Reviews (2)

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

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

Reviews (2)

A Life Affirming Film on the Personal Practice of Art
Filmmaker Elliot Caplan followed artists John Cage and Merce Cunningham around the world, during the years between 1983 and 1991, documenting moments of relaxation, composition, rehearsal, and performance. He also sought out and then interviewed related visual artists: Robert Rauchenberg, Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, Nam June Paik - composers: David Tudor, Alvin Lucier, La Monte Young, Virgil Thompson, dancers: Carolyn Brown, Viola Farber and Rudolf Nureyev.

All of the material mentioned above, plus archival film footage dating back to 1944, was edited into a work featuring Mr. Caplan's slowly paced and considered view of his subjects living in the present moment. Choreographic sequences are allowed sufficient time on the screen, which permits the dance to speak directly to each viewer.

As one becomes immersed in the experience of "Cage/Cunningham", it may become apparent that creativity, as a way of life, functions as a deeply unifying focus of personal aim for those involved with this intimate film.

Mr. Cunningham relates: "Even after all these years, dance remains an unknown for me. It is still full of possibility. I am grateful for that". Cage goes on: "The professional musicians in Los Angeles don't consider my work to be music, but the dancers have no problem with understanding it. They consider my sounds to be useful".

For those new to the work of these two innovative artists, "Cage/Cunningham" will serve as a wonderful introduction. To those already familiar with their experimental output over the years, there is enough unique material in the film to engage with some quality viewing time. "Cage/Cunningham" is an important film on two revolutionary figures in the world of contemporary art. Don't miss it!

A wonderful film about two of America's important artists.
This review comes a little late but...better late than never. It is a marvellous film, VERY John Cage and Merce Cunningham whose collaboration led to some inspirational work among the American avant garde. It covers most of their collaborative lives and introduces some superb archival footage. We see John Cage of his "Lectures on Indeterminacy in Modern Music" days and many extracts from Merce Cunningham's productions going way back.

The film suffers a little from being on VHS but picture quality and sound are good. I would sooner have this film like it is than not at all.

I should say that the film may not appeal to those averse to the avant garde and the compositional techniques of these masters, but for the fans of this genre, it's a must. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Merce Cunningham's revolutionary take on modern dance is brilliantlyexplained in A Lifetime of Dance, which places interviews with themaster, and footage of his work, front and center. It's also one bigbreathtaking performance piece, with endless film of his many abstract works, intercut with thoughtful comments by early members of Cunningham's dancecompany (founded in 1953), and dance critics and historians. John Cage, whose percussive compositions became a hallmark of the Cunningham style, is fondly recollected by troupe members and Cunningham ("John Cage was just a plainbright soul"). It's tremendously educational, whether presenting historical footage, offering remarks by Cunningham about his obsession withmovement, or bringing his work into the '90s, when he was once again consideredradical for incorporating computer technology into choreography. Above all, it'senchanting, and simply fun, to view the dozens of clips of Cunningham andhis company, always humorously at work. --Valerie J. Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (5)

American Masters Presents Merce Cunningham
This 90-minute film by Charles Atlas[ who also directed "Hail the New Puritan" (1986), "Put Blood in the Music" (1989) and "Son of Sam and Delilah" (1991) ] was created as a co-production of seventeen international television stations. It was conceived for the 16:9 aspect ratio format, but will appear in 'letterbox' on a standard 4:3 ratio television screen.

"A Lifetime of Dance" functions as an artistic biography of this now legendary choreographer. The first fifty minutes of the film detail Mr. Cunningham's life from his birth in Centralia, Washington in 1919 to the early 1950's and the founding of the Cunningham Dance Company, after a summer of experimentation at Black Mountain College.

Archival film and video footage provides documentation of approximately forty-five different dance works. The footage is shown in edit lengths of between 5 and 20 seconds duration. These excerpts are then intercut with the comments of friends, family members, dancers, composers, art critics and also of Merce himself, who provides anecdotes at each stage within the chronology of the biography.

The audio that accompanies these dance works, as an atmosphere or perhaps as a weather event enveloping the performances, was created by at least seventeen different avant-garde composers. These include founding Cunningham Dance Company member and musician John Cage, electronics guru David Tudor, the minimalist LaMonte Young and downtown NYC performance artist Meredith Monk.

In the film, we find that Mr. Cunningham draws his inspiration from movements of any kind, including those of animals, birds and the ordinary movements of people involved in a range of typical activities. He feels that dancers live not just to do these movements, but to 'exist' in performance and to come to realize their own unique identity through the act of dance.

The film closes with an extended discussion of the work "Biped"(1999), which describes the incorporation of three dimensional computer graphics into the context of a live electronic music and dance event.

This DVD does not contain any 'bonus' features, but it remains a wonderful media resource for fans of contemporary art.

dance teachers need this!
i am a dance teacher who works with students at many different levels, and this video can be helpful for all sorts of classes... this is a great historical resource, and it does a good job of sampling cunningham's work. it also explains his significance to dance history and development. be warned that there is more talk and commentary than performance, so if you want choreography you may be disappointed. i recommend this dvd to dancers, dance teachers, dance historians, dance critics (who often know very little about the work upon which they are thrusting their commentary), and anyone else interested in modern dance history, collaborative processes, and avant garde music.

Excellent Overall Review of Cunningham's Life and Work
An Excellent resource for the dance teacher at any level. Of specific importance is old film and video footage translated to the DVD medium. Very Broad overview of his work and company-an excellent starting place to present his work and contributions to the field of dance and collaborative arts.

Absolutely Fabulous!
After having seen points in space a few months ago I was absolutely itching to find more on Cunningham. The DVD is quite wonderful with enough excerpts from many of Merce's dances. It it nicely edited and makes sense time-wise. There is adequate time with collaborators, friends, dancers and Merce himself. For the lovers of the avant-garde and for lovers of dance this is truly one DVD to own and watch over and over again. It flows beautifully. I wish that there was a section where one could watch full segments for various pieces even if I had to pay more money for the DVD.

And about time too!
It has always amazed me how little attention Merce Cunningham receives in film and home media - this and a couple of VHS tapes is all we have - a crime in my view. All right - if you're expecting Swan Lake or Coppelia, or balk at 'tunes' you can't whistle, then Merce Cunningham may take some work.

But no amount of avant garde can disguise the sheer beauty of his choreography - in fact, beauty is a poor attempt to describe something for which there are no words. It has a sensuality and immediacy missing from classical ballet while being every bit as graceful; and possibly more demanding in that a degree of improvisation is often required of the dancers. Desperately trying to avoid clichés, if ever anyone has realised the human form and movement as art, here he is.

This biopic is laden with excerpts from the past fifty years (including the famous one based on a jumper with 5 sleeves and no neck opening!) and it is a fabulous introduction to this intriguing and warm-hearted character and those around him.

All in all a gorgeous disc. Is there a downside? Yes - it lasts only 90 minutes and I could happily watch excerpts twice the length. And may I add a plea to the producers - to make more of Merce Cunningham's work available on DVD. It is a vital part of American, perhaps WESTERN culture - and thoroughly enjoyable. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jasper Johns made history when his painting "White Flag" sold for $7 million in 1988. The next day he broke his own record when a second painting sold for $17 million. But this 56-minute 1989 PBS documentary makes it clear that Johns's work is not about commerce; it's about the expression of his brand of intellectualism. A series of art critics (including one who despises Johns's brand of pop art), curators, and good friends (choreographer Merce Cunningham and composer John Cage) mull over the beginnings of his career and his place in the art world. Johns himself speaks at length about his influences and his method against the backdrop of footage showing him at work in various media: etching, lithography, and painting. Little personal information is included; a cousin reminisces briefly about their shared childhood during a quick trip to his South Carolina hometown. The most personal touch is when his buddy Cage reads some of his writings about art as if they were poetry. And some could no doubt argue that they are. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Disappointing Expose On A 20th Century American Artist
"Jasper Johns, Ideas In Paint" is a poorly executed documentary.It's not entirely clear what the premise is about even though the title would lead you to believe it's about his art process and all that goes with that.Johns was one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century; along with artist like Robert Rauschenberg, Johns made art that was irreverent to the abstract expressionist and iconoclastic to the two dimensional painting/three dimensional sculpture way of thinking.
What this documentary tends to focus on too much of is his relationships with other "famous artists" and contemplating the prices of his art (one piece sold for $17 million at auction).It seems like the makers of this documentary weren't too sure themselves if Johns is a great artist or if his art is simply a phenomena of commerce.
Throughout the interviews the debate on his skills and popularity always seems to come up; when those questions aren't coming up it becomes clear that the people that do admire his work in this video seem to be living in their own bubble of pretensions and are not really tapped into reality.Johns himself doesn't seem to be all that comfortable in front of the camera and the things he say are quite cold and uninspired.They do use footage from an excellent documentary called "Painter's Painting" (which I very highly recommend) where Johns is much more relaxed and seems to be more clear on what he has to say; but that doesn't save this video from being two steps away from completely dismissible.
This documentary does three things that I think are inexcusable; it does a poor job at focusing on his career and shifts he made as an artist; it focus's on the commerce of his art (which explains/justifies nothing about the artist); and it only taps the surface of what the documentary is supposedly about- Ideas in Paint!!
It's unfortunate that a better video could not have been made about this artist.He has made some very fascinating works that deserve consideration and not debate.There are moments of interesting insight but not worth paying $24.00, I recommend a pass on this one.This video could have been called "Jasper Johns: $17 Million Says A Lot!" ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Recorded Legacy of the Experimental Tradition
The boxed set: 'Four American Composers' helps show us several of the abundantly creative personalities who have worked, or are working, in this country.

These films were created in the early 1980's, so in a sense, they may now be considered an exercise in musical nostalgia. Artistic life, and the lives of the artists, have moved forward: relentlessly maturing.

But, in some sense, a true work of art can be timeless, and speak to us regardless of the current climate.

Mr. Cage has passed away in the early 1990's, so we have only his recorded legacy, should we wish to experience his bright spark, humor and good taste.

Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Robert Ashley all are currently working, in some sense, in the artistic Kitchen of the experimental tradition.

Those tuned in to this tradition will find that these works, from a unique historical period, have not lost their whimsical and spiritually dedicated appeal, even today.

P. Glass shares his best with the best
Not only he translates the nature of sounds but the sounds of nature. While performing, Glass makes you understand a melody behind sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Recorded Legacy of the Experimental Tradition
The boxed set: 'Four American Composers' helps show us several of the abundantly creative personalities who have worked, or are working, in this country.

These films were created in the early 1980's, so in a sense, they may now be considered an exercise in musical nostalgia. Artistic life, and the lives of the artists, have moved forward: relentlessly maturing.

But, in some sense, a true work of art can be timeless, and speak to us regardless of the current climate.

Mr. Cage has passed away in the early 1990's, so we have only his recorded legacy, should we wish to experience his bright spark, humor and good taste.

Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Robert Ashley all are currently working, in some sense, in the artistic Kitchen of the experimental tradition.

Those tuned in to this tradition will find that these works, from a unique historical period, have not lost their whimsical and spiritually dedicated appeal, even today.

P. Glass shares his best with the best
Not only he translates the nature of sounds but the sounds of nature. While performing, Glass makes you understand a melody behind sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Recorded Legacy of the Experimental Tradition
The boxed set: 'Four American Composers' helps show us several of the abundantly creative personalities who have worked, or are working, in this country.

These films were created in the early 1980's, so in a sense, they may now be considered an exercise in musical nostalgia. Artistic life, and the lives of the artists, have moved forward: relentlessly maturing.

But, in some sense, a true work of art can be timeless, and speak to us regardless of the current climate.

Mr. Cage has passed away in the early 1990's, so we have only his recorded legacy, should we wish to experience his bright spark, humor and good taste.

Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Robert Ashley all are currently working, in some sense, in the artistic Kitchen of the experimental tradition.

Those tuned in to this tradition will find that these works, from a unique historical period, have not lost their whimsical and spiritually dedicated appeal, even today.

P. Glass shares his best with the best
Not only he translates the nature of sounds but the sounds of nature. While performing, Glass makes you understand a melody behind sounds. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Recorded Legacy of the Experimental Tradition
The boxed set: 'Four American Composers' helps show us several of the abundantly creative personalities who have worked, or are working, in this country.

These films were created in the early 1980's, so in a sense, they may now be considered an exercise in musical nostalgia. Artistic life, and the lives of the artists, have moved forward: relentlessly maturing.

But, in some sense, a true work of art can be timeless, and speak to us regardless of the current climate.

Mr. Cage has passed away in the early 1990's, so we have only his recorded legacy, should we wish to experience his bright spark, humor and good taste.

Philip Glass, Meredith Monk and Robert Ashley all are currently working, in some sense, in the artistic Kitchen of the experimental tradition.

Those tuned in to this tradition will find that these works, from a unique historical period, have not lost their whimsical and spiritually dedicated appeal, even today.

P. Glass shares his best with the best
Not only he translates the nature of sounds but the sounds of nature. While performing, Glass makes you understand a melody behind sounds. ... Read more