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 (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 (1)

A tattered signpost of late sixties indie cinema
After working on Easy Rider, Terry Southern began collaborating with Aram Avakian on an intense adaptation of John Barth's debut novel. Shot in the summer and fall of 1968, when America was reeling from assasinations, the quagmire of Vietnam, rioting and ideological meltdown, the resulting film transforms Barth's existential character study into a chilling, visually stunning critique of political, sexual and cultural dysfunction. If the film's reach sometimes exceeds its grasp, there is still much that astonishes in this rarely screened film: the superb acting by Stacy Keach, James Earl Jones, Dorothy Tristan and Harris Yulin; the feature film debut of legendary cinematographer Gordon Willis; the haunting opening montage that relate's the lead's typical boomer upbringing against the horrorshow of post-WWII history; the music supervised by jazz producer George Avakian; and last, but not least, the uncompromising visionary screenplay by Terry Southern, Aram Avakian and Dennis McGuire. If you are a big fan of such end-of-sixties films as Performance and Two-Lane Blacktop, this is definitely your cup of tea. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Litle guy beats the diamond syndicate.
I enjoyed this movie. It is different. I got it for my wife as I think she will enjoy it because she is a diamond professional and the movie revolves around a diamond heist at a diamond brokerage house, presumably DeBeers. Very anti-establishment.
Must see for anyone with a connection to diamonds. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Insult to Injury
ON TOP of the 2 previous reviews about cut scenes,awkward edits ad nauseum of this classic movie, this VHS version is also SPED UP!! This is an outrage.Now the rocket scientists a UA feel that we should have a movie that we paid for shortened not only by edits but by speed.Cliff Gorman sounds like Mickey Mouse in some scenes.Even the ending was butchered.Why are these people in charge of production? I know the attention span of most Americans is about 5 minutes,however I want what I paid for!

Such a Shame...
This is one of my all-time favorite films. I waited years and years for it to come out in video, only to find out that the VHS version was the same version that had been unmercifully edited for commercial TV. I agree with the disappointment expressed by a previous reviewer, and can only hope that the complete version (with its exquisite ending) will be included if and when it comes out on DVD. That would be worth five stars to me!

Good Movie, Zilch Video
Two New York City cops have had enough of the 'system' and decide on a high level robbery. This theme is presented in a somewhat light hearted manner along with interesting photography of the work-a-day person life.
With the video (and current tv version) the story line is still there. But apparently the plodding nature of the film prompted cutting and editing by someone who had little sense of the feeling and flow of the movie. Many scenes have been awkwardly shortened, remixed or completely removed. Hopefully an original copy still exists on the premium cable channels.

Gone,Good Bye !
Remember New York before Starbucks,Donald Trump,24 year old millionaire traders and Disney at Times Square? I sure do. This film has excellent location filming and emits a wonderful male midlife crisis in full bloom.Sex and crime go together,so I'm told.If you are over 35 and remember the early 70's,wide ties and funk,get this movie and go back...It's better than here!However this is the SAME bad edited version that has been on cable recenly.Does MGM video watch the movies they release? NO.NO,NO! Movie 4 stars,Video 1 star.

Wonderful light humor in a story with surprising twists.
My wife and I saw this film in a theater 25 years ago without benefit of critical review and having never heard of the actors. We were pleasantly surprised. We found the quality of the acting, staging, and the seemingly happen-stance story line outstanding. The humor was natural rather than contrived. This was the first film I can remember seeing where the ending was not prescribed by the predictable standards of film making prior to that decade. Cops and Robbers is a film which includes light humor with suspense. I regard this movie as one of the best I have ever seen in this peculiar genera. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Insult to Injury
ON TOP of the 2 previous reviews about cut scenes,awkward edits ad nauseum of this classic movie, this VHS version is also SPED UP!! This is an outrage.Now the rocket scientists a UA feel that we should have a movie that we paid for shortened not only by edits but by speed.Cliff Gorman sounds like Mickey Mouse in some scenes.Even the ending was butchered.Why are these people in charge of production? I know the attention span of most Americans is about 5 minutes,however I want what I paid for!

Such a Shame...
This is one of my all-time favorite films. I waited years and years for it to come out in video, only to find out that the VHS version was the same version that had been unmercifully edited for commercial TV. I agree with the disappointment expressed by a previous reviewer, and can only hope that the complete version (with its exquisite ending) will be included if and when it comes out on DVD. That would be worth five stars to me!

Good Movie, Zilch Video
Two New York City cops have had enough of the 'system' and decide on a high level robbery. This theme is presented in a somewhat light hearted manner along with interesting photography of the work-a-day person life.
With the video (and current tv version) the story line is still there. But apparently the plodding nature of the film prompted cutting and editing by someone who had little sense of the feeling and flow of the movie. Many scenes have been awkwardly shortened, remixed or completely removed. Hopefully an original copy still exists on the premium cable channels.

Gone,Good Bye !
Remember New York before Starbucks,Donald Trump,24 year old millionaire traders and Disney at Times Square? I sure do. This film has excellent location filming and emits a wonderful male midlife crisis in full bloom.Sex and crime go together,so I'm told.If you are over 35 and remember the early 70's,wide ties and funk,get this movie and go back...It's better than here!However this is the SAME bad edited version that has been on cable recenly.Does MGM video watch the movies they release? NO.NO,NO! Movie 4 stars,Video 1 star.

Wonderful light humor in a story with surprising twists.
My wife and I saw this film in a theater 25 years ago without benefit of critical review and having never heard of the actors. We were pleasantly surprised. We found the quality of the acting, staging, and the seemingly happen-stance story line outstanding. The humor was natural rather than contrived. This was the first film I can remember seeing where the ending was not prescribed by the predictable standards of film making prior to that decade. Cops and Robbers is a film which includes light humor with suspense. I regard this movie as one of the best I have ever seen in this peculiar genera. ... Read more

Description

Adaptation of Albert Payson Terhune's novel about a dog that brings renewed life to a child. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A movie you'll cherish forever
If you like lassie this movie is the one for you. Lad a dog has been my childhood favorite caulley and always will be. This film is great for adults and children. A truly touching story!

Keep the tissues handy!
This is one of those movies from childhood, I actually had one, that you never forget. Angela Cartwright plays a handicapped little girl who finds love, understanding and healing in her families beloved Collie. Why this movie hasn't made it do DVD yet, I can't imagine.

It is a wholesome family film that people of all ages can enjoy. The movie does have some serious and heavy moments as well. If the man who burns the family barn down doesn't convince you that evil exists, nothing will. "Lad, A Dog" will bring laughter and tears and I will continue to hope for a proper Widescreen DVD release if Warner will dig it out of its vault. Enjoy the VHS in the meanwhile! Best Wishes, CAL

Film From Childhood that Still Touches the Heart
I saw this one at the very young age of nine and it remains one of the best dog lover's films of all time. Angela Cartwright, later to star on "Lost in Space" and on the big screen as one of the Von Trapp children in "The Sound of Music," is quite effective as the crippled child who is "healed" by the love she has for a canine. Peter Breck, Peggy McCay, and Carroll O'Connor are very good as the principal adults.

Be warned, however. Get out the box of tissue during the aftermath of the fire. Not since the death of "Ole' Yeller" has their been a more poignant scene.

AN EXCELLENT MOVIE FOR CHILDREN & ADULTS ALIKE
I HAVE ENJOYED THE MOVIE LAD A DOG IMMENSELY. COULD YOU HAVE FOUND A BETTER ACTRESS (CHILD) THAN ANGELA CARTWRIGHT--SHE PLAYS THE PART BEAUTIFULLY. ELIZABETH TAYLOR GREW TO LOVE COLLIES THROUGH HER ROLES IN THE EARLY LASSIE MOVIES. BUT I FEEL THAT LAD A DOG IS A BETTER MOVIE THAN ANY OF THE LASSIE MOVIES. FIRST THE SETTING IS WONDROUS AND PEGGY MCCAY AND PETER BRECK PLAY THEIR PARTS SO WONDERFULLY. THE WRITER HAS CAPTURED THE TRUE ESSENCE OF BEING AN ARTIST. TREMAYNE IS A WRITER--THEIR HOME & GROUNDS ARE WONDROUS, BUT YOU ARE LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT TO BE A GOOD WRITER, DOES NOT EXACTLY INCUR WEALTH. STEPHEN & ELIZABETH TREMAYNE ARE NOT AS WEALTHY AS GLURE, BUT THE SEEM TO HAVE A RICHNESS IN CHARACTER AND IN ART THAT HE DOES NOT POSSESS. THE DOG THAT WAS USED IN THE MOVIE--HOW GORGEOUS--BRAINS & BEAUTY DO GO HAND IN HAND! ALL OF THE SCENES ARE SO NATURAL--HOW COULD A DOG PERFORM SO WONDERFULLY IN A MOVIE SETTING. HE PLAYS THE PART SO GRACIOUSLY. THE TRI COLOR IN THE MOVIE IS ANOTHER ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL DOG--IF YOU LOVE THE COLLIE, THIS MOVIE IS FOR YOU. A TRUE APPRECIATION OF THE COLLIE--IN FANCIER'S TERMS FOR FANCIERS, ARTISTRY FOR THE SENSES, INTELLECT, AND IMAGINATION, AND FOR THOSE WHO APPRECIATE INTELLIGENCE IN THE COLLIE--THIS ONE IS FOR YOU. I FEEL THAT EVERY CHILD AND ADULT SHOULD VIEW THIS MOVIE--IT IS TRULY A CLASSIC.

Sad but good
this movie is about a little lame girl and a collie named Lad. Lad loves the little girl but the girls father doesnt want his daughter to like him, a very touching story, and very sad. ... Read more