is the diminutive squad must convince the company of Wermacht soldiers that they are facing a much larger force. They employ a variety of illusions to keep up the charade (James Coburn runs a backfiring jeep in low gear in a circle to make the Germans think they have a tank, Bob Newhart sits in a pillbox making up radio traffic, and they string up rocks in empty ammo cans to make it sound like troop movement), but eventually the Germans begin to figure it out. The only thing left for them to do is hit the enemy hard and without warning to discourage their advance until the company returns.

This is an engrossing small scale drama with some intense action (despite a liberal use of wartime stock footage, mostly of artillery crews, to give us a sense of place) - the scene where the German patrol charges McQueen's foxhole with fixed bayonets is pretty desperate, with McQueen resorting to throwing his helmet to beat down their advance!

Without a doubt this movie is carried by the skillful gritty direction of Segal and an awesome cast. McQueen comes on strong and early as the grizzled vet busted down from Master Sergeant for trying to run down a colonel with his jeep. Little details hint toward a bloody and intriguing past - he favors a captive Schweisser German machinegun and keeps a butcher knife strapped to his hip. This is just about the toughest I've ever seen him. Guardino as the Sarge is paternal, Newhart endearing as an inexperienced typist who stumbles onto the squad and gets his jeep requisitioned, and Nick Adams is pretty authentic as a Polish D.P. desperate to prove his worth and go back to America with the squad - I didn't even know it was him till the credits rolled. James Coburn is reserved as a tinkering engineer, and Bobby Darin is fine too as a profit-minded procurer. All the cast gives standout performances, never once blurring as individuals in my mind - which makes the impact of some of their deaths all the more real and shocking.

Little details about the movie help to sell it - the toilet seat hung on the base wall as a frame for a picture of Der Fuherer, Newhart talking into a radio-phone with the severed chord dangling there, and that nerve-wracking night crawl through the minefield! Plus, what a climax! Great movie.

A war film ahead of its time.
Like Citizen Kane this movie plays more like a movie made yesterday that just happened to be in black and white.

Cheesy musical scores, guns that never run out of bullets, and ...Germans are WWII movie elements this one leaves out. Like Saving Private Ryan, there is little music and very realistic fighting that detail the horrors of war.

Certainly dark, this movie consists almost soley of 5 characters on one set. But there's still plenty of action and suspense. Although no really large battle scene, we really feel for these characters and understand the dispare of their position. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Several of rock and pop music's best and most important earlysongwriters, along with some stellar performers, are profiled on TheSongmakers Collection, a two-DVD set culled from five separate episodes ofthe A&E Network's Biography series. The centerpiece is "Hitmakers: TheTeens Who Stole Pop Music," a 90-minute documentary about the many writers whoworked side-by-side in New York's legendary Brill Building in the '50s and '60s.It's a fascinating story, featuring duos like Carole King and Gerry Goffin,Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich, and Neil Sedaka andHoward Greenfield, nearly all of them Jewish kids from Brooklyn who were at easewriting classic tunes for black and white artists alike. The tale is told instandard documentary style, via interviews past and present, photos, extensivefilm footage, and, of course, lots of music.

The remaining programs, all about 40 minutes in length, concentrate onindividual artists or partners (inevitably, some of the same footage appearsseveral times). Singer Dionne Warwick, best known for her interpretations of Burt Bacharach-Hal David material(and maybe for the Psychic Friends Network), is profiled in Volume One. Thethree features in Volume Two focus on the life and loves of Bacharach, theclassically trained composer of so many pop standards; on Jerry Leiber and MikeStoller, dubbed "the fathers of rock & roll songwriting" for their work witheveryone from Big Mama Thornton and the Coasters to Elvis Presley and Peggy Lee;and on Bobby Darin, the ultra-versatile, swingin' talent who lived with theprescience of an early death due to heart problems (he died at 37). Great stuff,all in all--although a few more complete performances would have been nice. - -Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very good stuff!
I bought this at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland this weekend. (It's the source, per this DVD, of Don Kirschner's greatest regret, that being that he hasn't been enshrined there. He should be, and would be if he was more popular amongst his peers, but I digress...)

The longest piece on this two-disc set has incisive comments by the greats of the Brill Building songwriters (Goffin and King, Greenwich and Barry, Weill and Mann, etc.), as well as rare comments from Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las and many others. It's in must-see territory.

The rest of the pieces on the discs are Biography-style (this being from A&E's Biography unit, after all) shows on Dionne Warwick, Bobby Darin, Burt Bacharach and Lieber & Stoller. All of them are well done, though not as incisive as the centerpiece.

A&E skimps on extras, and they do so here again. A shame, as with decent extras I'd give this one 5 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

great movie, poor commentary
i'm not going to go on about the movie as the other reviewers do a good job. it is a great movie, especially if you want to see how conduct disorder begins and becomes an adult antisocial personality. i do want to spend some time talking about the commentary, which is horrible. mr. cornfield provides the commentary and either has throat cancer or some kind of throat disease. he struggles talking and it's painful just to try to listen to him. it's embarrassing and i don't know why it was even recorded and presented. this is not a cut against what he says, but against mgm for even presenting this on dvd. they should of had someone else do the commentary, like some film critic. i still highly recommend the movie as it is a classic, but forget the commentary.

Darin Gives An Amazing Performance
"Pressure Point" is a thinking person's film, dealing with the topic of a seditious, neo-Nazi (Darin) during World War II, and the prison psyciatrist (Portier)whose job it is to determine whether the young man is sane or insane. While Portier gives an excellent, understated performance, it is Bobby Darin's film from start to finish. The young Darin (only 25 when this film was made) portrays the unbalanced, hateful neo-Nazi with a realism that is frightening. He swings from moody, pensive philosophizing to acerbic, irascible mania in the drop of a hat, without skipping a beat. At the same time, he evokes sympathy from the viewer who comes to realize that the deranged prisoner was brought up in a psychopathic family. An incredible, thought-provoking performance by a legendary talent. No wonder that Darin won the Cannes Film Festival and Golden Globe Awards as Best Actor for this performance. It was a real injustice that he was not nominated for an Academy Award. It was known in Hollywood circles that many critics who praised Darin's performance refused to push for his nomination because they were turned-off by his allegedly arrogant demeanor. Sadly, Darin's awareness of his imminent mortality instilled in him a fierce desire to succeed before his time ran out. This competitiveness was erroneously interpreted by many as "arrogance". It would take Darin another great performance the following year (1963) in "Captain Newman, M.D." for him to garner an Academy Award nomination. In this film Darin gives an equally impressive performance as a shell-shocked WWII fighter pilot. Besides being a legendary vocalist and the highest-paid Cabaret performer in the history of Las Vegas at the time of his death (Sinatra was second), Darin was also a superb actor who could do drama and comedy with equal ease. Darin's career was limited and his life was cut short by heart disease. One can only guess how far he would have gone had he not required oxogen after every performance, as well as a series of open heart surgeries. In fact, he died on the operating table on December 20, 1973 at the age of 37. A truly great talent perished on that day.

A Powerful Film
"Pressure Point" is a deeply disturbing and compelling study of hate and the forces that breed it. The setting is World War II America. The protagonists are Sidney Poitier, who gives a top-notch performance as a prison psychiatrist, and Bobby Darin, who gives an equally top-notch performance as a hatemongering American Nazi.

Darin's Nazi is in jail for sedition; this is wartime, and he has been writing anti-Government, pro-Fascist tracts. Sidney Poitier's prison psychiatrist is assigned to work with Darin to determine if Darin is legally sane or insane. Therein sets the stage for a battle of wits and wills between the two.

Director Stanley Kramer masterfully sets up the tension. Here we have an avowed Nazi, hater of blacks, Jews, and anyone else that doesn't fit the bill as a "white Christian American" (Darin's words in the film), being treated by an African-American psychiatrist who has to get to the root of Darin's hateful feelings towards everything and everybody.

I won't be a spoiler by giving away what happens; suffice it to say that Kramer doesn't fall into the trap of making everything nice and neat and...no pun intended, black and white. One finds oneself identifying with Poitier's character as he feels a combination of revulsion towards, and sympathy for, Darin's Nazi. And Darin's Nazi is not a one-dimensional character...a great deal of mind-shattering trauma goes into making him what he is. But then, the film asks, does that excuse him? Should he be set free because his bigotry is "not really his fault," but rather the fault of the environment that shaped him? Poitier struggles with this question, as will the viewer.

And the frequently overlooked gem of this film is Darin's performance. He gives a performance that is incredibly powerful. It gets under your skin. When he screams in terror with nightmares of his past, he really evokes your sympathy, despite his hateful views...and when he spews his racial and religious epithets, he really makes you hate him and want to lock him up and throw the key away. No wonder Darin received the Cannes Film Festival Award for this performance. Anyone who is familiar with Darin's talent as a singer will no doubt be interested in his incredible range as an actor.

A must-see. And this should be released to DVD!

What a performance by Bobby Darin
This movie should be required viewing. It is timeless. The doctor and patient talk about the overthrow of the government and hate groups. Two subjects still with us today. Maybe, just maybe, if someone had seen this they would have recognized the signs and 169 people would not have died in my city. Bobby Darin was so good in this role he should have received an Oscar.

Does not condescend to the audience
Typical of Stanley Kramer productions, "Pressure Point" is a fairly explosive "message" movie, and a rare one in that it does not condescend to its audience by sending the combative protagonists on their merry way at the conclusion to live in peace and harmony. Sidney Poitier is excellent as the prison psychiatrist challenged by a disturbed Nazi symphatizer played by singer Bobby Darin. It is Darin, however, who is most impressive, not only for his dynamic yet subtle performance, but for his williness to accept the role of such a bigoted, unappealing character at a time when he was still a "teen idol" married to Sandra Dee. The direction by Hubert Cornfield, the cinematography, and music are all first-rate. ... Read more

Description

Taped at the peak of his popularity, Bobby Darin's remarkable talents as a singer, musician, composer and actor are showcased in this highly rated 1970 television special. With special guest appearances by just-emerging Linda Ronstadt and the ever-young and charming George Burns, this DVD will lift your spirits with the sounds and stars of that colorful time. Includes hits such as If I Were A Carpenter, Hi Dee Ho, and his touching call for peace and hope, Simple Song of Freedom, which may be more pertinent today then ever before. Complete with DVD Bonus Features such as Digitally Mastered Audio & Video, a Fun Facts and Trivia Subtitle track and instant access to your favorite songs, THE DARIN INVASION IS COMING.

S E L E C T I O N S
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher
I Ain't Got Nobody
Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two
I'm Reviewing the Situation
For A Long, Long Time
Hi Dee Ho
Simple Song of Freedom ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Buy "Mack Is Back" Before "Darin Invasion"
What a difference 3 years make. This is filmed in 1970 and looks very dated. While it is entertaining for die-hard Darin fans, it pales in comparison to the Questar "Mack Is Back" DVD shot in 1973, which is a great DVD.

When this video was shot, Bobby's heart was too. It was taped just before his first heart surgery in 1970. I have heard that his chronic heart trouble was exacerbated by exerting himself in this performance. Bobby looks unhealthy and far older than his 34 years in this video. Alot of it, I'm sorry to say, has to do with the fact that his toupe is poorly quaffed (too much forehead showing a receding hairline, framed by bushy sideburns-- awful--not at all the 1960 Darin depicted on the cover). Bobby does not have the same energy he has in the 1973 Mack Is Back video. The image and sound quality are also far below the Mack Is Back video. The cheesy factoids in the DVD version that appear at the bottom of the screen (billed as an "extra") are totally inane and uninformative (example "Studies have shown that left handed people die sooner than right handed people...George Burns was a southpaw...He lived to be 100." Stupid)

The other performers in the show (with the exception of Linda Rondstat-- who is passable) are not very entertaining either. The Poppy Family (who?) is God-awful. It would have been better if Bobby was a one-man show.

All in all, I'd say the "Mack Is Back" video is probably 5 times better than this offering--production, extras, sound, length, picture and performance outshine this one easily.

"Mack is Back" is also Bobby's last taped performance, and he performs as if he knows it. He is explosive in his delivery, the arrangements are hard-driving, band and audience are into it, Bobby's energy level is sky-high--it is perfect Darin at the top (and the end) of his game. He died several months after filming it, but looks like he is in the prime of his life in the performance. (And his rug looks great--you'd never know if he didn't joke about it!!!)

I guess my point is...if you already own the "Mack Is Back" DVD, you can rest easy forgoing this one-- it is highly disappointing in comparison. If you are deciding between the two-- absolutely get the "Mack Is Back."

If you're a Darin die-hard like me, you will enjoy "The Darin Invasion" as an addition to your collection, but probably won't play it one-twentieth as much as "Mack Is Back."

Good Slice of Darin in a deceptive package
This video contains some fine examples of the vast talents of one of Walden Robert Cassotto otherwise known as Bobby Darin. It's not the best Darin you're ever going to see and it's certainly not the Darin displayed on the box but it is entertaining enough especially for hardcore fans.

Despite the fact that the box states that this is Darin in his "prime" and the photo on the box is of Darin circa 1960, this is Darin near the end of his criminally short-life. This show was filmed in 1970 when Darin had only three years left to live. He was only 34 but looked much older and is not the Darin most folks remember. That Darin sings only one of his biggest hits- "If I Were a Carpenter"- further takes this stuff away from vintage Darin. This all does not mean that the singer doesn't perfom well- his voice is in perfect shape- but he's just not the Darin you remember.

The show was basically a music variety job, very common in the '70s. The emphasis here is on music and the better for it.

Darin explodes out of the box with a jubilant "(You're Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" the Jackie Wilson hit. Darin's rendition is more Vegasy backed with a gospel choir and he doesn't surpass Wilson but, his joy in performing is evident in every second he extends the great song.

The show then awkwardly slips gears to a softshoe/comedy bit with George Burns. One of the show's great flaws is awkward transition, a process filled by commercials in the original broadcast. The Burns/Darin bit still works well enough because of the obvious affection between the two men.

Things take a downward turn with an appearance by the Poppy Family singing their truly awful hit "Which Way You Going Billy". This is followed by an interesting bit where Darin dresses, without toupee, as Fagin and sings a number from "Oliver". Darin completely loses himself in the part and it makes you mourn that he never seriously explored stage work. That said, it fits in awkwardly with the straightforward musical presentation of the rest of the show.

The show's schizophrenic character surfaces again with Darin singing the blues "Hi De Ho". He does some surprisingly good harp playing and his phrasing conveys a complete understanding of the form although, his arrangement is way too gaudy.

Linda Ronstadt is next up with one of her early hits "Long Long Time". It's nice and Darin accompanies her on acoustic guitar.

Darin closes with some stories and versions of "If I Had a Carpenter" and "Simple Song of Freedom". The ending to the latter is way overdone. Darin compensates with a beautifully modulated "Carpenter".

Darin's introductions filled with mugging, double takes and impressions show why he was never a hip taste. His embrace of showbiz traditions and cliches was far too sincere for hipsters. However, as we have seen, his talent was also too great to ignore, a truth evident even in this imperfect 48 minute vehicle.

The presentation of this vehicle is not all it could have been. The picture is watchable but a little blurry. The show was filmed on videotape and it shows. These are not the sharp images we associate with the DVD format. The sound is fine but the extras are near useless. There's an incomplete Darin discography. There are brief and inaccurate text bios of Darin, Ronstadt and Burns.

Perhaps the biggest extra is the trivia track that you can turn on to appear at the bottom of the screen during the show. The trivia consists of only the most general and boring information with no insight on the music.

If you're looking for a definitive Darin DVD package or Darin at his peak, this is not for you. If you want a hint of why Darin was a special talent even without his hits then check this out. ... Read more