Description

Available previously as a 5-part VHS set, New York now boasts two all-new episodes.The series offers fourteen spectacular hours of programming that chronicle the history of New York - from its beginning in 1609 as a Dutch trading post, through the turbulent years of change in the decades following World War II, to its present day status as one of the most important and influential cities in the world.

SYNOPSES
Episode 1: The Country and the City(1609 - 1825) chronicles the arrival of the Dutch, the impact of the English, the horrors of colonial slavery and New York's critical role in the American Revolution.
Episode 2: Order and Disorder(1825 - 1865) looks at New York's rise as a burgeoning cultural center and multi-ethnic port, concluding with the Civil War Riots - America's bloodiest civil disturbance. Episode 3: Sunshine and Shadow(1865 - 1898) turns the spotlight on a period of greed and wealth that fueled the expanding metropolis - even as politics and poverty defined it.
Episode 4: The Power and the People(1898 - 1918) follows New York into a new century, examining the interplay of capitalism, democracy and transformation in the wake of an extraordinary wave of immigration and the birth of the skyscraper.
Episode 5: Cosmopolis(1919 - 1931) details the African-American experience, the birth of new media industries and the incredible array of human and cultural energies that converged, ending with the construction of the world's tallest building.
Episode 6: City of Tomorrow(1929 - 1941) traces the spectacular but often troubling changes that overtook New York due to the crash of 1929 and the beginning of World War II.
Episode 7: The City and the World(1945 - Present) chronicles the history of New York from the end of World War II through today, exploring the complexities of the post-modern city and the turbulent years of physical, social and cultural change in the decades following the war. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Extraordinary and compelling documentary!
I have just finished viewing the 6th Disc of the incredible journey of the greatest city in the world, and just had to share my excitement and disbelief at what I have been watching. Ric Burns does an extraordinary job of showing the history of New York from it's discovery by Henry Hudson to modern times. Each episode is addictive and compelling. Once the use of film and motion picture is employed in this collection at the turn of the 20th Century, each episode becomes even more amazing. I was amazed at the footage of the Empire State Building and the Chrylser Building as they were being built. The pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge being built were astounding. The time of La Guardia and seeing him in action, while Robert Moses built bridges and highways all around the city and beyond to Long Island was stunning. The history of Central Park, the Erie Canal, the plan for the streets of the city, the building of the subways and tunnels, the railroads, the coming of the immigrants, and many more were incredible to see. Being a native New Yorker born in the early 70's, I was exhilarated, but saddened at the same time while watching this, that I was not around to experience the great growth of the city. This film does justice though, as it brought me deep inside the history, and allowed me to see so vividly how New York came to be what it is today. I highly recommend all to view this, for not only is it a history of New York, but a history of why American is what it is today. It all started in New York City.

More justice. Better as the DVD version
The Burns family has come up with some fine work, from Baseball, to the Civil War; and now the latest, New York. A fine successor.
Ric Burns explores the early history of New York, starting with the God-created attributes of the region and one of the world's finest natural seaports. But the treasure is found in what man has added to the Apple, starting with the Erie Canal, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Subway system. The Bridge's history has itself been the subject of much scholarship, and Burns does it well also. The creation of the skyline, including the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are some of the series best moments, filled with some of the fascinating type of information that fans of Burns' documentaries have come to expect and enjoy.

The history of New York is the history of immigrants, and the interaction of Irish, Italians, Africans and other groups is splendidly examined. The politics of the City, such as the rise and demise of Al Smith and Jimmy Walker are well explored also.

My few complaints are minor, and don't detract from the work. F. Scott Fitzgerald seems to have become a demi-god to Burns, and after awhile, I found the continued references to him and his
work tiring. More than a few minutes on the early history of Harlem would have been a welcome replacement.

I purchased the DVD version, although I had the videocassettes. Am I glad I did! It has two additional discs, which try to bring the series up to date. Fiorello LaGuardia and Robert Moses, the two most pivotal figures in the history of the City, are splendidly explored. More examination of the development and contribution of Harlem (which I lamented in the review of the VHS version) is also welcomed. New York's post W.W. II predominance as the true center of the Earth is made plain. As the series progresses, we see the value of the City (any city), the destruction of the great and old in the name of urban renewal, and the slow cancer of suburban sprawl.

Even those not from New York will find it to be a rich, interesting history, worth of the length of time one must devote to its viewing. The rest of the world will understand some of why New Yorkers love their home as they do. Those expatriate New Yorkers will be tugged to head back home. All in all, brilliant, brilliant work.

AMAZING!
If you are from New York this DVD set is a must have. Absolutley riviting and informative.The old film footage and other epherma that was collected for this compilation is remarkable. I literally sat through all 7 DVDs in one sitting without a moment of boredom. If you love history this will be a valued addition to any collection, even if you are not from NY.

Learn history painlessly
I have told several friends that they need to watch this wonderful series. Almost everyone seems to think that history is boring. It isn't - you just had boring history teachers in high school, that taught history in a boring manner. If history was taught as the clash of great personalities and the range of choices they had, and it was explained why the person choose the path they did based on the limited resources they had to divide between all their goals and aspirations - people would recognize that alot of history is facinating. As you learn the history of the city of New York you will also learn a great deal about American history - because they are so intertwined.

A Great Series for a Great City
Though there are many older cities than New York, in the (relatively) short time of its existence, no city has captured the imagination, desire, love, and even hatred, that New York City has. Ric Burns has captured all of these emotions and more in this, one of the finest documentaries ever put on film.

The series traces the history of NYC from its earliest days as a Dutch trading post through 2000 (an additional volume was produced after the September 11th terrorist attack). Using interviews, stories, & archival material (prints, paintings, photographs, and old silent films), Burns pulls the viewer in to the life of all types of New Yorkers through the last 300+ years. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Absolutely Great for the Beginner and out of shape
This is a wonderful tape for all of us who are out of shape and no longer limber.
Peggy targets those of us who want to get started but cannot keep up with the tapes designed for the already physically fit.
It is broken into 3 sections so even the most out of shape can do at least the first part.
My 79 year old mother did the first 20 minutes of this tape with me.

Excellent yoga video
This is an excellent yoga video. It is easy to follow with good instruction and it is versatile for various body types and abilities. Highly recommend this video.

Perfect introduction course for beginners!
For a student of the Indian classical dance like me, this DVD proved quite helpful, especially the breathing instructions, although I would prefer to see some more spiritual explanations (yoga is not aerobics, after all!), and the psychological meaning and effect of the postures.
Peggy Cappy's presentation is very clear, and covers the basics. I particularly liked the Sun Salutations series, as these are practised by all professional Bharatanatyam dancers, who have to produce rather complex postures. I know I will never be as flexible and as agile as the young professional dancers, and I will hardly ever dance as effortlessly and gracefully as Medha Hari in her DVD, but Peggy Cappy's excercises will make you stay fit and healthy, if this is what really matters for an amateur dancer like me.

Wonderful
This was a wonderful discovery that has really transformed my entire life. It proved to be much more useful to me than the Pilates Beginning Mat Workout and the Living Yoga tapes I had gotten because I used to be fairly glued to the couch due to my weight. But this low-impact and low-stress approach to physical fitness has really created a whole new world for me to live my life in now with tremendous opportunities for self-expression and fulfillment. With this as a building block for physical change, I was able to move onto a great new diet approach with South Beach, and subsequently my husband and I found new sparks in our intimate life with the aid of the magnificent "New Sex Now" video training -- an experience that really got our hearts pounding like never before. All of these life-transforming products come with heartfelt thanks and the highest recommendations. Life is too short to waste it sitting on a couch watching the world pass you by. Do something to make your world a better place!

Yoga with a Chair
I saw Peggy Cappy on Public Television during the December 2003 fund drive. I was impressed with her ability to teach yoga to a diverse group of students. The class is primarily attended by persons over the age of 50 years that have limited mobility. Peggy uses chairs to enable students to stay safely on their feet while attempting unfamiliar ways of moving their bodies. The video covers most of the basic standing poses (tree, triangle, warrior I and II, downward facing dog, upward facing dog as well as a simple sun salutation). this is a must have for yoga teachers and for all others that have joint stiffness, limited mobility (because of age, infimity or weight). She has said it most aptly, Yoga for every body. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Absoloutely necessary.....
Despite all of the negative reviews, these films are among my favorites, and are absoloutely necessary for horror and gore fans to see. Yes, it is fake for the most part, but that is not the point. The films are quite entertaining and despite what other reviews claim, the effects are superb given the time it was made. I promise that if you are a fan of gore, you should be fairly pleased with this collection, each film with the exception of "faces of death 2" has some quite shocking scenes.

The basic point of the films is a doctors personal study into the subject of death. The film is presented in a documentary style, piecing together many clips of people meeting there demise in horrible sorts of ways, and stock footage of accident aftermaths and morgues etc. As I stated earlier, the scenes where people are shown being killed are entirely fake. The fact that everyone thinks the fim is 100% real demonstrates the marketing genius that the director and gorgon video truly are.

Horror and gore fans , buy the collection, buy a case of beer, invite your friends over and have your first annual F.O.D. fest this weekend.

What's all the fuss about?
I saw this "Faces of Death" series a short while ago and I can't even believe that some people class it as "horror"!
To me, it came across as a documentary style series with some doctor narrating about various methods of animal slaughter and tragic human deaths...
To be honest, I found a lot of it rather boring and the film didn't really cover anything that I hadn't seen before - except perhaps, the monkey delicacy, where the animal's brain is bashed in.
I then read the previous reviews and found that most people have said that it's fake! Maybe I'm a bit gormless as I thought they looked real enough! Haha, never mind.
Pretty much a big fuss over nothing and a waste of money, if you ask me. Spend your money on something more interesting!

Why??
I haven't watched any of these, probably because I still have some shreds of sanity. For all the curious teens out there, these films show rabbits being skinned ALIVE, animals being butchered violently while yipping in agony, people being fried in electric chairs, people mangled on the German autobahn, people having their heads sawed off, and baby monkeys being clubbed to death. This isn't America's Funniest Home Videos, people. If you find pleasure in watching this stuff, you need counseling. It's that simple. (...)

You MUST Be Kidding
When I see garbage like this, I finally understand what is wrong with the world. I watched this movie on a dare and was absolutely mortified!!!!! I would have given it negative stars if I could have. As an animal lover and vegetarian, I was especially offended!!! Anyone who is a fan of this series should run, not walk to the nearest Psychiatrist. You are in desperate need of having your head examined. And we as a society wonder why violence and seriel killers have become a part of daily life. Well, ladies and gentlemen I present to you Exhibit A.......

Faces of Death Collections
I first watched this movie when I was ten and could not keep my eyes off of the screen.Now that I'm older I still enjoy it but the fact that most of the scenes were not real really disappointed me but the movie is still off the wall crazy.Enjoy it best alone and in the dark ... Read more

Description

Following in the footsteps of the highly acclaimed 'World at War' series, this is the definitive history of the First World War, seen now for the first time ever in color.

World War 1 consumed the lives of 10 million soldiers and civilians. It was fought mainly by young men in the fields and trenches of Northern France and Belgium and saw the development of the fighter plane, the introduction of poison gas, the invention of the tank, the flame thrower and the wide use of machine guns and heavy artillery.

Now using rare archive footage from worldwide sources including Russia, Germany, France, Italy, the USA and Britain's own Imperial War Museum, this 6 x 1 hour landmark series now brings to the viewer the gritty reality of life in the trenches.

This six-part series is the first ever to colorize the First World War taking 5 months and 490 skilled technicians to colorize the Black and white footage - over 75% has never before been seen on television.

This acclaimed documentary investigates the development of warfare throughout the 5 years of World War 1 from all sides of the armed forces, including never before seen interviews from survivors of the Great War.

DVD extras include an additional 50 minute program- 'Tactics & Strategy' giving an in-depth look at the battles of WW1 using stunning CGI graphics and interviews with the program producers

Narrated by Sir Kenneth Branagh

DVD Extras
Behind the scenes feature with film’s producer and director
An additional 50 minute program – "Tactics & Strategy"
Biographies
WW1 Timeline of Events and General Facts
... Read more

Reviews (1)

Highly Informative and Entertaining!
I'm not a real big history buff or anything but I caught this one night on the History Channel and I was hooked. Unlucky for me I missed the first part of it but thanks to this release I can finally catch it all. It was very informative and I don't know if it's just me but the fact that it's in color just gives it that extra bit of humanity. Wathcing black and white footage you can seperate yourself from it easier. It doesn't look as "real" to you. But this really blew me away.

I don't watch that much of the History Channel at all really, but I'm glad nothign else was on that night or I would have missed this great show. It gives you a great indepth look at World War 1 and creates more of an interest in it than I've ever had. Kenneth Branaugh does a great job narrating it as well.

Awesome series. I'd reccomend it to any history buffs, military buffs, or really just about anyone with a thirst of knowledge. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Serving as an introduction for neophytes and a refresher course for experts, The History of Rock and Roll is a mammoth and, when considered on its own terms, frequently successful undertaking.The series, which was first presented in 1995, consumes some 578 minutes, with 10 episodes (there are no bonus features) spread out over five discs. Its pedigree (executive producers include Quincy Jones, while respected writers Peter Guralnick and Greil Marcus are listed as consultants) is impressive, as is its scope, beginning in the pre-rock days of bluesman Muddy Waters and boogie woogie master Louis Jordan and continuing through the death of Kurt Cobain and the birth of the Lollapalooza festival in the mid-1990s. Along the way, dozens of big-name performers (with the notable exception of the Beatles) are on hand to lead us through the story.

On the minus side, the format--clips of musical performances cut short by a parade of talking heads--while typical of the genre, will frustrate those who come for the music alone. Nor is it likely that anyone who studies such things will find much here that hasn't already been seen. To be sure, there are some terrific moments, like the profile of Bob Dylan (in part 5, "Plugging In"), some cool clips of relatively obscure legends like James Burton and T-Bone Walker (in part 7, "Guitar Heroes"), and rarely seen live bits with Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, Iggy Pop (goofing on the Dinah Shore Show in '77), and many others scattered throughout the set. Part 8, which chronicles the '70s, is surprisingly compelling (one forgets how many major artists--Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder--came into their own in a decade remembered largely for disco and faceless arena rock), while part 9, "Punk," is arguably the most entertaining of the lot.

In the end, it's the lack of complete musical performances that is the set's Achilles' heel. Then again, with their appetites whetted here, perhaps viewers will move on to other, more detailed looks at their heroes--beginning with, say, The Beatles Anthology. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Some material may not be suitable for younger viewers.
I purchased this video series for my high school History of Rock and Roll class. I was thoroughly impressed by a majority of the material in this series.

Good points: Excellent footage of rock and roll heroes (Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Led Zepplin, etc.) as well as lesser known groups (The Hollies, Gerry and the Pacemakers, etc.). Outstanding interviews from artists and figures such as Hank Ballard, Carl Perkins, Ozzie Osborn, Dick Clark, Bono, Eddie Van Halen, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Little Richard, Mick Jaggar, Tom Petty, Lindsey Buckingham, and countless others. Footage of various historical events help put the music in perspective (civil rights, Vietnam, sexual revolution, etc.).

Bad Points: Some material may not be for younger audiences. Nearly all volumes (2 & 3 excluded) have some PG-13 language (including Pete Townsend's liberal use of the F-word). A couple of tapes (I'm thinking of volume 6 & 8 in particular) have some female nudity. Anyone thinking about letting a class view this should keep that in mind. Some movements in Rock and Roll are touched on too lightly: Soul, Motown and funk are kind of grouped together, Jazz Rock is barely mentioned, etc.

Final Verdict: Probably the best Rock and Roll series out there now. We need Ken Burns's take on this subject.

NOT the excellent PBS series "Rock & Roll"
In 1995, two -- count 'em -- TWO ten-part TV series on the history of rock and roll were broadcast: the superb "Rock & Roll" on PBS, and this one in syndication. Unfortunately, this is the one that seems to persist; VH1 ran it a few years back, and now it's on DVD. There's really no comparison -- think "I Love The 80's" (minus the humor) vs. "Ken Burns' Jazz".

The whole feeling of the thing is cheap and exploitative. I didn't care for the way ALL the same musicians were quoted about ALL periods and ALL types of music. So you get Tom Petty and Elvis Costello (both of whom I love, don't get me wrong) talking about the Beatles AND Elvis AND punk, etc., as opposed to in "Rock & Roll", where as much as possible the people on camera are the people who were there -- Chuck Berry, Sam Phillips, the earliest rock and roll DJs. Also, other than trying to pander to lowest common denominator segment of the audience, what's the point of singling out rap and disco for the "fair and balanced" treatment -- i.e., giving equal time to musicians who hate that kind of music? Skunk Baxter and Gregg Allman, weighing in on rap ("...short for CRAP!") come off as smug hillbilly bigots.

Pandering is evident in the structure of the show as well. Although the idea of starting in the middle (Bob Dylan goes electric) and then proceeding from the beginning is interesting, I can't be too impressed with later chapters like "The 70's" -- again, I'm biased toward the thematic episodes of "Rock and Roll" rather than the grab-bag approach. The last chapter is almost embarassing in the way it rushes through the final 15-odd years post-1980 to get to Green Day (very hot in 1995, but can you imagine they'd make the cut if this series were made today?).

Long story short, wait for the next PBS pledge drive and watch "Rock and Roll" instead.

OK BUT SHOULD BE TITLED THE PARTIAL HISTORY OF ROCK & SLOCK
OK FOR THE CASUAL MUSIC BUFF BUT SOOO MUCH LEFT OUT. EVERY HEARD OF ONE HIT WONDERS ? 4 SEASONS (WHAT WOULD THE EARLY 60'S BE WITHOUT SHERRY,LET'S HANG ON,BIG GIRLS ETC ,ETC),DION, SEEDS,LOVE,3 DOG NIGHT,GRASSROOTS, AL GREEN & THE BIGGEST SELLING SINGLES BAND IN THE LATE 60'S/EARLY 70'S CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL DON'T EVEN GET A MENTION !!! THE MOST PLAYED OLDIE IS WINDY BY THE ASSOCIATION, NEVER MENTIONED. LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE OLDIES STATION AND HALF OF WHAT YOU HEAR IS NOT HERE. IF IT WAS $39.99 IT WOULD BE WELL WORTH THE PRICE BUT AT 70 TO 90 DOLLARS OUCH !!

PLUS IT'S NOT A CRIME TO PLAY THE ENTIRE SONG WITHOUT PUTTING BONO OR BOWIE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE MUSIC RETAIL BUSINESS FOR 30 SOME YEARS AND A GOOD 50% OF MY SALES ARE NOT IN THIS COLLECTION. SORRY BUT HIP HOP,DANCE,HOUSE & RAP IS NOT ROCK & ROLL !!!

Ultimate Comprehensive Rock and Roll Documentary
For many years I'd been hoping someone would make a comprehensive documentary detailing the fascinating history of rock music, which in a real sense is the history of America in the last half of the twentieth century. Then, suddenly, within a three year period, not one, but two excellent documentaries are released: this one, produced by Time-Life; and another, titled simply "Rock and Roll", produced for public television by a PBS station in Boston. "History of Rock and Roll" is marginally better and combines concert footage (some familiar, some rarely seen) with artists, producers, and arrangers, who give their reflections and interpretations of the entire era. My favorite chapter is "Guitar Heroes" which provides a fascinating history of the electric guitar and how it became such an integral part of rock and roll.

Addendum: I originally purchased the VHS edition when it was released. I just bought the DVD set for the better picuture/sound quality, of course, but also because Amazon describes it as having "80 bonus minutes". I'm halfway through,
but have not yet seen any additional footage.

Good, but not complete history of Rock.
This series is a good place to start to learn the history of Rock 'n' Roll music, especially the roots. Most of the time is spent in the early years and highlights the genres that Rock spun out of and the early artists that Rock artists came to emulate. The producers have succeeded in showing how Rock has stayed true to its roots even with the subsequent various styles.

The main problem with the series is that it does offer a shallow look at much of rock's history as it omits many of its offshoots in the later years. None of the early history should be shortened, but a couple of more episodes going more in depth with some of the later variations would have been nice. (Note: This series was released in 1995, so Nu Metal and other genres since 1995 will not be represented.) An example would be that the series does get into how corporate the music became in the 70s, but really gives too few examples of the groups that embody that distinction. While I personally like late 70s and 80s rock, it was corporate and very few of the bands of that era are even mentioned. Hair Metal was not mentioned at all. It was very popular in the late 80s and its media overkill is what really brought on grunge - grunge was NOT a seamless transition from 70s punk like the series portrays. A whole era was simply erased in this documentary. Prog-Rock of the 70s was barely given a notice, with the exception of Pink Floyd. What about the Heavy Metal and Thrash movements (and any mention of the perceived Satanic influence of Rock in general)? Not covered. What about Country Music's crossover success in the early 90s, thus reuniting one of Rock's root sources with its offspring? These eras should have been discussed in a "history of Rock and Roll.

But still, this is a good set to have and did reveal to me more of where rock came from and how it basically has not strayed too far from its roots. This series does explain very clearly how this music did bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together in a perfect (or sometimes not so) harmony. I think that its greatest triumph is that it shows black and white people truly belonging to the same race, and that is the human race. And in this music is the human soul revealed. I highly recommend this series. ... Read more

Description

"Beefcake," Thom Fitzgerald's (The Hanging Garden) provocative blending of fiction and documentary, tells the story of Bob Mizer, the pioneering founder of the Athletic Model Guild, a company which produced still photographs and short films extolling the beauty and chiseled physiques of men. The fiction story follows photographer and enterprising businessman Mizer, who teamed up with his mother in 1945 to film his beefy star-wannabes around his sun-drenched pool. It is here that Neil, a naive, right-off-the-bus teen is lured into using his handsome looks to become a model. The wide-eyed Neil soon learns about the world of sex and prostitution. But a police raid and ensuing criminal trial soon threaten both of the men's worlds. Interspersed with the story are rare archival footage and interviews with former co-workers, customers and models. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Phony baloney!
The most frustrating thing about this film is the lackadaisical way it moves back and forth between engaging interviews and authentic 50s/60s film footage and the silly, flacid narrative about a physique magazine photographer who involves his unwitting (?) family in the creation of benign bordello/porn factory. Clearly, the beefcake pictoral magazines depicted were intended to be erotically provokative in an era of censorship when postal regulations prevented anything more graphic from being distributed. But the filmmaker seems devoid of a point of view. The film is little more than a blown kiss to a blessedly bygone era. Any perspective setting comes from the talking heads, the former models (like Joe Dallesandro and Jack LaLanne) and photographers who reflect on what it was like to be in the business back then. Also, frustrating was the failure to address the issue of the prevailing double standard; at a time when Hugh Hefner was taking female nudity into the middleclass mainstream, why was the male body such a persistant taboo? As clever as the intercutting of new and vintage footage is, the vintage films are best appreciated when run in their entirety as DVD "extras" (there are six in all, including one involving alien spacemen with antennas!). Watching them provokes a lot of questions. But alas, the viewer is left to come up with his or her own answers. This could have been the "Atomic Cafe" of gay erotica, but instead it's an after-school special with a little eye candy thrown in.

Please Pass the Beef
First of all, for those of you out who like straight-forward plot lines with twists and turns throughout, object to male nudity and get bored if something doesn't blow up in the first 15 minutes - then do not watch this movie.

As for the rest of us, who can appreciate intelligent mock-u-mentory styled films, "BeefCake" is a fabulous way to spend a Sunday evening. Through flashback sequences, photo clips and interiews with ex-hustlers/models from the 1950's, we receive the story of Robert Henry Mizer and his Athletic Model Guild. The movie jumps around a bit between Mizer's history with his pulp art magazine, his legal troubles for running escorts as well as the interviews, which makes one wonder how scatterbrained director Thom Fitzgerald really is. But the acting is good, the scenes are funny/interesting and there's plenty of male nudity to go around. Where can you go wrong?

Just OK.
An interesting film, respectful and with a touch of humour. Not a "must see" material but nothing I felt sorry after buying it.

With a title like Beefcake...
...you don't expect Shakespeare! But what you do get is an incredibly entertaining look at the birth of gay society's fascination with the male form. If the viewer can tear his attention away from the bountiful eye-candy he/she will also get a glimpse into the hardships and very real dangers that these seemingly cheesey photographers and publishers went through just to give us a glimpse of the body beautiful. Part movie, part documentary...all delightfully delicious!

Nudity galore!
Beefcake is a light-hearted, semi-documentary about the life and times of a muscle-magazine, Physique pictorial. Published during the puritanical 1950ies, it made quite a stir.

PP was the original hunk-o-rama, with hundreds of smiling, tanned and muscled young men flashing their goods at you. Of course, it was not strictly a nude-mag (the models wore small pouches in front of you know what..) but the gay readers had a field time anyway! The publishers also made short films featuring their hunky stars. It was all marketed as "promoting health and physical fitness in young minds"

Looking back at those "innocent" times from this liberal day and age, we can only smile at the cunning and bravery that went into it. The brains behind PP, Bob Mizer, was actually jailed and fined several times on charges of renting out his models as escorts to rich men. Still, the mag continued into the 60's and 70's.

Watching Beefcake is like flipping through those pages of PP, stopping occasionally for some reconstructed dramatic scenes. But the best parts are watching the guys modelling, doing some amateur acting in front of Mizer's camera and generally horsing around. Great fun!

There are several interviews with the guys who posed for the mag, one of them, Joe Dallesandro, apparently did his posing mostly nude! There is, in fact, copious nudity in Beefcake, and the men are all fabulous looking.

There are some great contemporary songs on the soundtrack, as well. A good time movie for the (mostly) gay crowd. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

growing up with hal holbrook and mark twain
if you have not heard the recordings or saw the television special 'mark twain tonight' starring hal holbrook, you are in for a real treat. my aunt took me to see the one man show many years ago in toronto. when he came a second time, years later, i took her.

i have listened to the two recordings of mark twain and mark twain tonight at least once a week for over twenty years. hal holbrook is not talente, he is gifted. listening to 'jim and huck on a raft' is so touching to me it defies description. if hou have ever trusted anyone on anything trust me. this is not to be missed. i have never heard or seen anything quite like it.

Holbrook's Mark Twain
If there has ever been a polished performance, this is it! I've been fortunate to see Holbrook do this show live on three occasions. He really catches the essence of Twain's marvellous story- telling, which sets the tone for later artists such as Gene Shepard and Garrison Keillor. Hal Holbrook changed his show at every performance, and this video features him at the peak of his craft. From ghost stories to humorous anecdotes to shaggy dog yarns and tall tales, this video has them all. You'll want to watch it many times.

wry genius returned to life
my only regret about MARK TWAIN TONIGHT is that it's only 90 minutes. holbrook apparently has about 12 hours worth of material that his life shows alternate among. these 90 minutes include his views on man (the only animal that blushes), his mississippi adventures as seen through tom's eyes, and jim blaine's story of the ram and old man wheeler. the ram story alone is enough to be twice worth the cost of the dvd. buy the disk. holbrook is now at just the age where his twain would be even more sublime. let's hope the sales of this dvd inspire him to do another all these years after this 1967 performance. the sound and video are good (for broadcast tv) -- mainly though, holbrook is outstanding and twain is -- twain IS twain. buy it. watch it.

Mark Twain Tonight!
I was introduced to Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain Tonight in a high school English class in 1962 and have been fascinated with Holbrook and his Twain presentation ever since. As the story goes, Holbrook took up cigar smoking to get the timber in his voice, spends three hours in make-up preparing, and has even listened to Edison recording tubes of Twain to get the voice and inflection just right. Sit back and enjoy tales from a hundred years ago that are just as germaine today. You'll soon be convinced that the man in front of you is actually Mark Twain!

Hal Holbrook-Mark Twain Tonight
Having seen Hal Holbrook live, in Mark Twain Tonight on two occasions, most recently this past January, I must say I was delighted to aquire the DVD of his 1967 television broadcast performance. My aquaintence with Mr. Holbrooks' Twain goes back to two LPs, recorded in performance in the early 60's, lost, but not forgotten. I have long believed, and this DVD confirms that Mark Twain Tonight is easily one of the greatest treasures of the stage in the last half of the 20th Century. That Mr. Holbrook has performed Mark Twain every year since 1954, in close to 2000 shows, is nothing short of miraculous. But there are twelve hours of material that he draws from. Hopefully, all twelve hours will one day, be available in this format. This 90 minute show brings the wisdom, humor and humanity of one of the most morally brave men of the 19th century to life; and his words are as funny, poignant and relevent going into the 21st century as they were then. I am simply in awe! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Title aside, we'll never see the likes of Tupac Shakur again. The late rap superstar was a complex, contradictory figure and, throughout the course of this riveting documentary, it's as if he's back in our world again. Produced by his mother, former Black Panther Afeni Shakur, Tupac Resurrection isn't so much "biased" as it's subjective. In the MTV film, accompanied by a book and soundtrack, director Lauren Lazin looks at Tupac's short, full life from beginning to end and doesn't avoid the dark times--the arrests, the shootings--but she does tend to emphasize the positive over the negative. More to the point, the narration comes from Tupac himself, smoothly edited from countless interviews, so we're constantly getting his take on events. He's more thoughtful and articulate than his detractors might expect (despite the profanity), but the contradictions remain, making this essential viewing for even the most casual of fans. --Kathleen C. Fennessy ... Read more

Description

Bonus Features: Interactive Menus, Scene Selection, "Making When the Forest Ran Red" 13-min. featurette, "A Conversation with Paul Kopperman" 18-min. featurette, 9 min. of Deleted Scenes, Educators' Tips, "George Washington's First War" extended trailer ... Read more

Reviews (3)

THIS DVD SPECIAL EDITION IS EVEN BETTER THAN THE VHS VERSION
THIS MOVIE IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC -- ANYONE INTERESTED IN AMERICAN,COLONIAL, MILITARY, OR BRITISH HISTORY OR IF YOU LOVE A GOOD STORY WELL TOLD--THIS IS A FILM YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIEW ABOUT BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT AND THE BEGINNING OF BOTH THE FRENCH & INDIAN WAR AND THE CAREER OF YOUNG GEORGE WASHINGTON. (HE WAS JUST 24 YEARS OLD WHEN HIS FORCE WAS DEFEATED AT FORT NECESSITY). I SAW THE VHS VERSION AND NOW THE DVD. I MUST SAY THIS SPECIAL EDITION IS A COLLECTORS ITEM--THE NEW ACTION SCENES, THE DOCUMENTARY FOOTAGE AND THE EDUCATION TIPS REALLY m,AKE THIS GREAT FILM EVEN BETTER. I ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS FILM EVEN THOUGH, I SAW THE VHS RELEASE 6 TIMES. THIS IS HISTORY AND FILM MAKING AT IT'S VERY BEST.

I ONLY WISH THAT THEY WILL COME OUT WITH A SEQUEL TO THE FIRST TWO FILMS--THE BATTLE OF QUEBEC WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS GREAT SET.

You Are There
A thrilling, vivid history feast--the dark forest, pleas of the wounded, shrieks of the Shawnees, the roar of muskets--"You Are There" as a very young George Washington surrenders at Fort Necessity and Braddock's Army marches to disastrous defeat, when victory seemed at hand.

This gripping, taut drama of the frontier clash of English, French, native Americans, and provincials, is told by a masterful blend of the words of eyewitnesses, military reenactments, modern historians, colonial music, paintings, artifacts, and onsite filming.

The DVD includes several extras, especially detailed comments by historian Paul Kopperman.

Huzzahs to Robert and Mary Matzen, Tom Wilson, their staff, and all participants.

Tom O'Connor, Bowie, MD

The Battle of the Wilderness
I thought that this was an excellent documentary.It was clear that the director knew what he was doing.I think that this should be shown in all of the schools because the French & Indian War led to the American Revolution.At least there is a movie for school kids to see.PBS has been talking for a long time about doing an F&I movie but no action so far.I didn't know that Daniel Boone was at Braddock's Defeat.Check this one out. ... Read more

Description

Each minute, all over the world, a baby is born. An everyday occurrence, yet each birth is the culmination of one of nature's most complex, mysterious, and seemingly miraculous processes. A dramatic breakthrough in science and cinematography, the Peabody® award-winning The Miracle of Life takes you on an incredible voyage through the human body as a new life begins.World-renowned Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson presents a spectacular look at a microscopic world ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Not as good as stated...
I bought this DVD a short while back from Amazon with great expectations. This video was made in the early eighties and it shows it's age. This video was marketed as a great aid for expectant parents. On that premise, I decided to purchase it. The video starts off talking about cells and how life got started on earth a million years ago. I was disappointed to see that the first 30-45 minutes didn't really talk about babies at all, but more the fertilization process. There is a short segment at the end that shows a few different stages in the pregnancy, but not nearly enough. I also bought Life's Greatest Miracle by NOVA at the same time. I was a little disappointed in that one too, but it shows more of what I was expecting to see. Whatever you do, don't buy both as I did...A lot of the stuff is redundant. Hope this helps.

Truly a miracle...
The cinematography of this video is truly breathtaking. A learning process from beginning to end. Everytime I watch this video, I am constantly amazed and how the photographer was able to capture the events of conception. A masterpiece!

Now you will know that the Almighty is truly behind all this
This is no fake thing! That truly was a little capture of the works and art of the great God that we serve. He is a supreme scientist, architect and he is so great. It gets to the point where modern science cannot go further with their bogus explanations. The miracle, is there and it is beyond comments and explanations. Go and see for your self, GOD IS GREAT and we must serve him.

Disgusted
This video was shown in my 9th/10th grade Biology class. It was completely inappropriate for people my age. The view of a male's [reproductive part] inside a women's [reproductive part] was so not necessary. It was not a drawing, but a real picture through a camera. The real live birth uncensored was also inappropriate. THey don't even show that on the discovery channel uncensored. Also the heat image of a [male reproductive part] becoming erect, 14-16 yr olds don't need to see that!

slightly misleading
I bought this video because I wanted to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth after I found out I was pregnant. Based on the video's cover, I expected it to be about humans. The video is so broad and offers only a few minutes of actual footage that I was interested in. I felt like I was in science class and bored for the most part. It is an informative video, but not if you want to know about what is happening with your developing baby. ... Read more

Description

A Grim Political Realism

Exclusive, Uncensored Footage of Atrocities Gives Rare Insight Why America Had ‘Moral Obligation’ to Invade Iraq. After viewing this DVD, Americans will soon have a far better understanding of why it was the United States’ unavoidable obligation to invade Iraq.

Buried in the Sand: The Deception of America takes an unflinching look at the atrocities at Abu Ghurayb prison in Iraq and across this sand-blown country.Never-before-seen footage obtained from American military personnel, Islamic extremists and other sources put a face – the face of someone’s parent, spouse, sibling or child – on the suffering, death and betrayal suffered by an entire society.

Buried in the Sand: The Deception of America is hosted by Mark Taylor, a 25-year radio veteran and nationally known political commentator who has been a frequent guest on such prominent and influential shows as The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes and Politically Incorrect, as well as on MSNBC and CNN news broadcasts. ... Read more

Description

1956 was Elvis Presley's breakthrough year, and this program takes you back, including his early television performances on the Dorsey Brothers Show and the Ed Sullivan Show (where the cameramen were instructed not to shoot the lower half of his body!), and an entire hour of rare footage and performances captures during the amazing year when Elvis Presley become not only a star, but a phenomenon. So slip on your blue suede shoes, and step back to the beginning of an era, with rare early recordings and never-before-seen footage. 61 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

YES, HE STILL HOUNDS US WITH HIS LEGACY
Just when you thought it was safe to finally put away those blue suede shoes, along comes yet another piece of Presley paraphernalia, the time on DVD. Actually, this is a superb collection of rare, early recordings and never-before-seen black-and-white and color footage that proves just why we still love him tender. Narrated by Levon Helm of the band, the DVD time travels back to the year when-rock-and roll was still in its infancy and a young man hip-swiveling Southern boy was about to Make It Big. Even after all these years, the King's infamous appearance on Ed Sullivan's show still hounds us with delight.

Simply the best...
As an American raised in the second half of the 20th Century, I have been steeped in the legend of Elvis throughout my entire life. Prior to seeing "Elvis '56" on TV, I had seen footage of his early performances that I thought demonstrated a degree of brilliance. That being said, I must state, emphatically, that this brilliant film, which encapsulates his meteoric rise to fame, has made me a fan forever of this remarkable American artist. We can all go on to note how, after 1956, Elvis became a "boy in a bubble" and the sad effect that had on his personality and music. But this film is the unadulturated 100% pure Elvis Presley of which the legend is made. It's not just the music - which is incredible - but this fascinating young man himself, that makes this video so rewarding. And, finally, I have seldom seen a film - documentary or fiction - that so vividly rekindles the look and feel of an era. If you lived through 1956, this will take you back. If you didn't, watch this and you'll know what it was like.

This video is amazing
If you like Elvis at all, this video is a must! As the narrator says, we never got this close to him again. It contains all the old tv show appearances, including the amazing "Peace in the Valley" from "The Ed Sullivan Show". I own a copy and have given several as gifts.

If you can see only one Elvis video, this is the one.
Wonderfully narrated by Levon Helm of the Band, this remarkable film documents the one year that made the difference in the life and career of Elvis--and in the culture of the U.S.A. and the world. Robust with period-evoking footage of the King's concerts and TV appearances, with numerous still photos taken offstage, on trains, etc., the film chronicles our man's transition from regional fringe player to breakout superstar the likes of which the world had never known. It's a gem from start to finish. It makes a fine companion piece to Peter Guralnick's biography, Last Train to Memphis. ... Read more

Reviews (113)

So much talent. The spirit of music in the raw!
After all that's been said about the Grammy award winner album by Ry Cooder, I had to watch this superb documentary. They were right, this film deserves, also an award. Reknown musician and singer Ry Cooder sits back as Dream Team coach and lets this long forgotten talents of cuban music tell him naturally their stories, like Ibrahim Ferrer's recording debut at age 72 or Compay Segundo's 90 year old romance intentions. The heartwarming side of this film probably is the chance that this very talented singers and musicians have to fulfill every musician's dream concert: full house attendance at the legendary Carnegie Hall and Amsterdam. They also get to know the Big Apple and display child-like innocence and awe. One of the mayor acheivements of the film is how Wim Wenders blends the cuban studio and city shots with the actual concerts in N.Y. and Amsterdam. This is Not a concert though. All the songs are blended with interviews or Havanna scenaries.The video quality is very good, but don't expect IMAX or so. The sound quality is impecable and there are some extras (a couple of full songs). If you want an experience beyond ethnic music (which is great) but into ethnic discovery (which is grater) buy this gem.

LIVING LEGENDS
Directed by the german director Wim Wenders, THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB has received the 1999 best european documentary award. And please, take my word for granted, this movie deserves it. And more. Forget Martin Scorsese's THE LAST WALTZ and visit THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB !

In 1998, the well-known american guitarist Ry Cooder decides to go to Cuba and to record his new CD with cuban musicians. After a few days in the island, he discovers that a certain number of the musicians who made the Cuban sound of the 1930's and the 1940's are still alive. Hypnotized by these legends like Ibrahim Ferrer and Compay Segundo, he produces the record THE BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB with these old guys and organizes two concerts with them, one in Amsterdam and the other at the Carnegie Hall, in New-York.

These concerts, along with the studio sessions in La Havana, are the spine of the movie. Interviews with the members of this one-and-only record group in their homes, visits of the heart of La Havana are also going to capture your heart. I'm not a specialist of central america music but I was profoundly moved by these old timers who are certainly the fathers of a great part of what we are listening today.

One can also feel the respect of Wim Wenders before these men and women who have preferred to stay, poor and forgotten, in their beloved island, rather than to seek fortune in the U.S.A.

Oh yes ! I forgot. The music and the songs are wonderful. Extras are great, so is the quality of the images and the sound. Attention DVD Empire : it's a widescreen format (1:66). Overall, the DVD deserves the perfect 5.

A DVD for your library.

Quit grousing, it's fun and great music!! Share discographys
I was "introduced" to the Latin music by my Brazilian neighbor, but give Ry Cooder his due folks. Most of these marvelous Cuban musicians would still be only memories of your Grandparents had Cooder and Wender (sp)? not put the recordings and DVD together. Documentary or concert tape? who cares? I loved the music and since I've never been to Havana or Cuba, the video section of Ry and his son putting along on their motorcycle thru the city's streets to the recording studio were wonderful background for me.
Am I going to quit searching for Cuban / Latin music because I "found" Buena Vista Social Club? Hell no... I'm looking for more!! Does Ry Cooder's steel guitar work blend in with the Cuban sounds? Ahhh... Who cares? How much Gerry Garcia / Jimi Hendrix crap did we have to listen to... to get to the meat of their talent?
Give it a rest folks.. Or better yet- share some of the discographys of your favorite Latin players, young and old!!
THAT would be really fun!
But quit whining

The tapestry of life through their music
A previous writer's comment, "The movie needs a story, a thread going all the way through," illustrates a major difference between North American and Hispanic thinking. While those of northern European descent tend to think and talk in a more or less linear fashion, as if following just one thread, Hispanics tend to think and talk as if weaving a tapestry of many threads. This film captures perfectly the tapestry effect in that you are not aware that a story is being told until the final scene at Carnegie Hall, when the impact, and the import, of the entire picture becomes crystal clear. You have to be comfortable with not knowing exactly where you are to handle this kind of exposition. If this is not a story of excellence forgotten and rediscovered, I don't know what it is. These people give me hope; their lives tell so many important stories! If I can create half the beauty in my old age as they do and have done with their music, I'll consider myself successful and fulfilled, indeed.

Musically Solid
The film captures the live peformance of the wonderful musicians that were featured on the CD. From this perspective it is well worth owning. The ability to see Compay Segundo and Eliades ochoa perform Chan Chan live ,for example, is incredible.

The documentary style and the scenes of streetlife in Havana are also very colorful and entertaining,

However I must agree with some of the other reviewers that there is something off about Ry Cooder. I respect him for bringing this wonderful music and these artists the recognition they deserve but his attititude on film does seem strange and his guitar playing does not fit with some of the tunes. At one point he is performing with Rueben Gonzalez , the great Cuban pianist, and he sounds so out of place. In fact Gonzalez looks up from the keyboard with a look on his face that seemed to me to be saying."what are you doing?"

I guess Cooder might have made the choice to let the music of Cuba speak for itself and just be content to film it but he chose instead to feature himself too frequently for my taste.
That aside , this is still a fine documentary and a must for anyone who enjoys latin music. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Arnold Schwarzenegger works the crowds, plots strategies for defeating multiple opponents, shares his parents' values with the press, and inspires legions of admirers with his resolute optimism about the future. And all of this long before he decided to run for governor of California, in 1977's hit documentary, Pumping Iron. Larger than life, though not necessarily larger than his rivals for the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia bodybuilding titles (especially a young Lou Ferrigno, hot on Arnold's competitive trail but much less interesting), Schwarzenegger still comes across, at age 28, as a consummate politician, smart, likable, and crafty about exploiting others' psychological weaknesses. The film still feels redundant (there's only so much beefcake the human eye will tolerate), but the emotional dramas--the unrewarded hard work, the unanswered hopes--are compelling. Complete with a revealing 2003 interview with Schwarzenegger and a reunion of the film's bodybuilders and director. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (115)

Docudrama
The 25th anniversary edition of Pumping Iron is loaded with special features and behind the scenes footage of the making of the self-titled "docudrama." All the bodybuilders and filmmakers are interviewed, looking back 25 years ago to what really happened. It's amazing to see that a good portion of the film was actually complete fabrication. Nobody ever hid Katz's t-shirt, for example - the scene with Waller saying he was going to hide it actually was shot well after the competition where he lost it. Ferrigno's father wasn't actually involved in his training - they asked him to fake that so they could paint Lou's character differently. These are just a couple of the secrets that are revealed on the DVD. If you are a fan of the film, you need to get this to see how much true info was left out.

If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it, even if you have no interest in bodybuilding. It's a fascinating look into the world of bodybuilders from a safe distance. This is also the dawn of the golden age of the sport, when it was really just getting started in Venice Beach.

This edition of the DVD exposes some remarkable secrets about the original, as well as all the info you could ever want about Arnold. Very entertaining.

A Slice of History from the Golden Age of Bodybuilding
Pumping Iron essentially follows four bodybuilders, two professional (Arnold Schwarzenegger & Lou Ferigno) and two amatuers (Mike Katz & Ken Waller)as they train and compete for their sport's top prize, Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe, respectively. The setting is 1975 and the contests take place in Pretoria, South Africa.

There are also several vignettes describing the backgrounds of the competitors listed above as well as Franco Columbo. In addition to the background of the main competitors, we get to see a side of them that is unknown to the audience (at that time) - such as Arnold's use of psychology against opponents and his unsatisfied thirst for victory.

Visually, the training at Gold's Gym in Venice,CA and the posedown at the contests, are stunning. I would have liked to see more training and contest footage (I'm sure it exists) but perhaps they are saving it for a DVD edition (if it ever gets made).

Overall, this is an excellent video tape to own. If you are a bodybuilding fan, this will undoubtedly provide you with motivation and insight. If you are not a fan, this may be what makes you one.

Greatest!
Best documentary EVER. Arnold mentions in the extras they called it a "docudrama" rather than a documentary, but it is--even if some if fictionalized. It's great, captures the essence of the sport and the drive to be the best. And Arnold's attitude brings along great humor!

good movie
this movie wasnt that bad,if your into weight lifting,bodybuilding.this is the movie for you.There are all the classic lifters,lou,franco,aronld,and more.I recommend it as a buy it movie , more then a rent it.

Motivation
A lot of other people who reviewed this movie wrote about the "psychological" aspect of it and how Arnold was able to psych out Lou Ferrigno to win the 1975 Mr. Olympia title. The fact is that most of what happens in the movie is acting, except for the training scenes and the actual contest outcome. This is what I want to focus my review on. Arnold retired from the sport of bodybuilding before I was born, so like many people my age the only way we could see Arnold training was through black and white photos in his Bodybuilding Encyclopedia book. However, this DVD brings those pictures to life and now you can see Arnold training "in motion" for the first time (although it is less than 10 minutes of the movie). Two scenes in particular that really give you an idea of how hard he used to train is when he does T Bar Rows and Squats. Its unbelievable, the guy was a machine. I have watched this movie so many times before I went to the gym and it is a great way to get motivated. And as good as the movie is the extras are even better. The interview with Arnold is very interesting and so are the behind the scenes footage. The movie itself is very well done, Arnold has some hilarious quotes but the best thing about it are the training scenes. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The most phenomenal recording in rock & roll history is thoroughly examined in Pink Floyd: The Dark Side of the Moon. The Floyd's 1973 masterpiece remained on bestseller charts for nearly 14 years, and its enduring importance is honored here by all four members of Pink Floyd and key personnel (engineer Alan Parsons, mixing supervisor Chris Thomas, sleeve designer Storm Thorgerson, and others) who played essential roles in the landmark album's creation. Produced for the Classic Albums series that originally aired on VH-1, this thorough and thought-provoking study highlights a track-by-track dissection of the LP's master tapes (including the spoken-word passages that bookend the album), superbly interlaced with archival footage, early demo tapes, concert animations, and latter-day acoustic performances by David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright to demonstrate each track's contribution to the final mix--a sonic exploration that extends to the illuminating bonus features. Informative interviews abound (including Rolling Stone senior editor David Fricke), and much-deserved credit is given to saxophonist Dick Parry, solo vocalist Clare Torry, and former Capitol Records chairman Bhaskar Menon, who fostered the album's U.S. commercial success. For Floyd fans, musicians, and studio technicians alike, this is a must-have addition to any DVD library. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (62)

A must have for Floyd fans (especially Dark Side fans)
When I heard this was coming out on DVD, I knew I would be purchasing this. Dark Side of the Moon is one of my 3 favorite albums of all time.

That being said, the DVD (for the most part) does not disappoint. It is essentially an hour-long documentary with some extra features adding another 20 minutes or so. It has all 4 original members talking about how the songs were recorded and written. It also includes the original engineers, a few journalists, and Strom Thurgeson who designed the unforgettable artwork on the album.

What stood out to me was listening to Roger Waters talk about his thoughts on the songs and life in general. He had some very inspiring comments. Also, it was fun to see David Gilmour perform an acoustic version of Breathe and show off some other guitar parts. Waters even performs a little acoustic bit of Money and Brain Damage. These performances alone are worth having this DVD.

As a long-time Floyd fan, my only gripe is that it wasn't longer. Pink Floyd interviews are pretty rare... I would have liked to hear even more, although there is plenty of great stuff on here.

And if you haven't heard Dark Side of the Moon before, you need to do that immediately. Your life will never be the same!

A great look back at a masterpiece
Being that Dark Side Of The Moon is my favorite album of all time, I was very excited to hear about the release of this DVD. I absolutely love it. This DVD tells the story of Dark Side of The Moon from it's creation, to it's aftermath with live performances, acoustic performances, early demos, music videos, rehearsal tapes, individual tracks from Alan Parsons mixing board(very cool), and in depth interviews with band members. My only complaint is that they did not even mention one of my favorite instrumental tracks from the album entitled "Any Colour You Like". Why it was forgotten in the DVD baffles me.

The sound mix is not in 5.1, but it's one of the best stereo mixes i've ever heard. Hearing Roger Waters explain what the song "Time" is about then hearing David Gilmores' amazing guitar solo was worth the money alone. Thank you Pink Floyd for releasing this DVD and making an album that changed my life! Don't hesitate, buy it now!

The workings of the Floyd and more...
This is one of the best "Classic Albums" series on video. I think for people just discovering the band and picking up the SACD CD, it's a nice way to see how they made the album and what it took (lots of teamwork behind the console as well as in the studio). The video has the original made for TV part, but the best parts are in the extras, which are about as long.

It's unfortunate that the band never filmed the "Dark Side" tour, and resorted to using a "Set the Controls" promo from the same time period, even though there is 8MM footage out there. Thankfully, some of the "Live at Pompeii" film showed the making of at the time, which they used to great effect, and then showed them in the present day. It's too bad PF neglected to film any of their shows from DSOTM to Animals... there's probably some "lost" footage floating around somewhere that they never knew about. But a lot of the "video" footage they used for the screen during the shows is also shown throughout the show, hopefully one day can be used as part of a video collection (supposedly, Nick Mason is putting one together).

It's too bad they weren't willing to be in the same room with each other during the filming of the show though. A lot of it is really interesting to see Roger, Rick, and Dave break down their songs. But I did think that Dave's voice is starting to show wear, which may be why he is reluctant to do a full Floyd tour and is doing the acoustic shows. Hopefully they can do one show together for posterity at least, covering all eras.

Overall, I don't know if this is something that will be played on the DVD player that often, but it's definitely worth watching at least once.

Superb document on a classic album
Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon had a well deserved 30th anniversary. First was the SACD issue and then came this DVD documentary which looks at how the album was made. All four members of the band's classic lineup Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and Richard Wright are featured in new and exclusive interviews. Roger, David and Richard play songs and demonstrate themes from the album. Rick demonstrated on Breathe how he came up with that weird chord to go to E minor after hearing Miles Davis. David's hilarious demonstration of the On the Run synth loop and Roger's funny country twang version of Money. Original engineer Alan Parsons sifts through the original multi-track tapes isolating some parts of songs. Also, rare concert footage from 1972 and pictures and interviews with Chris Thomas(mixer), David Fricke(Rolling Stone and life long Floyd fan), Storm Thorgerson and many others flesh out this great docunentary. There are also extra features with more demonstrations from Dave on guitar parts, unplugged versions of Brain Damage and Breathe and more interviews. I got this DVD the day it came out and had to buy another as my first copy cracked after awhile. Highly recommended!

This is NOT a concert DVD - Thank God!
This DVD is a selection from the "Classic Albums" series which originally viewed on VH1. As the title of my review indicates, this is NOT a concert or a re-release of the album. Rather, it is an in-depth look at how the album was created. The documentary doesn't use a narrator, but rather incorporates several voices to tell a story, including contributions from all four members of the group, the engineer (Alan Parsons), the mixer (Chris Thomas), the cover/liner design man (Storm Thorgenson), the record company head who pushed and prodded the toads at Capitol Records to get behind the album (Baskar Menon) and several journalists -including David Fricke from Rolling Stone. All of them have "things to say" about the nuts and bolts of record producing, the marriage of art and commerce, and the place of this album in the pantheon of modern popular music (one british journaist calls it "among the most important artistic and musical statements of the last 50 years").
The nearly hour-long "main" presentation is fairly linear, starting with background info from the time that Syd Barrett lost his mind to the formation of the main themes and music for the album before they ever started recording it, to a breakdown of nearly every song in order (with the lone exception of "Any Colour You Like"). Of special note: One gets to see Richard Wright play several pieces of his finest compositions ("Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them") explaining how he came to write them and under what circumstances (his mention of "the jazz" and Miles Davis were fabulous); David Gilmour demonstrates the Synth V.A. - the first sequencer used for "On the Run" and he plays parts of his guitar solos on "Time" and "Money." Nick Mason offers some nice (but too brief) insights into the psychology of the band, and Roger Waters talks a bit about his the impetus behind his lyrics and demonstrates the original bluesy demo of "Money."
The bonus material has some great stuff on it as well - in fact some of it far outstrips the aired material - including : David Gilmour's outstanding acoustic version of "Breathe" and Waters soulful acoustic version of "Brain Damage."
The bonus section also gives a great deal of time to Roger Waters' explanation of how his politics and his life experiences shaped his lyrics and music.

On the whole this is an outstanding piece of film-making, highlighting an important piece of music history. If you are a fan of Pink Floyd this is an indispensible DVD. If you are curious about how great art is created, this is an inexpensive way to find out. ... Read more