Reviews (10)

Political Nail Biter
The setting is a National Nominating Convention of one of the major parties for President. The top two contestants are intellecutal Secretary of State Henry Fonda and scare-tactic headline grabbing Senator Cliff Robertson. The scramble for delegates, the dangling of endorsements, blackmail, extortion, and double-dealing are all part of a days work when the Presidency is on the line and no one has enough delegates to seal the deal. This is an honest and exciting look at the world of politics. Not a trite clear cut good vs. evil morality play, the Fonda character is not without his faults, but a race to the finish line that the viewer is given no clue as to who will win and there are some curious detours along the way, but the plot never gets too complicated and the convention actually LOOKS like a convention unlike in many political films. A great supporting cast including Shelley Berman as a nervous ex-army buddy of Robertson's who just might have the "goods" on him and formerly black-listed hillbilly entertainer John Henry Faulk as "everybody's favorite son" southern Governor T. T. Claypool, a great character. Wonderful photography, the crisp direction you would expect from Schaffner and a marvelous closing shot. Don't miss it.

When conventions still mattered.
Pretty good political drama that takes itself seriously & gives you the feel of the way the national conventions used to be. After all, they selected our presidents.
Henry Fonda & Cliff Robertson are the main contenders, different as night & day. Fonda's character is the intellectual Secretary of State, slow to act or make major decisions. Robertson's character is an outspoken McCarthy-like Senator who shoots from the hip. Fonda's character is kind & everybody likes him except his estranged wife. He likes to fool around.
Robertson is a totally disagreeable tyrant whose beautiful wife adores him & he doesn't have time for sex. The other minor canidates are buffoons.
When neither man can get the nomination the threatened mud slinging begins. It seems that Fonda might be a nut job & Cliff has written proof. Robertson might be a closet queen & Henry has witnesses. To me the resolution wasn't particularly satisfying, but it still gets 3 1/2 stars. Movie done in a documentary style which was effective.

HEY!!
It was a pretty good movie, but it seems Gore Vidal is always writing "gay" themes into his stuff. I can never figure that out.

the best man
this a great political drama.excellent acting and a great
screenplay.it shows the way our political elections system
really works.I highly recommend this movie for those who
like to see a good political drama.

I See Why It's A Favorite With Real Politicians - Fine Film
Engrossing, absorbing film of Gore Vidal's hit 1960 Broadway play, this film is always remarked upon by veteran politicians of both parties around election time as a good film that shows you something of how politics work. *The Best Man* deals with a party political convention which must decide which candidate is "the best man" to run for President. Henry Fonda plays a candidate with elements of Adlai Stevenson (intellectual) and John F Kennedy (womanizer) while Cliff Robertson mixes bits of Barry Goldwater (ultra conservative) and aspects of Robert Kennedy (ruthless manipulator - obviously there's a bit of Nixon here, too, but Vidal is at pains to point out the ambiguity of loyalty to one party or theme when it comes to getting nominated - candidates of both parties must, and do, grab and hustle to get elected). When Robertson's character plans to release embarressing medical information about Fonda's, the latter must decide whether he will use an equally ruthless tactic (and reveal an even more sordid secret about Robertson) when he has already pledged (and sincerely wishes) to stay away from smear tactics (folks, this was the early sixties when politicians like Adlai Stevenson still gave some real thought to such notions!) If he refuses, he may lose the support of the aging, outgoing President which he desperately needs - and perhaps prove *himself* NOT to be "the best man" that we presume he is (if can't act ruthlessly and decisively to win, what will he do in the White House, if he needs to decide in a moment how to act to defend the country from invasion, say, the outgoing president scornfully tells him?)

The ending is quite exciting. This film holds up surprisingly well given its age. I understand now why politicians of both parties recommend this film. I'm not surprised it was successfully revived as a stage play on Broadway before the last elections. One thing: although this film is listed as being directed by Frank Schaffner, it was actually the author Gore Vidal who directed it behind the scenes, after first firing an aging, senile Frank Capra who had plans for a sentimental film complete with a scene showing Henry Fonda dressed up as Abraham Lincoln walking around the convention floor shaking hands!. Keep an eye for Vidal's cameo appearence about halfway through - he walks up and shakes the hand of Mrs Cantwell and Mrs Gammage as they walk through the hotel lobby (and who greet Vidal as "Mr Senator"!). ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This isnt a "Concert Film", it is a time Capsule
A great Film, my only dissapointment was the ommision of theDuke Ellington set, closing the actual event. This is an art film, thecinemaphotography is outstanding. The use of shape and light is masterful. Musical Highlights that ARE included in my opinion, are Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, and Monk.

If you are a (open minded!) jazz fan, and a art genre fan this is the film you have been waiting for!

DVD Info: Excellent color and sharpness. Audio is in Dolby Digital Mono. Crisp clear tone. Extras include a complete playlist for all three days of the festival. An interview with Bert Stern (both text and audio) with accompanying documentary imagery relating to Mr. Stern's other works mentioned in interview. Much insightful discussion about the planning, filming and post production of the film. Very fascinating and well worth the price.

Now, it may be me, but it seems that i noticed some brief segments of footage in the DVD release that i never noticed on my VHS copy. But im not running the VHS again to check, this DVD is so much better!

Phenomenal Work of Art
Contrary to some comments on this list, this film is not a documentary or concert film. It is a visionary work of art. It's like Robert Franks' book THE AMERICANS coming to life. If you don't know what that is about, see for yourself. This is the America that Kerouac loved. And if you don't know what that means, find out before it's too late.

This film is really about a summers day in America in 1958. As a musician, a Jazz lover, a poet and a film buff, this film is the best of all worlds. It is pure poetry. It is like seeing the world through Kerouac's heart-filled eyes. Eyes we all have, but forget in our daily malaise. Notice the minute particulars, the spontaneous nature of life. Speaking of Beats, if you look real close you can see Gregory Corso in a couple of audience shots.

Jazz on a Summers day is about time and place. It freezes a moment in time and makes it eternal. A time when jazz was common music of american culture. A summers day when people living in the cold war and the Eisenhower era kick off their shoes and truly live. It is filled with moments of deep sighs, AH. Like, the shot of the young girl singing along with Satchmo, if that's not art I don't know what is. The performers too, Mahalia Jackson is a great bodhisattva/angel. The cinematography is vibrant. You've never seen the fifties this real.

I actually love the parts that digress from the festival. Even though I regret not seeing all of Monk. But it's still magnanimous, and contrary to another comment, the stage announcer that says Monk is "unconcerned" should be understood as Monk is on a different level. He makes music for different reasons. If you don't what that means, just listen. Monk will whisper to you in a dream.

This was a time when the music was more than just refined listening for museums and chamber halls, it oozed into everything. Seeing the boating footage with the Jazz, it's just poetic. Jazz is part of life. It is the expression of life. The people are having a good time on a summers day. A day that seems so far away. This will never happen again. Not like this. This is what great films and art are made of.

There is beauty in every waking moment my friends. Just look. Breathe. Feel. Thank you Bert Stern.

As hip as they come
Bert Stern has both an eye and an ear for jazz, par excellence, capturing the spirit of the Newport Jazz festival in its heyday. This is a wonderful showcase of performances, ranging from the detached Thelonius Monk to the super cool Anita O'Day. But, without doubt, the performance that stands out is that of Mahalia Jackson who brings the crowd to their feet with "40 Days" and then brings them to their knees with her closing psalm, so passionately felt.

The movie takes you through a figurative day, capturing the sea air of Newport, the quiet practice sessions, the ebb and flow of the crowd as it grows to its evening peak, with a rocking performance by Chuck Berry. The Satchmo takes a wonderful turn at the mike with Jack Teargarden joining him in a fun duet. Chico Hamilton is there in all his seriousness with Eric Dolphy highlighting the band's performance. George Shearer looks like he could be playing at the Hollywood Bowl.

I was hoping for more extras on the DVD. The movie leaves you craving for more music. The 50's were the peak of the hip jazz scene and this movie is as hip as they come.

An absolutely wonderful documentary of Jazz
While I've not seen other Jazz movies or documentaries, I've seen Jazz on a Summer's Day on both VHS and on DVD and enjoy it so much that I've watched it several times and just had to purchase it on DVD.

I have always loved the classic Jazz of the 1950's and 1960's and this film documents one of the best Jazz festivals around, and I think this was the first Jazz festival in what we now know as the Newport Jazz festival.

What I love about this film is how Bert Stern uses his movie camera to shoot the film, much like a still camera and framed the shots just the same. I find it works on motion film as on still photography, especially in this kind of documentary where your documenting a concert. I love the B-roll shots of kids playing, grown ups sunbathing, the dixieland jazz band, the couples driving their vintage autos, and of course the Yaught(sp?) club races and overall, I find that Bert Stern does an incredible job of showing the general atmosphere of the concert and the weather of late summer in Rhode Island.

I find this an incredible film that is worthy of multiple viewings. Not just for it's incredible of shooting techniques, but for the music that is represented here. Lots of great names such as Anita O'Day, Thelonious Munk, George Shearing, Dina Washington etc. I love Bert's use of the reflections of the boats on the water for the opening sequence, mated to Jimmy Giuffrie's live rendition of the Train and the River. All in all, I rate this film a definate 5.

A piece of yesterday, live and in color
Bert Stern was a still photographer who got the opportunity to take a film crew to the 1959 Newport Jazz festival. With limited time and film, Stern and his crew set out not just to record a musical event, but to record a social experience.

For the most part, he succeeds, although there is more than enough footage of a boat race on Chesapeake bay that day to last me for the rest of my life.

The film cuts from performances to reactions of the crowd, as any concert film would. It's interesting to see the wide difference in clothing styles that appealed to people in 1959. Everything from men in suits to greasers in denim can be seen dancing and grooving along with the music.

People living nearby the festival can be seen partying on their roofs and dancing, booze in hand, to the music. People of every age are shown bopping along with whoever is on stage at the time.

Highlights: Anita O'Day's spot-on performance, in spite of the fact that she's well into her much-ballyhooed drug and booze habit (in a recent radio interview she said she couldn't remember doing this gig after even watching the film); Louis Armstrong, Jerry Mulligan, and the rather out-of-place, clearly there-for-the-kids but dressed to the nines and behaving himself, Chuck Berry. Older jazz guys have no idea what to make of Chuck, and one guy, in an attempt to "jazz up" Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen," starts playing some rather odd clarinet runs. Think "Sweet Little Bar Mitzvah."

There's a nice bunch of extras on here, too, including an interview with Stern that expalins a lot about what was going on.
If you like jazz, or documentaries, or just good music, this is a keeper. ... Read more

Description

Mahalia Jackson was the greatest gospel singer in the world. Shortly before her death, she embarked on a triumphant European tour, and this program is a record of that tour. In Stockholm, London, Berlin, and other cities, Mahalia Jackson inspired audiences with the power and magic of her music. Everywhere she went she left behind friends as well as fans. This historic film is a portrait of a gifted artist, but it is also a profile of a warm, sincere woman. 86 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

A Pictorial Glimpse of the Great Mahalia!
Dear Fellow Mahalia Fans,
I was so taken by the sheer intimacy of witnessing a very personal side of Mahalia Jackson. One felt as if they were traveling with her and accompanying the Grand lady throughout Europe. The traveling scenes on the Rolls-Royce and the trains or seeing her feed the swans was truly captivating. Mahalia is seen walking into the great halls and gaze up at the ceiling with reverance.

The footage is fast paced and evident of the technology of its time but the singing quality is superb. I actually felt as if I was there, listening and witnessing her every movement. Mahalia demonstrates great ease and flexibility with every nuance of voice range and dynamic rhythm. One can feel the vibrations of an awsome spirit as she delivers powerful songs from her vast collection of gospel songs. She even tells the piano player when he is going too fast. She is in full command and she wants ultimate perfection in the timber and range of her power contralto voice. This documentary is great because it gives a full dimension of mahalia jackson, the Singer and the true Servant of the Lord. This tape is a must for the libraries of all Mahalia Fans.

There was nothing wrong with the video.
Dear Fans of Mahalia Jackson:

I would like to inform you that there was nothing wrong with this video in my opinion. As for the color on the film being poor - what do you expect people? The footage was shot between 1969 and 1972 cameras were not as high tech as they are today!! The original documentary that was filmed by Allen Miner in the summer of '69 for the US State Department was not filmed as intended because he met opposition from a lot of the promoters of Mahalia's concert that year. But he put together the footage from the concerts, her press conferences, her rehearsals and even her wake and funeral on this tape after her passing, to give fans a glimpse as to who Mahalia was; her beliefs; her faith and her dedication to singing the gospel. I loved it. Having seen Mahalia perform years ago we never really got to see the human side of her much. You know, the everyday hardworking Mahalia. It also gives you a glimpse of the Holy Ghost filled singer who could make the most convinced of atheists shout amen. If you don't believe me, watch the video and watch her sing "Great Gettin Up Mornin'" or "I Thank God" or even "Just A Closer Walk With Thee"...Mahalia Jackson does not deliver a testimony...she is a testimony...a living witness to how God can take someone small and insignificant and make her great!! And she brings out her gratitude in every song she has ever sung...this video is no exception to that fact. Buy the tape folks!!!!

Greatest Singer of the 20th Century
It was a great joy to see this video. Mahalia doesn't sing a song, she "lives" it. The audience feels that she direct cable to God. Never before I heard such a great version of "We shall overcome". She sang it in the church of Uppsala, Sweden. Every person in the audience and every viewer of the video feels the presense of God. Just a little bit sad is, that the director of this video made some mistakes. So, it was not Mahalias last Europe Tour. This video depends on her tour of 1969. Her latest Europe tour was in summer 1971. I saw her at Hannover in September 1971. Some days later, in Munich, she collapsed. And there are other wrong comments, too. It would have been better that the director had read L. Goreaus biography "Just Mahalia, Baby". There you can read everything about her Europe tours of between 1952 and 1971. But inspite of that, it's a great video about a wonderful woman. There will be no other Mahalia. She is the greatest!

I Know What You Mean!
In reference to Don Loughman's post, I understand exactly what you're talking about. That's all they did was narrate. My favorite song is "Elijah Rock" and they cut 2 verses out of the song. You got one of the songs mixed up. In the beginning of the movie, Mahalia was singing "Didn't It Rain" and that's when the narrator came in. There are only a few songs that they did show from beginning to end and they are:

Search Me Lord
Great Gettin' Up Morning
Come On Children, Let's Sing (she was wearing the black dress)
Joshua Fit The Battle
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
It Don't Cost Very Much
The Lord's Prayer

I'm sorry, but I watch this video everyday. That's how I know so much about it.

I was saying that I didn't understand why the people cut so much out. If you're a true fan of someone, you wouldn't mind sitting there and watching. No matter how long it is. And if you do get tired at a certain point, then you'll turn it off and watch the rest later.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels like that.

Peace and blessings.

Lord, Forgive the Director
This could've been a great concert film of what I assume was the legendary lady's last tour. Instead it gets bogged down in minutia, as if the director wanted every inch of film shot included in the final cut except the concert footage. It shows Mahalia sleeping on an airplane. It shows her exiting a Rolls Royce. It shows her riding on a train and, in an obviously scripted moment, a woman passing by her compartment, without a word, hands her a baby. It shows her signing autographs. Without any warning the film cuts away to Mahalia literally in a dentist's chair! ("Does this hurt?" the dentist askes the open-mouth Mahalia. "No," she says. "Well, it should," says the dentist. Bud-da-bing! But seriously, folks, are my arms tired...) Despite the incessant droning of a narrator, there's even a bizarre death scene, literally, in what I assume is a close up of Mahalia in her coffin -- the lighting was bad, so all that's visible is someone in a blue dress.
I knew there would be trouble after the first two minutes of this video. Mahalia is singing a great version of Come On Children. She's jumping around, sweaty-faced, hand-clapping, really getting into it, then all of a sudden the narrator chimes in and drowns her out for the rest of the song. And that's really how it is for the entire movie. No songs from beginning to end, just partial performances, mediocre camera work, and superfluous narration. I think the director just didn't have enough faith in his subject's talent, which is unwarranted. From these partial performances, it's obvious why she was so acclaimed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A PICTORIAL EXTRAVANGANZA OF A GREAT WOMAN OF GOSPEL!
This video is a joy and a must for all Mahalia Fans. I loved the vintage footage of the early 1950s when Mahalia was at her peak in tone,range and resounding delivery of syncopation and thrust. Mahalia glows like a glistening beacon as she belts out beloved gospel classics Mahalia has the ability to grace her song with tremendous vocal embellishments and a profound dignity that melts away todays great singers. See this video, buy this video for it will change your life for the better and you will never be able to forget that hauntingly beautiful and Gloriously Powerful Voice! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Mahalia
I have seen this video and it is great. Mahalia make you feel as if you have all ready got to the gates of heaven. She was great, and still she continues to move my soul. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This isnt a "Concert Film", it is a time Capsule
A great Film, my only dissapointment was the ommision of theDuke Ellington set, closing the actual event. This is an art film, thecinemaphotography is outstanding. The use of shape and light is masterful. Musical Highlights that ARE included in my opinion, are Anita O'Day, Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, and Monk.

If you are a (open minded!) jazz fan, and a art genre fan this is the film you have been waiting for!

DVD Info: Excellent color and sharpness. Audio is in Dolby Digital Mono. Crisp clear tone. Extras include a complete playlist for all three days of the festival. An interview with Bert Stern (both text and audio) with accompanying documentary imagery relating to Mr. Stern's other works mentioned in interview. Much insightful discussion about the planning, filming and post production of the film. Very fascinating and well worth the price.

Now, it may be me, but it seems that i noticed some brief segments of footage in the DVD release that i never noticed on my VHS copy. But im not running the VHS again to check, this DVD is so much better!

Phenomenal Work of Art
Contrary to some comments on this list, this film is not a documentary or concert film. It is a visionary work of art. It's like Robert Franks' book THE AMERICANS coming to life. If you don't know what that is about, see for yourself. This is the America that Kerouac loved. And if you don't know what that means, find out before it's too late.

This film is really about a summers day in America in 1958. As a musician, a Jazz lover, a poet and a film buff, this film is the best of all worlds. It is pure poetry. It is like seeing the world through Kerouac's heart-filled eyes. Eyes we all have, but forget in our daily malaise. Notice the minute particulars, the spontaneous nature of life. Speaking of Beats, if you look real close you can see Gregory Corso in a couple of audience shots.

Jazz on a Summers day is about time and place. It freezes a moment in time and makes it eternal. A time when jazz was common music of american culture. A summers day when people living in the cold war and the Eisenhower era kick off their shoes and truly live. It is filled with moments of deep sighs, AH. Like, the shot of the young girl singing along with Satchmo, if that's not art I don't know what is. The performers too, Mahalia Jackson is a great bodhisattva/angel. The cinematography is vibrant. You've never seen the fifties this real.

I actually love the parts that digress from the festival. Even though I regret not seeing all of Monk. But it's still magnanimous, and contrary to another comment, the stage announcer that says Monk is "unconcerned" should be understood as Monk is on a different level. He makes music for different reasons. If you don't what that means, just listen. Monk will whisper to you in a dream.

This was a time when the music was more than just refined listening for museums and chamber halls, it oozed into everything. Seeing the boating footage with the Jazz, it's just poetic. Jazz is part of life. It is the expression of life. The people are having a good time on a summers day. A day that seems so far away. This will never happen again. Not like this. This is what great films and art are made of.

There is beauty in every waking moment my friends. Just look. Breathe. Feel. Thank you Bert Stern.

As hip as they come
Bert Stern has both an eye and an ear for jazz, par excellence, capturing the spirit of the Newport Jazz festival in its heyday. This is a wonderful showcase of performances, ranging from the detached Thelonius Monk to the super cool Anita O'Day. But, without doubt, the performance that stands out is that of Mahalia Jackson who brings the crowd to their feet with "40 Days" and then brings them to their knees with her closing psalm, so passionately felt.

The movie takes you through a figurative day, capturing the sea air of Newport, the quiet practice sessions, the ebb and flow of the crowd as it grows to its evening peak, with a rocking performance by Chuck Berry. The Satchmo takes a wonderful turn at the mike with Jack Teargarden joining him in a fun duet. Chico Hamilton is there in all his seriousness with Eric Dolphy highlighting the band's performance. George Shearer looks like he could be playing at the Hollywood Bowl.

I was hoping for more extras on the DVD. The movie leaves you craving for more music. The 50's were the peak of the hip jazz scene and this movie is as hip as they come.

An absolutely wonderful documentary of Jazz
While I've not seen other Jazz movies or documentaries, I've seen Jazz on a Summer's Day on both VHS and on DVD and enjoy it so much that I've watched it several times and just had to purchase it on DVD.

I have always loved the classic Jazz of the 1950's and 1960's and this film documents one of the best Jazz festivals around, and I think this was the first Jazz festival in what we now know as the Newport Jazz festival.

What I love about this film is how Bert Stern uses his movie camera to shoot the film, much like a still camera and framed the shots just the same. I find it works on motion film as on still photography, especially in this kind of documentary where your documenting a concert. I love the B-roll shots of kids playing, grown ups sunbathing, the dixieland jazz band, the couples driving their vintage autos, and of course the Yaught(sp?) club races and overall, I find that Bert Stern does an incredible job of showing the general atmosphere of the concert and the weather of late summer in Rhode Island.

I find this an incredible film that is worthy of multiple viewings. Not just for it's incredible of shooting techniques, but for the music that is represented here. Lots of great names such as Anita O'Day, Thelonious Munk, George Shearing, Dina Washington etc. I love Bert's use of the reflections of the boats on the water for the opening sequence, mated to Jimmy Giuffrie's live rendition of the Train and the River. All in all, I rate this film a definate 5.

A piece of yesterday, live and in color
Bert Stern was a still photographer who got the opportunity to take a film crew to the 1959 Newport Jazz festival. With limited time and film, Stern and his crew set out not just to record a musical event, but to record a social experience.

For the most part, he succeeds, although there is more than enough footage of a boat race on Chesapeake bay that day to last me for the rest of my life.

The film cuts from performances to reactions of the crowd, as any concert film would. It's interesting to see the wide difference in clothing styles that appealed to people in 1959. Everything from men in suits to greasers in denim can be seen dancing and grooving along with the music.

People living nearby the festival can be seen partying on their roofs and dancing, booze in hand, to the music. People of every age are shown bopping along with whoever is on stage at the time.

Highlights: Anita O'Day's spot-on performance, in spite of the fact that she's well into her much-ballyhooed drug and booze habit (in a recent radio interview she said she couldn't remember doing this gig after even watching the film); Louis Armstrong, Jerry Mulligan, and the rather out-of-place, clearly there-for-the-kids but dressed to the nines and behaving himself, Chuck Berry. Older jazz guys have no idea what to make of Chuck, and one guy, in an attempt to "jazz up" Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen," starts playing some rather odd clarinet runs. Think "Sweet Little Bar Mitzvah."

There's a nice bunch of extras on here, too, including an interview with Stern that expalins a lot about what was going on.
If you like jazz, or documentaries, or just good music, this is a keeper. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great Woman of Gospel!!
Mahalia is the best. Without any reservation, she tops all gospel singers.

it's its mahalia at her best.....
if u like the baptist and pentecostal shouting mahalia this is something u have too have and see.i have all her vhs tapes and thisis my favorite....5 stars really from scale of 1 to 5 stars i rateit 10 stars plus....she's still the best to be gotten in gospel.i would rather pay 100.00 for mahalia then anyother gospel singer i know....she's still the queen on her thone when it comes to gospel music.no other gospel singer on this earth i've heard can touch her beautiful voice......she's still this worlds greatest gospel singer.....

Great
These videos are great, fantastic and wonderful. The videos show Mahalia at her best!!!! ... Read more