Reviews (67)

Spectacular account of the event that deffined the era
No words can describe how wonderfully this film has captured the moment in the event which defined the Hippie Movement, which amazed the world by truley and fully living up to its catch phrase: "Three days of peace, love, and music", and which made those who did not attend wonder what they were thinking.
The music, first and foremost, is truley wonderful. Spectacular performances by CSN, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After, Richie Havens and so many more. I most especially enjoy watching Joe Cocker's rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends". His voice and the energy which radiates from him as he performs is truley mesmerizing. And of course who could forget Jimi Hendrix famous performance where he tore up his guitar with his captivating version of the National Anthem. I also love Country Joe's performance of "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag". A wonderful performance, it truley captivates the peace and love of the event as, toward the end of the song he encourages the audience to stand and sing to end the war...and the majority of the 500,000 or so audience members stand and sing along.
But it's not just the music that make's this film wonderful. The film show's the organization of the event, the building of the stage etc... We meet the people who made the event possible. And when the people begin to enter the site without paying for tickets....and the producers realize how much money they've lost...they shrug it off and say that they don't mind because the event and the people loving eachother and sharing everything is such a beautiful thing...and that the money doesn't matter. Do producers of rock concerts (or producers of anything for that matter) ever say that money doesn't matter these days? It truley shows what a wonderful generation it was. The audience is beautiful as well, everyone being themselves, everyone having a good time and sharing the experience that was the last bang (and what a bang it was) for the Hippie Movement.

3 Days at Yasgur's Farm
The Woodstock Festival was a defining for the counterculture movement. The young hippies showed a nation that they could exist together in a peaceful, communal state. The Woodstock documentary captures the essence of those three days on a farm in upstate New York. We see hippies skinny-dipping, the locals looking around in amazement on the deluge of people who descending on their quiet, little town, kids, cops and others are interviewed and of course we see the music. From Richie Havens' opening things up with "Freedom" to Jimi Hendrix's defining "Star Spangled Banner", we are treated to a 60's rock who's who. Joe Cocker, Santana, CSN&Y, John Sebastian and Sly & The Family Stone particularly standout and we get bonus material not in the original release from The Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and others. Director Michael Wadleigh's film won a deserving Best Documentary Oscar and a young Martin Scorcese was an editor on the film. Some of the acts are woefully dated and long forgotten, but Woodstock is an impressive snapshot of a memorable moment in our history.

A Document of a Feeling
It's inevitable that arguments will take place, as they do in these reviews, about what the meaning of Woodstock really is -- many have evoked peace and anti-vietnam sentiments and a great social movement, while others take a more mocking tone and dismiss it as a kind of upper middle class fantasy camp, a sewing of the oats before beginning corporate life.

Not having been alive in the 60s, I only know what I've read and been told by those older than myself, but I'd guess that the first assessment is a bit idealistic, while the second is unfair, and that the truth is "somewhere in between," to fall back on the cliche.

What the film does successfully document, I gather, is what it felt like to be young and hippie and excited about music and social protest and all the things Woodstock at least appeared, at the time, to represent. The feeling is what's embodied in the filmic techniques, the scenes chosen, and the performances themselves, and this makes Woodstock a successful documentary.

The 60s were many things, and no film could capture all of them. Actually, in spite of the fact that it allows itself to get very much caught up in the excitement, I think the film has its moments of ironic distance and sobering reality, such as the port-a-san scene (particularly the extended shot of the average joe cleaning the things).

For a good counterpoint, I recommend the Isle of Wight festival film, which captures the darker, more selfish side of the hippie generation.

Beautiful and dirty
Although I was a teenager soon after this concert, I somehow never got around to seeing the moving until this year. (I guess concert films don't get screened frequently on terrestrial TV.) So over the years I've become more familiar with the triple LP of the movie and, of course, the many posters the rock stars in heroic poses that dominated the early 1970s -- i.e. the Who's Roger Daltrey, Jimi Hendrix and Ten Years After's Alvin Lee.

Despite the mud and the squalor, this is an extraordinarily beautiful film, with the screen often breaking up into two or three segments. (Note on the closing credits the name of Martin Scorsese on the production team.)

It's well worth contrasting this movie with the DVD of the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. Only a year separates the two concerts, but the late 1960s idealism of Woodstock gets replaced by prototype British vandalism. The Who perform at both concerts, and make an equally good account of themselves. Daltrey's emotional delivery of 'See Me, Feel Me' helps to explain why 'Tommy' became such a phenomenon in America. Hendrix also performed at both, but his meandering solo at Woodstock was not of the highest standard.

The other highlight of the show was Santana, a Latino band only just beginning to establish themselves in California at the time. As others have noted, the drum solo by Mike Shrieve is impressive for one so young. As with the Who, Santana's album sales will have multiplied as a result of their Woodstock performance.

It's interesting how many great acts weren't at Woodstock -- e.g. Joni Mitchell (despite her song about the concert!), the Doors, Bob Dylan or the Stones. The first two clearly realised how important these festivals were in the breaking of artists into markets, and so they appear on the Isle of Wight DVD.

For most of my life, Woodstock has been a set of static images, largely taken from the cover of the album. But as this film reveals, there is so much more imagery than pictures of beautiful women bathing in the lake. Quite apart from all the idealism of passing whisky bottles and reefers around, of sliding in the mud, the film shows the flip side: of people queuing in the mud to phone home, of helicopters rescuing the sick, of helpers cleaning toilets, and of barefoot stragglers looking for a pair of shoes amid a post-concert site that looks more of a wasteland than the trenches of the First World War.

Enjoy it in all its glory and all its grime.

Woodstock
Woodstock was a great documentary. It had everything from split screen to wonderful music. The sound was great. So many bands in only 3days. It was a time where skinny diping and doing Pot and acid was ok and understandable. Police were not filling the jails with people who did drugs and broke laws. They were letting them be free and discover peace. Woodstock is something that will go down in history as a time of love and peace and understanding. In the end it was more then just the music it was the love and the way freedom brought it. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Spectacular account of the event that deffined the era
No words can describe how wonderfully this film has captured the moment in the event which defined the Hippie Movement, which amazed the world by truley and fully living up to its catch phrase: "Three days of peace, love, and music", and which made those who did not attend wonder what they were thinking.
The music, first and foremost, is truley wonderful. Spectacular performances by CSN, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Ten Years After, Richie Havens and so many more. I most especially enjoy watching Joe Cocker's rendition of "With A Little Help From My Friends". His voice and the energy which radiates from him as he performs is truley mesmerizing. And of course who could forget Jimi Hendrix famous performance where he tore up his guitar with his captivating version of the National Anthem. I also love Country Joe's performance of "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag". A wonderful performance, it truley captivates the peace and love of the event as, toward the end of the song he encourages the audience to stand and sing to end the war...and the majority of the 500,000 or so audience members stand and sing along.
But it's not just the music that make's this film wonderful. The film show's the organization of the event, the building of the stage etc... We meet the people who made the event possible. And when the people begin to enter the site without paying for tickets....and the producers realize how much money they've lost...they shrug it off and say that they don't mind because the event and the people loving eachother and sharing everything is such a beautiful thing...and that the money doesn't matter. Do producers of rock concerts (or producers of anything for that matter) ever say that money doesn't matter these days? It truley shows what a wonderful generation it was. The audience is beautiful as well, everyone being themselves, everyone having a good time and sharing the experience that was the last bang (and what a bang it was) for the Hippie Movement.

3 Days at Yasgur's Farm
The Woodstock Festival was a defining for the counterculture movement. The young hippies showed a nation that they could exist together in a peaceful, communal state. The Woodstock documentary captures the essence of those three days on a farm in upstate New York. We see hippies skinny-dipping, the locals looking around in amazement on the deluge of people who descending on their quiet, little town, kids, cops and others are interviewed and of course we see the music. From Richie Havens' opening things up with "Freedom" to Jimi Hendrix's defining "Star Spangled Banner", we are treated to a 60's rock who's who. Joe Cocker, Santana, CSN&Y, John Sebastian and Sly & The Family Stone particularly standout and we get bonus material not in the original release from The Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and others. Director Michael Wadleigh's film won a deserving Best Documentary Oscar and a young Martin Scorcese was an editor on the film. Some of the acts are woefully dated and long forgotten, but Woodstock is an impressive snapshot of a memorable moment in our history.

A Document of a Feeling
It's inevitable that arguments will take place, as they do in these reviews, about what the meaning of Woodstock really is -- many have evoked peace and anti-vietnam sentiments and a great social movement, while others take a more mocking tone and dismiss it as a kind of upper middle class fantasy camp, a sewing of the oats before beginning corporate life.

Not having been alive in the 60s, I only know what I've read and been told by those older than myself, but I'd guess that the first assessment is a bit idealistic, while the second is unfair, and that the truth is "somewhere in between," to fall back on the cliche.

What the film does successfully document, I gather, is what it felt like to be young and hippie and excited about music and social protest and all the things Woodstock at least appeared, at the time, to represent. The feeling is what's embodied in the filmic techniques, the scenes chosen, and the performances themselves, and this makes Woodstock a successful documentary.

The 60s were many things, and no film could capture all of them. Actually, in spite of the fact that it allows itself to get very much caught up in the excitement, I think the film has its moments of ironic distance and sobering reality, such as the port-a-san scene (particularly the extended shot of the average joe cleaning the things).

For a good counterpoint, I recommend the Isle of Wight festival film, which captures the darker, more selfish side of the hippie generation.

Beautiful and dirty
Although I was a teenager soon after this concert, I somehow never got around to seeing the moving until this year. (I guess concert films don't get screened frequently on terrestrial TV.) So over the years I've become more familiar with the triple LP of the movie and, of course, the many posters the rock stars in heroic poses that dominated the early 1970s -- i.e. the Who's Roger Daltrey, Jimi Hendrix and Ten Years After's Alvin Lee.

Despite the mud and the squalor, this is an extraordinarily beautiful film, with the screen often breaking up into two or three segments. (Note on the closing credits the name of Martin Scorsese on the production team.)

It's well worth contrasting this movie with the DVD of the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. Only a year separates the two concerts, but the late 1960s idealism of Woodstock gets replaced by prototype British vandalism. The Who perform at both concerts, and make an equally good account of themselves. Daltrey's emotional delivery of 'See Me, Feel Me' helps to explain why 'Tommy' became such a phenomenon in America. Hendrix also performed at both, but his meandering solo at Woodstock was not of the highest standard.

The other highlight of the show was Santana, a Latino band only just beginning to establish themselves in California at the time. As others have noted, the drum solo by Mike Shrieve is impressive for one so young. As with the Who, Santana's album sales will have multiplied as a result of their Woodstock performance.

It's interesting how many great acts weren't at Woodstock -- e.g. Joni Mitchell (despite her song about the concert!), the Doors, Bob Dylan or the Stones. The first two clearly realised how important these festivals were in the breaking of artists into markets, and so they appear on the Isle of Wight DVD.

For most of my life, Woodstock has been a set of static images, largely taken from the cover of the album. But as this film reveals, there is so much more imagery than pictures of beautiful women bathing in the lake. Quite apart from all the idealism of passing whisky bottles and reefers around, of sliding in the mud, the film shows the flip side: of people queuing in the mud to phone home, of helicopters rescuing the sick, of helpers cleaning toilets, and of barefoot stragglers looking for a pair of shoes amid a post-concert site that looks more of a wasteland than the trenches of the First World War.

Enjoy it in all its glory and all its grime.

Woodstock
Woodstock was a great documentary. It had everything from split screen to wonderful music. The sound was great. So many bands in only 3days. It was a time where skinny diping and doing Pot and acid was ok and understandable. Police were not filling the jails with people who did drugs and broke laws. They were letting them be free and discover peace. Woodstock is something that will go down in history as a time of love and peace and understanding. In the end it was more then just the music it was the love and the way freedom brought it. ... Read more

Description

A live performance of a modern classic in a concert setting. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

A MUST HAVE FOR WIZARD OF OZ FANS
My daughter & I saw "Wizard Of Oz" In Concert on PBS twice. I carefully watched the credits to see where I could find it to add to our collection, but had no luck in finding it. We loved Joel Grey, Natalie Cole, and Debra Winger brought a new look to the Wicked Witch. Nathan Lane was marvelous as the Cowardly Lion, and Roger Daltry has just enough shyness to be a truly effective Tin Man. We managed to find the soundtrack over a year ago, and now, thanks to Amazon.com, a two year search has come to fruition. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Mesmerizes our 4 year old daughter and her parents!
Jewel, Roger Daltry, Jackson Browne, Nathan Lane - what inspired casting! My daughter has watched this at least 12 times since we received the video. There's a matching CD soundtrack - a must for any Oz fan. Nathan Lane gives Bert Lahr a run for his money, and Roger Daltry puts heart into the tin woodman. Add Lucy Arnez as Auntie Em, Joel Grey as the Wizard, Natalie Cole as Glinda, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, and the Harlem Boy's Choir as the Munchkins. The concept is very similar to this year's "Merry Christmas, George Bailey" on PBS. The behind-the-scenes sequences sprinkled throughout the video convey the enthusiasm the performers brought to the project. I highly recommend this video to any OZ fan, of any age.

I love this movie!
I first saw this movie on TNT, and I loved it. The costumes were excellent! Jewel's acting will blow you away! She was perfect as Dorothy. Jackson Browne as the Scarecrow, Natalie Cole as Glinda the Good Witch, Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch, and Roger Daltrey as the Tin Man were excellent too. And Nathan Lane was HILARIOUS as the Cowardly Lion! I watch this movie everyday. This is a MUST SEE for Oz fans. In my opinion, I think "The Wizard of Oz in Concert" is better than the original 1939 movie. :)

The Wizard of Oz in Concert (St. Louis Light Opera)
As we used to say while growing up in the sixties, when heaping the ultimate praise on a performance, this wonderful interpretation of The Wizard of Oz was quite simply groovy, boss, beta, bitchin, out of sight.

From the outstanding singing provided by the Harlem Boys Choir, to Jewell's breathtaking rendition of "Over the Rainbow," to Roger Daltrey's swinging the mike in a wide circle and catching it, before starting his rock version of "If I Only Had A Heart," to Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion entering the stage while spitting up a fur ball, as well as the remarkable jobs done by all the other actors and musicians, this exceptionally brilliant show was simply a tremendous joy to watch.

The only thing that disappoints me about this show is the fact it is not available on DVD.

I am a musical theatre junkie. I rate this performance among the top three of all the shows that I have ever seen, which pretty much includes any musical ever performed on the stage or on film.

A Little-Known Gem of a Production
I first saw this concert version of the Wizard of Oz when it first was airing and was positively thrilled.
Every performance was spot on -
Joel Grey did the part of the Wizard proud;
Roger Daltrey gave the Tin Man a Who-like showing on "If I Only Had a Heart";
Jewel's rendition of "The Jitterbug" was fantastic!;
Natalie Cole's Gospel-style singing of "You're Out of the Woods" shows off the pipes of this talented singer;
Nathan Lane's Cowardly Lion positively channeled Bert Lahr;
Debra Winger as the Wicked Witch was a hoot with her standard above-standard performance;
Jackson Browne's Scarecrow singing "If I Only Had a Brain" was marvelous;
The Harlem Boys Choir made a wonderful set of munchkins;
And the guest artists all made the concert a special event.

Darrell Larson did an extremely creditable job of direction on the entire production and is to be commended.
I've owned a copy of this for several years now and watch it regularly. The only thing that would top having this on tape and CD would be if they released it on DVD as well. ... Read more

Description

In a case of mistaken identity, a young man from Detroit becomes entangled in a web of European espionage, adventure and romance. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

James Bond parody
I've seen this movie many times before, it's always enjoyable. I think the first time I had actually seen this thing was when I was five or six. Anyway, I'd recommend this film to anyone, except of course, to little children, due to the sexual suggestiveness of the film, which occurs in a paticular scene more-so than others where the hero of the movie is thrust apon the bed and the woman in the blue dress straddles him. What's more is that when the scorpion that she pulls out to kill him with ends up on her back, she begins to run around the hotel room, making it seem as if she's purposely trying to bounce her cleavage. Oh yeah, and one more thing . . . Didn't seem a little dumb to try and kill a guy with a very dangerous bug like a scorpion? Well, I guess that's why I love the movie so much; lots of silly and bizarre things like that through the whole 89 minutes

Good film for persons of all ages.
This movie may not be cast with big stars, but it is a movie I have watched at least once a year. This movie is also great for teacher's (language) to see with their class on, perhaps, the last day of school. It's cute, has some great action scenes and is loaded with suspense. Even my teen liked it. It may be considered a B movie, but it's great entertainment.

Michael Corben ---deep cover agent for the CIA
The unlikely has happened; it appears there is more than one Michael Corben. One an agent for the CIA the other a French student on class assignment to France. Is it possible that they can get their personalities crossed? And when offered a fancy car to drive do you expect the confusion to be cleared?
All is going well, a 007 life with money cars girls. Then reality sets in Michael and the French Teacher must team up to save Europe form a dastardly plan of the evil Steranko.
Will he succeed or is Europe doomed?

great entertainment
Great entertainment with funny ideas and a young Richard Grieco. Gabrielle Anwar plays his girlfriend. Grieco's role is mistaken for an agent and he goes through all kind of amusing adventures

Great secret agent parody
Ok, this is a B-rated movie. It was panned in the reviews when it came out.

Still, it is one of my favorites. I even bought it after renting it. The class clown flunks French class, and ends up flying to Paris to salvage his grades, accompanied by the French-teacher-from-Hell. Once there, he is mistaken for a secret agent and ends up in a slapstick adventure. Next thing you know, he is soon sitting behind a Lamborgini complete with guns, parachute, and missiles, chasing a hot blonde babe.

It is a parody of the James Bond movies, that most will find mildly amusing. Most of my friends roll their eyes when I pull it off the shelf. Still, I think it is one of the greatest flicks ever made. ... Read more

Reviews (61)

NO Extreme? No Good!
I agree with just about everyone else who has reviewed this DVD, how can the people who edited this cut out the BEST performance of the concert which was Extreme's medley of Queen songs. I thank my lucky stars I still have it on tape from when MTV first aired the concert 10 years ago. It's my favorite part of the show and by far one of the coolest moments. The band, most especially Gary Cherone, payed tribute to Freddie and Queen in the best way I've ever seen. The medley of songs were performed with such excitment and the audience loved them. So did I :) This DVD just starts the concert with Joe Elliott doing Tie Your Mother Down, that's like the middle of the show! There were several performances cut out mainly Metallica, Guns 'N Roses, Def Leppard, and the above mentioned Extreme. This DVD needs to be re-issued in it's entirety. I did, however, like those Freddie segments included on the dvd that were shown to the audience during intermission. Those were really cool. Great concert but not shown to it's fullest potential on this dvd and that's a real shame. QUEEN AND FREDDIE deserve more...and so do the fans :)

It's About Time!...
Stupendously great concert from April 1992. I've owned it on laserdisc since 1993 and I've been hoping a DVD release would be forthcoming!
This concert is culled from a day-long Freddie Mercury tribute/benefit concert that took place about 5 or 6 months after Freddie died. The first half is largely devoted to a number of bands doing mostly Queen covers. Metallica opens with three of their own songs (and back when the boys in Metallica still had long hair). Def Leppard does a song or two, Extreme does a 12+ minute Queen medley (it ROCKS!), and there are some vintage Queen and Freddie clips interspersed throughout. Then, the REAL fireworks start! Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon take the stage and lead a Who's Who of musicians and singers through a lengthy set of Queen material. Robert Plant sings "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", Metallica's James Hetfield sings "Stone Cold Crazy", Gary Cherone of Extreme absolutely rocks the joint with "Hammer To Fall", Roger Daltrey sings "I Want It All", Seal does "Who Wants To Live Forever", Def Leppard returns, and we also get Lisa Stansfield, Elton John, Axl Rose, Paul Young, David Bowie, members of Mott the Hoople, and Liza Minneli closes the show with "We Are The Champions."
The show runs in excess of 3 hours, and the DVD release promises to have extra material not on the laser and VHS versions.
The audio recording of the show is stellar, and the video photography is crisp and clear. After you watch this you'll wish you'd been there.

Best of all, you get a renewed sense of how strong Queen's songwriting and performing talents were (and still are). And all of the artists singing in Freddie's place give it their all and make the versions their own, all without detracting from Freddie's original version.

You're an IDIOT if you don't get this concert DVD!

The Laserdisc is so much better, since it has the whole show
My long time waiting for a DVD version of that old but great Laserdisc was wasted. It's absolutely depressing what they did here, by cutting some of the best parts of the original show.

The Queen Medley by the great band Extreme was probably the best part of this show, not only because the way they played, but also because the playlist choice. A Medley of Bohemian Rhapsody, Bycicle Race, Another One Bites Dust, Keep Yourselves Alive, and others leading to one of the most beautiful moments of the show: the Radio Ga Ga ending, leading the audience to tears.
Although the sound has been improved and a new and useless "extra materials" has been added, it doesn't worth the content they cut (opening act, Metallica, Def Leppard, GnR, Extreme and others).

I would never exchange the old original laserdisc for this useles "extra materials" with a bunch of new footage.

I came out of my skin when I saw what was missing!
I too own the laserdisc of this show and got the DVD for the new mix in DTS. The sound is good, but it's the content they cut (the opening acts) such as Metallica, Def Leppard, GnR, Extreme and others. I would have gladly forfeited the "extra materials" for the original show instead of a bunch of new footage that was just as well served on the cutting room floor. Don't get me wrong, the performances they left in are great...but shame on them for cutting what they did...typical non-musician producer. The 2-star drop is for that reason alone. Glad I didn't sell the laserdisc!

It's a great concert but the DVD sucks
This DVD set is a huge disappointment. How could the DVD have FEWER matertials than the VHS version?! I was expecting to see not just what they have on the VHS, but also the ones they edited out, but no! They have 2 discs and this is all they could put in? I just couldn't believe it! Guess I should buy the VHS tape on eBay instead... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Chesney Hawkes Is Incredible
It doesn't get any better than Mr. Chesney Hawkes in the underrated, under appreciated, Buddy's SOng. His performance is riveting as well as the soundtrack which he wrote the songs too.

All in all, this movie is worth the $92 just to see Chesney's face on the big screen, the man is a god! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Katherine and sam make a nice couple
I remember seeing the preview for this movie in the theaters when i was three years old watching superman and it scared the crap outta me. after seeing it years later it wasnt as scary as i expected but still an interesting chiller.
Katherine Ross and Sam Elliot play an American couple who get in a motorcycle accident in England. they stay at a mansion where 5 other people including katherine ross are in a cult. and one by one they die till only two are left. Acting is good all around.
the part that stands out in my mind when i was a little kid was when the woman fell under the water and was trapped. Then again when i saw it years later it wasnt that scary. Still all in all an interesting movie with a plot twist. oh, and nice title song another side of me by kiki dee!

just enjoy the scenery
Katherine Ross & Sam Elliott are a true joy to watch (as always). The plot of this movie could have been much much better but you grab the storyline after a while and just enjoy it. As with these type of movies, it is just for your enjoyment and not to be analyzed to death. If anything, ladies just watch it for the sole purpose of seeing Sam Elliott!!!!

A pretty good "and then there were none" movie.
Yep, you can say all you want about what this movie is not. However you watch a movie for what it is. The movie is packed with seasoned actors. The story is just as spooky as any scary movie and the plot gets revealed in little doses as the protagonists are slowly eliminated. Even the elimination has a clear reason and serves the end purpose.

This does have a 70's TV movie feel however they made some good TV movies in the 70's. This did not require exotic graphics. And the end was appropriate with enough leeway to start a series.

The person that playas the nurse/cat (Margaret Tyzack) can be seen again as a mysterious person in "Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, V. 7: Nemesis" (1986) ASIN: 6303404855. Just put the number in the search box and press "GO!"

PROMISING MATERIAL GONE BAD
While the original script, something called "The Devil's Doorway," showed promise, various re-writes and compromises have resulted in a movie which makes so little sense that it's best viewed as an "in-flight" movie. One of those things you halfway watch while doing something else.

The movie begins with a basic implausibility. Interior decorator Katherine Ross is lured from L.A. to England by a lucrative but mysterious job offer. She and boyfriend Sam Elliott decide to fly over a few days early to see some of the English countryside. They're involved in a minor motor accident on a rustic lane and are taken by the other driver to his nearby home to await repair of their vehicle. What do you know, this home just happens to be the very place where Katherine Ross was intended to go all along!

Therein follows some murky activities involving other guests at the home who seem to be part of a Black Magic cult. Gruesome death follows gruesome death culminating in an ending which doesn't really resolve questions raised by the preceding plot.

On the plus side, the two leads are attractive sorts and they're surrounded by a competent British cast which gives a better effort than circumstances warrant. What's more, the large countryhouse in which the action occurs provides just the right atmosphere.

One curious note. While Katherine Ross is warmly dressed throughout with turtleneck sweaters and long skirts, co-star Sam Elliott gets to strip for a rather-extended shower scene. As he crosses the bathroom toward the shower, the camera lingers on the back of his naked body, even though this part of the scene serves no plot purpose whatsoever.

Fortunately Elliott, at about age 33, has the necessary buns-by-Michelangelo to make this moment more of a highlight than an embarrassment.

"Painfully" campy horror movie done by husband & wife. Fun!
I collect movies made by Sam Elliot. It is always a treat to see him portray a character other than a cowboy. Sam and his real-life wife, Katherine Ross, manage to make a pretty good horror movie for us. As with all movies of this genre, the plot has a few "holes" in it, but over-all, the suspense and decent acting contribute to make an entertaining hour and a half. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lisztomania, Ken Russell's follow-up to Tommy (both films were released in 1975) finds him even more in the mood for desultory spectacle than his garish pop artistry adapting the Who's rock opera. Seeking to tellthe story of superstar composer Franz Liszt through a freewheeling series of pop allegories, kitsch, quotes, and pastiches, Russell hopes to reflect in contemporary terms the runaway train of Liszt's celebrity, love life, andalleged rivalry with Richard Wagner.

Roger Daltrey, the Who vocalist and star of Tommy, returns to Russell's circus as Liszt, a great pianist nevertheless seduced by the ease with which he can make women squeal by playing flamboyant renditions of"Chopsticks." Floating on a sea of groupies, Liszt struggles with the possibilities of real love while also encountering the vampiric Wagner's exotic plans for world domination. Intuitive impressions, not history, are what this film experience is for, and toward that end Russell pulls out all the stops, planting Liszt into a heartbreakingly Chaplinesque short film, casting Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman as a cryogenic viking, and placing the hero in phallic jeopardy when his genitals are subjected to a guillotine.Some of this striking stuff works, some of it doesn't, but all of it is determinedly undisciplined. With Paul Nicholas as Wagner, and Ringo Starr as the Pope (!). --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Offensove at times but funny
There are many long reviews here analyzing every detail of this film. I will only say that it does become too phantasmagoric and even in its deliberate excess and offensiveness the measure of good taste is a bit lost. I do think that it's great and entertaining that some scenes are shocking, but when the shots become too fixated on the same thing, it feels like a great joke that is being told too many times - it looses its zest. To me, Mahler was a better one in terms of being better balanced. This picture is still a good entertainment, though.

ART OR FILTH?
Watch out for Oliver Reed, Georgina Hale, etc - yes, Russell alumni and up and coming Russellites are in this one! You can't quite review this one accruately based on what has been cropped out of the picture, like reviewing Mona Lisa's nose, lefteyebrow and ear ....tough! This I believe was the first dolby processed video - hence the 2 stars, the sound ain't too bad!

Now, if you can deal with synthetic rectums expelling questionable vapors, stylistic phalli as part of the Russian court decor, and yes folks, we do have that rather gigantic male member sequence ......... I believe that Roger Daltrey bequeathed this prop to his grandma after the shoot. It's a fun house devised by Russell, premise? Franz Liszt was the first POP Star! Ex Playboy bunny Fiona Lewis is spectacular as Mrs Liszt the first. Sarah Kestelman fresh off "Zardoz" as the Russian dominatrix, also have Ringo Starr, etc. etc. It's not date movie, so keep the kids away from this one [err pre-teenies!] this one grabbed an initial "x" rating - later dropped [explains itself].

Just a pity about this unletterboxed version - it must be restored and issued on DVD. [Odd sidenote "Mahler" is available on DVD, but also cropped!] What's this? Is this Ken Russell bashing? Just think of what old Ken might have done for Madonna if he directed "Evita"!

Uneven
Even if one admires Ken Russell's visual flamboyance (which I generally do), and accepts the extreme and bizarre liberties he takes with historical events, it becomes difficult to ignore Lisztomania's flaws.

Russell works with an interesting concept here: he grounds the story of Liszt (and Wagner) in psychedelically-charged historical revisionism, tinged with postmodern asides (consider, for example, the scene where Franz Liszt and his bride reenact their 'meet cute,' Chaplinesque style). And some elements are startlingly effective (the Chaplin sequence; Rick Wakeman's lyrics for "Love's Dream," set to the music of Liebestraum, that actually enrich the piece; Liszt's opening seduction, set to a metronome). But in most cases, Wakeman's lyrics drown out Lizst's genius, and Russell never rises above this production's most significant weakness: the mise-en-scene (particularly the flashy backdrop behind Liszt's glitter-covered piano) looks cheaply made and sloppily thrown-together. With a quick glimpse of Roger Daltrey flying through the air on his pipe organ-space ship (which looks about as credible as a scene from the Bugaloos), one realizes that a heftier budget would improve this film substantially.

But most critics still miss the boat when they pan Lisztomania by attacking Russell for his excessiveness. The truly rich, excessive moments in this film are the moments that make it work: in particular, Liszt's visit to the Russian countess -- where he collapses from breathing poisonous gas that comes from plaster rectums on the wall, and eventually rides into court on a twelve-foot high penis (only to have it guillotined) is hilarious and visually kinetic.

This film isn't without its rewards, particularly if you're a die-hard Russell fan, but it remains flawed and uneven.

HEAVEN SENT OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE IN GOING TOO FAR
I loved this movie! Don't try to make sense of the "plot"; just sit back and let it assault you. Roger Daltrey has charisma to spare. Lisztomania makes Tommy look like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. It is bizarre, funny, flamboyant, and a sheer joy to experience. Too bad there isn't a letterboxed version available.

Fascinating Mistake!
Only Ken Russell could have created this strange film which mixes fact with comic book fiction. One can only wonder how a major studio ever gave the green light to this production, but I am so glad it did! This is not a good film, but it is fascinating to watch. While it is typical for a Ken Russell film to be over the top, none of his other films go this far over. Rick Wakeman's adaption of Liszt and Wagner music is very interesting and the set designs are beyond strange. I suspect this film contains the most phallic symbols of any musical. Ha! And to fellow Who fans --- This movie captures Roger Daltrey at his 70's best! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Excellent..Classic mature WHO with featured guests
This video is a must for any WHO fan. Pete's vocals are as crisp and piercing as ever! Great Video! Special appearances by Elton John, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood, Billy Idol, and a standing ovation rendition of Acid Queen by Patti Labell. Also classic who songs done after the Tommy performance make this a sure winner.

I love The Who
First of all, I love The Who. They are an awesome band and certainly the greatest Live band ever. For me it has never been The Beatles - Rolling Stones, but The Beatles - The Who.

This video is very enjoyable. I'm a WHOFAN, so I love everything they put out.

This show is clearly divided in two parts: Tommy and Who Classics.

Great moments during the performance of Tommy. Specially SPARKS, which takes your breath away. CHRISTMAS, GO TO THE MIRROR, I'M FREE, WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT are another great moments.
The Guests artists:
- Steve Winwood: The hawker. Very nice performance. He's a great talented musician and singer.
- Phil Collins: Funny moments. He plays the Uncle Ernie perfectly well.
- Elton John: Good to have him since he sang Pinball Wizard in the movie, but he sings here in a lower key and the voice lose power.
- Billy Idol: Cousin Kevin, oh well, where is the gun? Far the worst moment in Tommy, the whole video, and in music history. He is more concerned in shouting and swearing (m*ther f*cker included), which makes no sence at all, than singing the song. A total mistake.
- Patti Labelle: The Acid Queen. Well, she has a great voice, but she seems to be trying to show in 4 minutes her vocal talent more than singing the song, so the melody of Acid Queen is lost. It reminds me of people like Yngwie Malmsteen playing the guitar, 200 notes a second, but no melody. She shines for moments though.

The second part is nice too. Some Who classics live that won't be found anywhere else like I CAN SEE FOR MILES and JOIN TOGETHER and a fantastic live version of YOU BETTER YOU BET.
Again something to say about this part and it's that I don't get why there are some Pete Townshend solo songs. Probably because the back-up band is his band as a solo. I don't want to be misunderstood anyways, because I have Pete Townshend solo videos as well as his solo albums and I treassure them.

At last, I wonder through the video why Pete Townshend during Tommy is playing just the acoustic guitar, being a rhythmic guitarist. He's almost missed except when singing now and then.

Anyways. If you are Not a WhoFan and enjoy good music, you will enjoy this video a lot. As a WhoFan myself, I was just mentioning some points that a WhoFan misses here.

Four stars for me. I took off one star only 'cos of Billy Idol's performance which really makes you want to fast forward the video. Thankgoodness the song lasts 4 minutes more or less.

This really is pretty bad...
I am sad to say that this video is horrible. Watching everyone act the way they do here is appauling. This is not the item for you to buy, if you are looking for live who items get the CD Join together from this tour, it's actually worth your money.

Stellar besides Labelle and Idol
I felt this concert was outstanding, some people feel that the orchestra wasnt necessary but i feel that to perform Tommy you really need the horns and the percussion section. However, the guest appearances by Patti Labelle and Billy Idol really didnt do it for me. Idol spoke the lyrics to "Cousin Kevin" and Labelle thought she was some diva doing "Acid Queen" (and by the way she said "watch his body rise" instead of "watch his body writhe". Besides these two, the appearances by Elton John, Steve Winwood and especially Phill Collins were spectacular. A great show except for Idol and Labelle

Who: Live - Featuring the Rock Opera Tommy - DVD PLEASE!!!!
My favourite "Who" Video. This is an excellent performance by The Who. Accompanied by a band large enough to play the rock opera TOMMY. Of course we all miss Moon... Phillips is a powerhouse of a drummer, he is very precise. It carries all the energy of the live Who. A FANTASTIC, QUALITY RECORDING... PLEASE BRING THIS OUT ON DVD. I'LL BUY IT... I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE THE RELEASE OF THE DVD FORMAT. MY TAPE IS SUFFERING DROPOUTS NOW DUE TO THE FREQUENCY OF USE. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

ken russell is the antichrist!
The main problem of this film is that it fell into the hands of Ken Russell, England's bad boy of cinema. He had a chance to make The Who's amazing rock opera into a visual treat--and totally let his penchant for garish imagry and bad taste ruin it! Perhaps if the project fell into the hands of a better director (Alan Parker, Stanley Kubrick, Norman Jewison, anyone!) then this would be a better film.

For those unfamiliar with the story, "Tommy" is about a boy who becomes psychosomaticaly blind, mute, and deaf after watching his mother's new boyfriend (Oliver Reed) kill his father (it was the father killing the boyfriend in the original album). His parents take him to see a Marilyn Monroe worshipping cult led by a barefoot Eric Clapton (probably a satire of Catholicism, the very same religion Russell converted to) and the hooker/junkie the Acid Queen (played brilliantly by Tina Turner). He is abused by his Cousin Kevin and Uncle Ernie (Keith Moon), and defeats the Pinball Wizard (Elton John). After Tommy is cured, he becomes a false messiah.

Russell's verion does away with the spiritual vibes of Pete Townshead's original concept and makes the film more of an anti-organized religion message. Russell also includes images that absolutely make no sense (young Tommy with a box over his head on a beach, Tommy's father in a crucifix pose, and let's not forget the beans and chocolate coming out of the TV). Oliver Reed cannnot sing to save his life, and Ann Margaret's performance (although she was nominated for Best Actress) is pure ham. Plus, the original rock music that made the album so great is replaced by an overkill of synthesizers! You can't help but laugh at how absurd it is.

Bottom line: go get the original Who album and let your imagination do the rest!

not great in my eyes
holy shizzle. I really got bored with all of Daltrey's shirtless scenes and his running around, swimming and whiny babbling. not for my taste. Oliver Reed and Ann Margaret are smashed as Daltry's parents and Jack Nicholson only has a cameo part. like I said before it wasnt great in my eyes

Nicholson Croons, Ann Margret Swims in Beans & Chocolate..
...and, I heartily concur that The Acid Queen and EJ in those huge platforms nearly steal the show. Daltry is adequate as Tommy, since most of the lead vocals done in the original production are his, but he's like Ross in The Wiz. A touch older than what's required. 'Salright, I guess. For campiness and for whatever makes a cult film, this has it. I would dig seeing a remake with current stars. Lessee, Ashton Kusher as Tommy, Demi Moore as the Mom, Jack Black as Uncle Ernie, Beyonce as The Acid Queen, and Justin Timberlake as the Pinball Wizard's foil...I can see Timberlake in those platforms

See it for Eric, Elton, and Tina.
When this movie came out I was in high school and the consensus amongst the oh-so cool high school rock critics was that "Tina Turner's pelvis saved the movie!" Turns out, we may have been overly harsh; the Eric Clapton and Elton John scenes are also worth a peek. But in the end, without Clapton paying homage to Maryln Monroe, John's Pinball Wizard, and the amazing-beyond-belief Turner as the Acid Queen, this movie would only be laughable.

who's inconsistent?
After seeing the broadway version and listening to the movie soundtrack, I was anxious to see the video. Unfortunately the movie was a disappointment from the start, beginning with a shaky zoom on a waterfall and continuing through some drug inspired but shoddy special effects. The music is - as always - spectacular and it was nice to see a different take on the plot from the one in the Broadway version. The movie is worth renting just to see the masses pay homage to a huge porcelain Marilyn Monroe and the bizarre, syringe covered armour that appears during the "Acid Queen" number. Also memorable are Elton John's outfit (aren't they all memorable??) and the number where Mrs Walker shatters her TV screen allowing a flood of baked beans to spread across her bedroom.

Final advice: rent, don't buy. ... Read more

Reviews (44)

A collage, not a best-of...though it winds up being best!
This remarkable album is not a greatest-hits collection. Rather, it, like the film to which it is a soundtrack, is director/Who fan Jeff Stein's impression of the Who. The stage power, the personal issues, the artistic ambition, are all delivered in the film by cut and pasted concert footage, video clips, and interview snippets. This cd presents just the music (except for Tommy Smothers' introduction to "My Generation") There are exciting though tinny songs of the early Who from British TV. There are riveting Tommy numbers from Woodstock. There are amazingly powerful early '70s non-album songs that rival those on _Live at Leeds_--"Young Man Blues" in particular is stunning. There is no _Quadrophenia_ material, and a cover of "Roadrunner" and a rather dull version of "Join Together" which bears no resemblance to the studio version are deleted for the cd. The real killers, though, the real jewels in the crown, the real essence of *The Who* are the songs recorded live in concert at Shepperton Studio especially for this film: "Baba O'Riley" "My Wife" (I think)and "Won't Get Fooled Again" "WGFA", especially, is their greatest moment on a legal recording. Jeff Stein in fact asked them to perform the song over, to get a more "definitive" version of it for the film. Townshend snapped, "What do you want me to do? Die onstage? Or whack that mf-er that keeps yelling "Magic Bus" over the head with my guitar?" But they did the encore, which is the version recorded here. Call this collection the "impressionist" view of The Who, if you want, but it preserves many memories of seeing this film at the midnight movies during high school for me. A great oddity, emphasis on "great".

Anarchic view of a great rock band
I saw "The Kids Are Alright" in the theater when it was first released, and the video version suffers only from the amputated "A Quick One While He's Away" number from the infamous Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus. Probably had something to do with the Stones' fickleness (Jagger reportedly felt upstaged by The Who). Jumping from the hilarious "My Generation" on the Smothers Brothers show in '67 to "Baba O'Riley" in '77 and back to 60s footage ("I Can't Explain", "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere", etc.), the film is a Who fan's look at this astounding band, in all their contradictory glory. The movie doesn't try to delve into the tensions of the group's history, or try to unmask Keith Moon's hollow rave-ups and jests. Any Who fan would know these things going in. The real fun is in watching episodes from various phases of Who history, all jumbled and crashing up against each other. There's humor here, too: Moon's deadly hilarious "interviews" with Ringo Starr, a montage of his hotel smashing days, and John Entwistle's skeet shooting of gold records. One thing clearly stands out in "The Kids Are Alright": The Who were one of the premier live bands of rock & roll, and it was ironic that the film (for which several numbers, including a savage "Won't Get Fooled Again", were specially recorded) marked the end of the band as most people knew it. When Moon died in '78, the lunatic spirit that propelled The Who for so long was gone. Long live The Who. A restored, re-mastered version of this film is long overdue.

Hey - where's our Rick Danko???
I loved the film - and would have given it 5 stars if Rick Danko had been in it, as advertised!

Gets better with age¿ mine, that is!
As a second-generation Who freak, I latched on to this incendiary group right around the year Keith Moon uncharacteristically faded away in his sleep. Soon after, I saw the original "The Kids Are Alright" in the theater and bought an early Embassy VHS tape. Now that the DVD version is out, I think that technical comparisons between 1978 and 2003 will pale against the real story: The Who was the greatest live band and one of the greatest rock groups ever.

The film begins and ends, in a way, with their trademark smash-up finale. The Who, once they began playing, were like a runaway locomotive: imagine Keith Moon as the pistons, John Entwistle as the deep coal fire, Roger Daltrey as the howling whistle, and Peter Townshend as the engineer pushing the knobs and pulling levers. The whole thing veers out of control, and yet, it never becomes a wreck until the last song (according to the era), when by force of smashed guitars and bludgeoned drum kits, the incredible sound is strangled and mashed to a pulp, leaving only feedback and smoke bombs. As Townshend says in one of the film's interviews, he's not himself onstage, and probably close to hurting someone who gets in his way (remember Abbie Hoffman at Woodstock?).

The funny thing is, The Who's shows are a conjurer's trick of sound and sight. These smash-up performances began as a corny gimmick that took on a life of their own: Townshend, in a 1964 London gig, accidentally rammed his guitar into the club's ceiling while trying to spin it theatrically in the air. He was told afterwards to use the same move again, and the rest is glorious history. The spontaneous combustion in The Who's music gets full airing in this film by an amateur director. It captures nearly all of the group's distinct periods: early club days, Mod incarnations, Monterey Pop festival, the "Tommy" and Woodstock era, and the mega-70s appearances. Interviews as a group, or as individuals, span nearly their whole career (while Moon was alive and kicking), and at the end of it all, you get the sense that, as unpolished and ragged as they come across to our modern eyes, The Who defined that overused musical term, honest. Ironically, there's a contradiction when Townshend - who comes across as an unwilling but committed leader - laments to an interviewer that the band is often chained by its history, and yet, no one is willing to break the bonds of ritual between The Who and its fans. In the two performances that director Stein staged in May 1978, the group crash through "Baba O'Reilly" and "Won't Get Fooled Again," and it's clear even to Who freaks that Moon was in sad shape, physically, and gamely keeping up, musically. Townshend parodies himself with arm-swinging and acrobatic leaps; it's almost The Who by the numbers. But when the last note sounds, the ecstatic response from the audience is proof of how much people love The Who and how the music wound its way into so many churned-up teenage souls. There have been bands since who've trashed their sets and gone to the edge, but there's really only one Who.

The Kids Are Alright
This is my favorite movie! The best preformance by The Who is in this film. There best preformance was playing A Quick One While He's Away at the Rolling Stone's Rock And Roll Circus. The thing that pisses me off is that they only used a small section of the song and cut out Keith Richard's Introduction. If you love Keith Moon (Like I Do) get 200 Motels. Though I'll warn you it's kinda hard to find but if you do find it it'll be between 25.00 and 75.00. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Whole Family Liked This Western Comedy!
Yikes, some people just don't like Paul Hogan, do they? After seeing a surprisingly negative review of this movie when I logged on to buy the DVD, I decided to add my two cents. This is a VERY entertaining movie. It's well-paced, originally plotted and funny! Really. As the two heroes of the story fumbled their way through one sloppy crime after the other, I chuckled and looked forward to each new scene. This is not just for hardcore Western lovers. My mother enjoyed it, my kid loved it, my brother liked it, etc. That's why I'm buying it. Of course, I happen to like my westerns light -- think of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Quigley Down Under, Silverado, Support Your Local Sheriff, Shanghai Noon, etc. I give it 5 stars for being purely entertaining. (Made me go rent Crocodile Dundee. I liked that, too.)

THE 2ND WORST I'VE EVER SEEN!!!!!
The reason I say this is the 2nd worst is because Crododile Dundee in L.A. is the worst.After I saw this movie in the theater I swore off seeing anything with Paul Hogan again,and the woman I was dating at the time,who liked the movie when we saw it was booted faster than lightning,jack.The plot is terrible as are the actors,sets,sound and directing.I had reasonably expected Cuba Gooding JR. to play a decent role since he had a few good parts under his belt but his deaf,mute character was ridiculous.I had thought at the time this poor guy had just killed his career but I am glad I was wrong.He has since put this behind him and went on to achieve an Oscar while Paul Hogan still bumbles around like a wallaby with a hangover from drinking to much Foster's Lager.If you want to see Cuba at his best see him Pearl Harbor in a small but pivotal role or Jerry Maguire or the upcomung Rat Race.If you want to see Paul Hogan at his best he's probably on a cancelled Austrailian postage stamp .

One of the most entertaining comedy/westerns
If you like western or comedy movies, you will probably like "Lightning Jack." Paul Hogan stars as Lightning Jack, a cowboy that is famous for craftily robbing banks. He is one of the most wanted criminals in the country. Cuba Gooding, Jr. is a mute that later tries to team up with Lightning Jack and become a successful robber and cowboy in his own right. That's when the movie gets a lot better and more interesting. It will keep you interested throughout the movie so you can find out if Lightning Jack will remain successful at robbing banks across America or if he'll get caught. The movie also has a lot of funny parts that make it even better.

Excellent western movie.
Good movie about an australian american outlaw [Hogan] named Jack who's gang gets shot up, and in need of help, accepts a black mute orphan to help him out. While Jack is trying to get a reputation in the U.S. as a mean cold blooded killer, the mute orphan barely knows how to fire a gun and ends up slowing them up, until Jack teaches him what being an outlaw is all about. If you liked Crocodile Dundee, you'll really like Lightning Jack. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

enjoyable and fun
This movie is a fun, accessible version of the Threepenny Opera, a great introduction to Brecht's work with a well-cast ensemble. It makes a good double feature with The Beggars Opera starring none other than Roger Daltrey- nice to explore the 20th century alterations Brecht made in his adaptation of John Gay's original play. As far as the complaints about Mack the Knife being untrue to the "original" script- even during Brecht's time the play underwent constant revision (he found it acceptable to have his actors on stage reading the newly-altered script in their hands on opening night!) Both the Barbara Song and Pirate Jenny changed performers dependent on the strength of the actress playing the role. I have seen too many versions of this play to count and one of the things that is so delightful about Brecht's work is the multitudinous interpretations of his "intent" - when it comes to Brecht it's time to throw out the Canon and get the social message, tap your toes and enjoy. Strong singing performances and choreography, the acid bitterness of poverty, and exposed sexuality all make this movie a good one.

Very underrated version. First rate!
I'm a huge fan of Threepenny Opera, having seen my first performance as a teenager: the stupendous Off-Broadway revival with Lotte Lenya, Charlotte Rae & Beatrice Arthur. I went back to see it a year later with James Mitchell as Macheath & Ed Asner was Mr. Peachum.

I've seen every production I could since then. I've seen bald Mackeys & fat Mackeys & gay Mackeys. This is a highly versatile work. It has a brilliant score; in my opinion it's the greatest piece of musical theater of the 20th century.

I was surprised how captivating this film version is, especially considering that it has been virtually buried since its release. That's a real shame. The singing is magnificent & the dances were wonderful & fit perfectly with the theme of the piece. The costumes & sets are first-rate. Richard Harris gives the best performance I've seen him do on-screen (except for Wrestling Ernest Hemingway). Migenes as Jenny & Walters as Ms. Peachum are sensational. Raul Julia's terrific. Even the crowd scenes, which are so key to this piece, are surprisingly effective, with plenty of idiosyncratic faces & expressions in the roiling multitudes. Perhaps the key is that the production was filmed in Hungary.

I only have 2 quibbles: cut or transposed songs and the used of the "orthodox" translation (or a blend of Bltzstein & orthodox). It's been the vogue for years to put down Marc Blitzstein's libretto (which was the one used in the 1950's productions) as too "watered-down" in favor of the Eric Bentley-influenced more literal translations. This is unfortunate because the Blitzstein lyrics are idiomatic & immediate. They bring the characters that much more to life. The message of bitterness & anger doesn't go away just because the text isn't embedded with germanic sentence-structures (or a few 4-letter words).

Boy would I love to have a letterboxed DVD of this.

Dark fun
I also agree, Bobby Darrin has NOTHING to do with the original spirit of "ThreePenny Opera", no offense.

This show, if done as intended, will be fun and baudy, while at the same time, making the audience a little uncomfortable. That is the main essence of the piece, and I think this film captures it admirably. Sexy, rowdy, fun, and with an air of doom the entire time. I was a bit put off about them giving "Barbara Song" to Polly instead of Lucy, it changes the entire meaning of the song. Perhaps I'm just biased because I performed and loved that song. But none of the liberties taken with the material were unforgiveable in my opinion. The Tango number between Mack and Jenny is the best part, an edge-of-your-seat type sexiness and danger.

So don't let loyalty to the original format ruin your enjoyment of this film. Don't miss out!

Courtney Hebert Student at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Better than I expected
I've seen THE THREEPENNY OPERA half a dozen times. I didn't have much hope for the movie, especially given the production team, and was quite pleasantly surprised. Raul Julia is as good a MacHeath as I've seen, and Richard Harris is an excellent Peacham. As for Leonard Maltin, if he thinks Bobby Darin has anything to do with the true flavor of THE THREEPENNY OPERA, he's a bigger jerk than even I thought he was.

I don¿t know if Brecht or Weill like it¿but I sure do!
This is not very faithful to the original stage version, and Weill's brilliant original orchestrations have been "Hollywood-ized". However, it is a strangely captivating film. Julia Migenese and Raul Julia are perfect for the roles of Jenny and MacHeath (respectively). Polly (whose name I can't recall), Mr. Peachum (Richard Harris), and Mrs. Peachum (whose name I can't recall, but she was in the good version of ROMEO & JULIET from the 1960s) have the perfect chemistry for a dysfunctional family. A must-see! (Sorry, Kurt!) ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great/Best of the Bunch
Great shots of Dylan at Newport, 1965, and interviews with those who were at that historic concert when Rock and Roll became art. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Awaiting Destiny
IF you are a hopeless romantic then this movie is definetly
for you. If you are just looking for a laugh, some emotion,
and a good time, check it out! I, for one, fit into both categories hence the 5 stars...

I love this movie!
I love this movie! I've watched it a couple of times now, and who'd have thought Roger Daltrey would turn out more sexy than Casper Van Dien! I just wish there had been more of the music. I played the ending over and over, listening to the songs. The love story was sweet, too.

An enjoyable movie!
This is a good-quality feel-good movie with excellent production, direction and performances from everybody. It's somewhat conservative--it has no (visible) sex or violence--but it still managed to hold my interest. The best thing about it is the Burning Prairie Band playing at the end: Roger Daltrey, Drake Bell, Carmine Appice, Kelly Keeling and Denny Laine. They sound great.

I'd recommend this for any of the gals--including young ones. It's interesting, unoffensive, and a great opportunity to watch some real musicians at work. The guys will like the guitar work there at the end.

Chasing Destiny
Moderately charming. Chasing Destiny is BY NO MEANS (maybe the worst movie ever made). With all of the bad movies that are allowed to be made, Chasing Destiny is a delightful excape from the norm. The cast alone is worth the purchase. Music icon THE WHO'S ROGER DALTRY-Nehemiah Peoples, DRAKE BELL-Walter (Nickelodeon's-The Amanda Show, Jerry Maguire, HBO's The Jack Bull), CASPER VAN DIEN-Bobby Moritz (Storm Troopers, Sleepy Hollow, Tarzan). CHRISTOPHER LLOYD-Jet James (Taxi, Back To The Future, My Favorite Martion), LAUREN GRAHAM-Jessee James (Gilmore Girls) and Music greats, Denny Lane, Spencer Davis and Carmine Appice. If you like music from the late 60's early 70's, this movie is a must.

Chasing Destiny
Heartwarming love story, laugh, cry and enjoy an absolutely wonderful movie. One of the very best I have seen in years. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Informative but dissapointing
This video is very interesting if you don't quite know the story of the album however, for long time fans of The Who and their 1969 album, Tommy, this is just a rehash of things you already know. One bonus is that this offers a little never before seen live footage, except maby for the 1989 version of Pinball wizard on The Who- Featuring Tommy. Overall a rip-off running at 59 minutes! Watch this only if another friend or family member already owns it, in other words, don't waste your money, Mr. Bush needs it to buy more weapons to continue feeding this war.

"ever since i was a young boy" the who's tommy was great
best show to hit the stage!

That's the most boring Who video I know of
Very disapointing. It's like a paid commercial to sell the Broadway version of Tommy. Nothing new to see here. Contains a few short (10 seconds at most) excerpts of live Who concerts.
Don't waste your money and your time on this one.

Provides insight into the world of "Tommy" and The Who
This video is a compliment to the wonderful compilation of music created by The Who. A must experience for any avid fan of The Who. It is somewhat reminiscent of the film " The Kids Are Alright" and shares some of the same footage. I am fortunate to have a copy on laser disc to be preserved well into the next century. Catch it if you can!!

If you really love 'Tommy' this video will have you in tears
The Who's 'Tommy' is one of the most emotionally charged pieces to come out of the 60's, and the broadway show captures that emotion even better than the original