Average customer rating:
- Three- I Mean Four- I Mean Five (Maybe Six) Funny Brothers
- Horrible version of a great documentary
- Dissapointing
- High marx!
- A real disappointment
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The Unknown: Marx Brothers
Starring:
Leslie Nielsen ,
Margaret Dumont ,
Harpo Marx ,
Bill Marx , and
George Schlatter
Director:
David Leaf
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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Similar Items:
-
The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell
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Harpo Speaks!
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The Marx Brothers Collection (A Night at The Opera/A Day at The Races/A Night in Casablanca/Room Service/At the Circus/Go West/The Big Store)
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Love Happy
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The Marx Brothers Silver Screen Collection (The Cocoanuts / Animal Crackers / Monkey Business / Horse Feathers / Duck Soup)
ASIN: 1572522097
Release Date: 2000-09-05 |
Amazon.com
Originally broadcast on PBS in 1993 and narrated by Leslie Nielsen, this comprehensive documentary charts the career of the Marx Brothers--Groucho, Harpo, Chico, and sometimes Zeppo--from their beginnings on the vaudeville circuit to their final appearances on popular TV programs and commercials of the 1950s and early '60s. Featuring interviews with many surviving family members, friends, and close associates, the film covers the brothers' early stage careers in great detail, including the origins of their stage names and rare film footage of a sketch from one of their most popular comedy plays. Also fascinating is a long-lost film clip of Harpo in a silent film from 1925--four years before the Marx Brothers made their screen debut in Cocoanuts. The Marx Brothers' film career is not the central focus here. Rather, the film shows us the brothers offscreen (through rare home movies and newsreels) and especially after their retirement from movies. Revealing and affectionate toward its subjects, this is a must-see for any Marx Brothers fan. The DVD includes several hilarious outtakes from Groucho's quiz-show career as host of You Bet Your Life, and a "Zoom-links" feature that offers additional film clips at given points throughout the documentary. --Jeff Shannon
Description
Narrator Leslie Nielsen leads a journey through rare home movies, insightful interviews with family members, never-before-seen out-takes and hilarious film clips to paint an intimate portrait of the men known as the Marx Brothers. DVD includes: Interacti
Customer Reviews:
Three- I Mean Four- I Mean Five (Maybe Six) Funny Brothers.......2007-03-15
The Marx Brothers rank among the best comedians of all time. Their brand of humor is timeless, proven by their popularity surge with a new generation in the 1960s. Today, they are as fresh as ever. This documentary, narrated by Leslie Nielsen, celebrates their beginnings, their films, and their lives after fame. Commentors include film historians and family members, mostly children.
You'll learn about the way the siblings grew up and entered show business, how they found comedy, why Chico played piano and Harpo played the harp, how they met their wives, behind the scenes jokes, and show business after feature films. We see many clips from rare sources such as home movies, talk show appearances, and many bits from Groucho's quiz show You Bet Your Life.
Unfortunately, many of the clips from the films of the brothers are rather fuzzy even though better material is available. Ironically, many of the outtakes are quite clear. The beginning of the film can be quite confusing as well because information about each Marx brother is sliced together. Without a nametag for the commentators who refer to each brother simply by "my father" or "my uncle," it is next to impossible to determine who they are talking about without extensive outside knowledge. Another flaw is with the content itself. Just as history tends to do, the film slowly forgets about Zeppo and Gummo. They are mentioned briefly in the beginning when talking about the nicknames, but especially at the end, they are ignored.
Horrible version of a great documentary.......2007-01-08
When I ordered this from PBS on VHS years ago it was 2 hours and 6 minutes and I watched it over and over again, one of the best Hollywood documentaries I had ever seen.
This DVD version is 40 MINUTES SHORTER !!!
What a rip-off...save your money and buy the VHS, hopefully THAT hasn't been demolished in recent years.
Dissapointing.......2006-11-05
Very little of the documentary seems to focus on the years before they started making films. They speak very little about Gummo, or why Zeppo left the act after Duck Soup. There seems to be an imbalanced amount of focus on the "You Bet Your Life" period for Groucho.
There is some very interesting scenes of early test shots of one of their Broadway plays that was never made to film, as well as test shooting for a television show that was never made. Also, there are some fascinating facts about their lives; but as documentaries go this one is poorly edited and incomplete.
High marx!.......2006-02-12
For longtime fans this is absolutely essential, especially for those of us who enjoy researching those missing pieces of the puzzle - the "unknown" stuff. There are many segments here which will leave the most determined sleuth slack-jawed. We've read about many of these late career MB TV appearances and we are treated to lengthy excerpts - so many documentaries offer "slide show" bits and pieces.
I was unaware of most of these kinescopes and am delighted to be able to view even a few seconds of them. The Groucho guest shot on The Jack Benny Show is in very good quality; the writing and performance is excellent. Both comedy legends get to do their thing in a classy setting. A long clip features Milton Berle and Harpo and similarly we get two for the price of one. Harpo is so good soloing and clowning in front of Uncle Miltie's orchestra, that Mr. Television himself has a hard time not laughing during the piece.
I was fascinated to learn more about Groucho's struggle to keep a radio show in the '30s/'40s; and the origins and development of "You Bet Your Life". And to have George Fenneman on hand to reminisce is a great plus.
As an Amazon reviewer points out, the documentary would have benefitted by including more of Zeppo and Gummo, and by offering criticism of the movies. They made many movies but unfortunately perhaps only four can be considered classics. Considering the level of talent on this team, it's really astonishing that Hollywood seemed to make a conscious decision at one point force them to work with second-rate material and directors not really suited to them.
This offer is not as sophisticated as "In A Nutshell", in fact, Leslie Nielson's narration is curiously low-key, but this quiet, respectful program has enduring qualities. The children of Groucho, Chico, and Harpo, speak warmly of their parents. It's a nice touch that Harpo's son wrote original music for this package.
A real disappointment.......2005-11-17
One expects the DVD version of a documentary to be complete. This is not.
The package states that the running time is approximately 2:06, which is the length of the original program. This DVD runs for only 1:26, meaning that almost exactly one-third of the material was omitted! It's a shame, because in its full version this is a wonderful documentary on the brothers Marx. (I would be giving it 5 stars if it were complete.)
One other cautionary note: this is not the PBS documentary on the Marxes cited in other reviews (that one is "The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell" and is well worth purchasing). This program originally aired (in two parts) on The Disney Channel.
Average customer rating:
- the history of lucy
- Great clips, but not enough Lucy
- When Stars Ruled Hollywood
- A SHODDY COMPILATION OF A BIG TV STAR'S CAREER
- THE BEST NEVER BEFORE SEEN
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CBS Salutes Lucy - The First 25 Years
Starring:
Lucille Ball ,
Desi Arnaz ,
Vivian Vance ,
Gale Gordon , and
Bob Hope
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Biography
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| ( B )
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| ( B )
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| ( B )
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| ( C )
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| ( F )
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| ( M )
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| ( M )
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| ( M )
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| ( S )
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| ( S )
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The I Love Lucy - 50th Anniversary Special
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I Love Lucy - The Complete Seasons 7-9
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Lucy's Lost Episodes
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Stone Pillow
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Here's Lucy - Best Loved Episodes from the Hit TV Series
ASIN: B000056N8P
Release Date: 2001-02-06 |
Amazon.com
This is Lucy at her finest: getting drunk on Vitameatavegamin, stuffing chocolates down her dress on the assembly line, sinking in quicksand with Jack Benny, and making movie deals with fellow cleaning woman Carol Burnett. This 1976 tribute to Lucille Ball captures prize moments from her three television series (most notably I Love Lucy), highlights from her movie career, and excerpts from numerous other TV appearances. Each segment of the 97-minute special is introduced by famous cohorts, from series regulars such as ex-husband Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and Gale Gordon to sometime coworkers like John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dick Van Dyke. Although she lived another 13 years after this special was made and had a fourth go at a TV series, this DVD captures the most brilliant moments of her trademark physical comedy. The red-haired queen of American comedy makes an appearance at the end when Jimmy Stewart gives her an honorary plaque, making for a nostalgic moment. A short time later the credits roll, revealing that Ball's production company was behind the tribute and reminding viewers she wasn't a bad businesswoman either. --Kimberly Heinrichs
Description
Known as the funniest woman in television history, Lucille Ball was one of a kind. With her outlandish schemes and deadpan zingers, the red-headed actress became legendary, and with her TV shows in wide syndication for years, loved for generations around the world. For good reason, CBS adored Lucy and in 1976 gathered the cast members and many guest stars to participate in a very special television celebration of Lucy's amazing TV life--"CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years." Guest stars include Jimmy Stewart, Richard Burton, John Wayne, Milton Berle, Johnny Carson, George Burns, Jack Benny, Carol Burnett, William Holden, Bob Hope, Harpo Marx, Dean Martin, Red Skelton and more.
Customer Reviews:
the history of lucy.......2007-01-10
i enjoyed this dvd very much it showed all the celebertis she worked with
Great clips, but not enough Lucy.......2005-03-11
This program was a great tribute to a wonderful actress. All of Lucy's best and funniest moments are shown here Vitametavegemin, candy factory, grape stomping etc. It was also nice to see all the big stars at the time paying tribute to Lucy. It makes me sad to see how many we have lost over the years. This DVD should have had a lot more of Lucy in it. She is only on at the very end of the DVD to accept a plaque. You would think that since this was a tribute to her, she would have been in it a lot more.
When Stars Ruled Hollywood.......2002-11-23
This show is so full of Hollywood Stars and I mean when stars were Stars. Legends. It's one of the greatest tributes of all time. If your a fan of the older stars you'll love this. I'm talking about a time in history when Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra were in their heyday this is for you. Such class and elegance is unfortunately lost in our society today. If you want to see that again, BUY THIS DVD. As a matter of fact buy two copies. It's well worth the investment.
A SHODDY COMPILATION OF A BIG TV STAR'S CAREER.......2001-08-17
CBS RUSHED THIS TV SPECIAL OUT BACK IN '76 TO MASSAGE THE EGO OF ITS' BIGGEST PRIME TIME MONEY MAKER OF ALL TIME. SHE WAS IN SEMI-RETIREMENT WHEN THIS TV SPECIAL AIRED. CLAD IN A WIG, UGLY GOWN AND DRAG QUEEN LIKE MAKE-UP, LUCY'S ACCEPTS A JIVE PLAQUE FROM JAMES STEWART AT THE END OF THIS TIRED MONTAGE OF HER TV WORK. SHE SEEMED JUST HAPPY TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO. BACKGAMMON,BOOZE AND CIGARETTES WAS WHAT SHE PASSED TIME WITH IN HER LONELY BEVERLY HILLS MANSION. HER HUSBAND, GARRY MORTON WAS PLAYING TENNIS AND SLEEPING AROUND. SAD FINAL YEARS OF TV'S TOP STAR.
THE BEST NEVER BEFORE SEEN.......2001-07-27
I THINK THAT IS GREAT THAT THEY MADE THIS ONE FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT LUCILLE BALL WAS CAPABLE OF. THEY SHOW A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF SHE DID DURING HER CARRER. I THINK SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST FEMALE COMEDIAN THAT EVER LIVED.
Average customer rating:
- Absolutely unbelievable!
- Don't Judge a DVD By Its Cover
- Tom Kelley Sr. cover Art
- Better than I thought
- A glance back at a legend
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We Remember Marilyn
Starring:
Trudi Jo Marie Keck ,
Joe DiMaggio ,
James Bacon ,
John Huston , and
Tom Kelley
Director:
Ted Newsom
Manufacturer: PASSPORT VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
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| ( H )
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| ( M )
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Similar Items:
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Marilyn Monroe - The Mortal Goddess
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The Legend of Marilyn Monroe
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Marilyn Monroe - The Final Days
-
Marilyn Monroe: Remembering
-
Marilyn's Man
ASIN: 6304841051
Release Date: 1998-01-06 |
Amazon.com
"A sex symbol becomes a thing," says Marilyn Monroe, her voice being approximated by Trudi Jo Marie Keck, who also doubles as the editor of We Remember Marilyn, a historical appreciation of the life of the much-vaunted sex goddess. "I always thought symbols were things you clashed together," she continues to muse. "But if I'm going to be a symbol of anything, I'd rather it be sex than some other things there are symbols for. I know how they'll remember me: 'Here lies Marilyn Monroe, 34-24-36.' But, anyway, they'll remember me." And remember her they do, in this concoction written and directed by Ted Newsom (Ed Wood--Look Back in Angora). Newsom doesn't bother to cite the source for the above words ascribed to Ms. Monroe so it's hard to say where they came from, but they pointedly set the tone for any discussion of sex-symbol iconography. The quote is by turns sad and funny--funny because of the lack of self-awareness evinced in the words. And how better to sum up a career that moved between celebrity and the highest seats of power on a vehicle of sex, and ended early and abruptly. Film clips, photos (where Marilyn the icon truly shone), and a rich array of stock footage form the backdrop for the proceedings. At one point, the voice of director John Huston enriches the soundtrack. --Jim Gay
Description
Now for the first time ever, a pure entertainment show of MARILYN MONROE. You'll see film clips of Marilyn in over twenty-five of her most important films. Watch Norma Jean transform from a cuddly young teenager to the most recognizable face and body in the world. From bit parts in LOVE HAPPY and ALL ABOUT EVE to spectacular starring roles such as: THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS, SOME LIKE IT HOT, THE MISFITS, GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES, BUS STOP, HOW TO MARRY A MILLIONAIRE, RIVER OF NO RETURN, SEVEN YEAR ITCH, LADIES OF THE CHORUS, NIAGARA, etc. plus - many rare photos and a new "MARILYN" song written especially for this show.
And, as a bonus, you'll see Marilyn's original screen test for ASPHALT JUNGLE, plus numerous T.V. appearances and very rare color homemovies. WE REMEMBER MARILYN is truly a visual feast.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely unbelievable!.......2006-10-03
This DVD is so good that I'm almost beyond words. I've read every book about her and never thougtht that I'd see the film footage that's contained here. I can't help but wonder where they got it all and how they got it all. I'm just glad they did! This is a REAL treasure. My thanks to previous reviewers whose comments motivated me to buy this.
Don't Judge a DVD By Its Cover.......2005-10-20
One might look at the cover of this DVD and think that it is a cheap look at the legend Marilyn Monroe. The photograph is the famous "Golden Dreams" Playboy nude taken by Tom Kelley, but a black bathing suit has been badly drawn on top. This doctored photo might mislead; We Remember Marilyn is one of the most thorough documentaries available on Monroe.
Monroe's mother's life is described, as well as Monroe's childhood, modeling, romantic relationships, plastic surgery, three marriages, life in films, and personality including her shrewd comments directed at Joan Crawford's criticisms.
This documentary is narrated by John Christopher Hyke and Monroe's words are spoken by the slightly annoyingly childlike voice of Trudi Jo Marie Keck. However, the use of Marilyn's interviews and book My Story, although possibly altered to protect a studio manufactured image, are highly effective and personal. There are also interviews with Jim Dougherty (Monroe's first husband), Jeanne Carmen (Monroe's model friend), and Robert Cornthwaite (fellow actor).
This documentary is filled with archive footage including that from her films and many rare extras. One gets to see Monroe when she was a model, in early commercials, at premieres, award show film, entertaining the troops, in interviews when she was famous, in film taken on the sets of her films, in a video from her announcement of her divorce from Joe DiMaggio, in a video from a hospital visit, and in footage from the president's birthday party.
Overall, this two hour documentary is exceptionally well done and a must have for Marilyn Monroe fans.
Tom Kelley Sr. cover Art.......2002-03-15
Tom Kelley Sr. Did the cover for this video, at his Los Angeles studios. Now Tom Kelley Jr. is trying to snag the real Marilyn, me! But since the real Monroe can't even get an agent, I would rather write hilarious reviews for people to smile and laugh at! I havent seen this video on Marilyns life, but I'm sure her fans will enjoy it since she has started a hysteria that is like a huge most surfable wave, grab anything about Marilyn you can get your hands on! I hope you like this sort of review but I've written so many today I'm getting punchy!-Love to all my fans out there! Whee its me!M.M.-Marilyn Monroe-if I could, I'd sign it here beautifully!
Better than I thought.......2002-01-02
I have the DVD and have never seen the video, so I can't compare the two. However, I was impressed with this Marilyn documentary because it provided many details of MM's life and career, including her brief career at Columbia. Marilyn's words (spoken by someone else) were used appropriately throughout so that you got a sense of Marilyn's pain and struggles. The clips of Marilyn's movies were usually the trailers, but that was fine. Film clips were also presented of her news conferences, tv appearance on Ed Murrow's Person to Person show, and Korea appearance--some clips that I had never seen before. Most importantly, Marilyn is presented with sympathy and compassion; still, she was portrayed realistically, not as a Goddess. My only complaint: I wasn't satisfied with the abrupt ending of the documentary; it appeared as if the creators did not want to speculate on MM's mysterious death. Maybe they were right. Speculation on MM's death could provide another documentary! I recommend purchasing this documentary if you are a MM fan. I have seen it many, many times and am still enthralled.
A glance back at a legend.......2001-03-06
This video is an in-depth look at the life and career of Marilyn Monroe. It displays a woman who was used all her life, but found the determination to make it to the top. Filled with Memories of Marilyn, this video proves to almost make your heart break as you remember her. This is a great recollection of Marilyn for avid fans. For non-fans this is a great look at a Hollywood legend; this could change your mind about this star completely. This video is a must-see!
Average customer rating:
|
The Dick Van Dyke Show/Petticoat Junction/Jack Benny Show/Groucho Marx
Starring:
Dick Van Dyke Show ,
Petticoat Junction ,
Jack Benny , and
G
Manufacturer: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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The Dick Van Dyke Show
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The Jack Benny Program
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ASIN: B0009IWGBY
Release Date: 2005-06-07 |
Average customer rating:
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Johnny Carson and Friends
Manufacturer: PC Treasures, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Marx Brothers
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| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
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Product Features:
- Johnny Carson Show
- Jack Benny
- George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
- You Bet Your Life
ASIN: B000LMIFN6 |
Average customer rating:
- Lots Of Fun With Jack And Groucho! .... 2-Disc Set Featuring 18 TV Episodes With Two Comedy Icons!
|
The Jack Benny & Groucho Marx
Starring:
Jack Benny Show , and
Groucho Marx
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
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Similar Items:
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The Best of the Jack Benny Show, Vol. 1 and 2
ASIN: B0009KA7F4
Release Date: 2005-06-07 |
Customer Reviews:
Lots Of Fun With Jack And Groucho! .... 2-Disc Set Featuring 18 TV Episodes With Two Comedy Icons!.......2006-09-08
This budget-priced 2-Disc "TV Classics" DVD collection from "Platinum Disc Corporation" dishes up a nice, healthy portion of video material featuring two comedy legends -- Groucho Marx and Jack Benny.
The DVD twin-pack contains 18 half-hour episodes of two very popular television programs from the 1950s and early 1960s -- "You Bet Your Life", starring Groucho Marx (aka: "The Best Of Groucho") and "The Jack Benny Program".
Each of the two featured television series in this collection gets its own single-sided disc (with separate Amaray-style Keep Case box). The "You Bet Your Life" disc, in fact, actually contains MORE episodes than what the packaging indicates. There are 13 Groucho shows here, even though the box claims there are only twelve, making this set an even better bargain.
Many of these "You Bet Your Life" installments are new to the DVD-Video format. Well, they're "new" to me at any rate. I have several other DVD releases of "YBYL" and I'm sure that several of the thirteen shows included here are not among those found on other DVDs. Which actually surprised me quite a bit; because I was pretty much expecting the exact same episodes I've already collected via other video discs. But, to my pleasant surprise, I found several programs that I didn't already have.
The "Jack Benny" disc has far less programming than its Groucho counterpart -- 5 episodes. But, even so, this set is a great value. And these Benny programs are just as funny as ever.
The five Jack Benny episodes included are:
1.) "Goldie, Fields, And Glide"
2.) "How Jack Met Mary"
3.) "Hong Kong Suit"
4.) "Jack Goes Christmas Shopping"
5.) "New Year's Show"
Video quality for this set isn't too bad; but it isn't exactly stellar either. The Groucho shows look a tad better than the Benny episodes, IMO. Aspect ratio is the original TV-screen shape of 1.33:1. Audio is a re-mixed Dolby Digital 5.1, but it sounds pretty much the same as the original Mono, which isn't surprising since neither one of these TV series would benefit at all from "enhanced 5.1 Surround Sound" audio.
Speaking of the audio on these discs, it's actually kind of odd to think that a DVD company would even WANT to upgrade the audio of these old Mono programs to a 5.1 Surround soundtrack -- especially Groucho's show, which is 99% dialogue. There is, therefore, no need whatsoever to add any additional "discrete" audio channels to the DVD soundtrack, because no information is going to be sent to the "surrounds" anyhow.
In a program that features nothing but people talking, nearly all audio should stay rooted in the center (front) channel, with virtually nothing going to the rear channels. However, for some reason the Platinum Disc people have re-mixed these shows into some type of "faux 5.1" anyhow. But you could never really tell it. The so-called "enhanced" sound is a complete waste here.
There are no bonus items included on these discs. The packaging claims there are "Scene Selections" for all of these programs. This information, however, is incorrect. No chapter stops are included at all. There is, however, a "Play All" feature on both of the discs.
For fans of old-time 1950s-era television comedy, this 2-DVD set is a good purchase. And at a cost that amounts to mere pocket change per episode, this set is truly a deal that even the mega-penurious Mr. Benny would undoubtedly appreciate.
-----------------------
Other "Jack Benny" and "Groucho Marx" DVD Recommendations.........
Avid Groucho fans will probably want to pick up the nicely-done multi-disc DVD sets that have been issued by "Shout Factory" -- "You Bet Your Life: The Best Episodes" and "You Bet Your Life: The Lost Episodes". There are 36 total episodes included in those sets (18 shows per boxed set), plus many bonus supplements as well -- including outtakes, "stag" reels, 1950s "DeSoto" commercials, and some rarely-seen pilots for other Groucho programs too. Some great stuff in there.
And for admirers of that always-39-year-old violin-playing comedian named Benjamin Kubelsky (aka Jack Benny), GoodTimes Home Video has produced a pretty nice low-priced 2-Disc DVD set called "The Best Of Jack Benny", which contains 17 full-length programs (15 of which are from Jack's own 1950-1965 TV series). The other two shows in that collection include a Benny-hosted special ("The Jack Benny Hour"), plus an episode of Ronald Reagan's "General Electric Theater", which has Jack appearing as a guest star.
Average customer rating:
- Tepid filler with scattered brilliance-better rented than bought
- Wanting More
- A Look into a unusual mind
- Winters wonderful, frustrating documentary
- Johnny Winters One of the All Time Greats
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The Unknown Collection - 3 pack
Starring:
Alexander Walker ,
Peter Sellers ,
David Lodge ,
David Frost , and
Joseph McGrath
Director:
David Leaf , and
John Scheinfeld
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
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Marx Brothers
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Cosby, Bill
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Dumont, Margaret
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| ( M )
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| ( S )
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| ( S )
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Documentary
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( U )
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Similar Items:
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Jonathan Winters: Rare and Riotous
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hungry i Reunion - Mort Sahl, Jonathan Winters
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The Best of Ernie Kovacs
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Old Folks
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Crank(y) Calls
ASIN: B00004U0FO
Release Date: 2000-09-05 |
Amazon.com
Jonathan Winters, a comedian whose improvisational style began breaking all the rules back in the 1950s, looks back on his long, strange career in this documentary filled with some of his most inspired bits. In a clip from a TV appearance in the early 1960s, Winters enters a room filled with hats ranging from medieval crowns to space helmets. In the course of several minutes he changes hats at a furious pace, and as each hat goes onto his head, Winters also assumes the facial expressions and voice of a new character. It's a very funny and very weird bit that few other comics could pull off. Robin Williams, who has always been lavish in his praise of Winters, appears in typically manic interview segments to comment on him as a performer. Winters's wife and children also provide their perspective, and Winters provides insight into how he comes up with his bizarre performances and some memories on the ups and downs of his career, which includes a dark period when he checked himself into a mental hospital. The biographical material is interesting, but of course the real gems in this production are the many clips of Winters performing. He is seen morphing into characters on television programs dating back to the early 1950s, and in one odd segment, he improvises routines in the aisles of a hardware store. --Robert J. McNamara
Customer Reviews:
Tepid filler with scattered brilliance-better rented than bought.......2007-02-15
They short changed the reason we all get this video: Jonathan's performances. Granted, the docufiller is interesting, but belongs in a section titled "Bonus Feature", or "Bio" rather than fragmenting some entertaining out takes.
Probably didn't want to pay all the royalties to get more performances included...
Recommend as a rental rather than a purchase.
Wanting More.......2004-08-19
Jonathan Winters is probably my all-time favorite comedian! I liked this video but wish it had been longer and that many, many more of his comedy routines had been included. The clips were too scattered and too brief, and it just whetted my appetite for more and was frustrating. Appearances by Andy Williams and Robin Williams didn't add much. I did enjoy learning a little about Winters' personal life over the years, and seeing him as he was a couple years ago. I must say I was very glad to locate ANY video about him, but it would be wonderful if someone could put together a complete set of ALL of his routines! That would be fantastic!
A Look into a unusual mind.......2001-07-02
This is a video which is sometimes shown on PBS. It is biographical in nature and truly shows the breadth of his comedy. You'll see Winters as you've probably never seen him before. There is improvisational humor galore and there's also black humor (The Execution). It is very amusing to see the "Straight Men" so totally lost and just enjoying "the master" at work.
Winters wonderful, frustrating documentary.......2001-07-02
Jonathan Winters is really a treasure and it is amazing how many people do not know about him. He is clearly Robin Williams's progenitor, starting out in his television career with sound effects and impersonations, but eventually moving into original characters and amazing improvisations, often based on random objects thrown to him.
This documentary, however, is constantly teasing the viewer who is eager to watch the master. Seldom does a segment or vignette go uninterrupted by cuts from interviews which are sparse, heavy on adoration and low on information. The subjects of these interviews are limited to Andy Williams, Robin Williams (who seems to have little to say about his hero), and family members who tell few stories. Winters himself makes a statement about his nervous breakdown and hospitalization that is firm and uninformative. There is talk about the work on IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD and MORK AND MINDY but no clips. Even when we watch him at play in public places, the camera holds so closely on him, rarely showing the setting or the people he is catching off-guard, that the spontaneity of what we are witnessing is hidden.
A little of Winters is vastly better than none, but this disappoints as a documentary.
Johnny Winters One of the All Time Greats.......2000-11-27
I watched him growing up and seeing this tape on PBS brought back memories of the best improvisational comedian of all time. Robin Williams will tell you, this man inspired him to be, what I would argue to be, the second best of all time...not bad because Williams is very good. The early shows with Jack Paar and Andy Williams are truly classic, and demonstrate the comic genius of Johnny or as he is better known, Jonathan.
Product Description
DIGITALLY MASTERED / INTERACTIVE MENUS / CHAPTER MENUS / DIGITALLY ENHANCED AUDIO 5.1
Average customer rating:
- Absolutely unbelievable!
- Don't Judge a DVD By Its Cover
- Tom Kelley Sr. cover Art
- Better than I thought
- A glance back at a legend
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We Remember Marilyn
Starring:
Trudi Jo Marie Keck ,
Clark Gable ,
Jeanne Carmen ,
Groucho Marx , and
Jack Benny
Director:
Ted Newsom
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Marx Brothers
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| ( B )
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Gable, Clark
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Huston, John
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Marx, Groucho
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Montand, Yves
| ( M )
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Newsom, Ted
| ( N )
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( W )
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Similar Items:
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Marilyn Monroe - The Mortal Goddess
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The Legend of Marilyn Monroe
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Marilyn Monroe - The Final Days
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Marilyn Monroe: Remembering
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Marilyn's Man
ASIN: B00004T8TS |
Amazon.com
"A sex symbol becomes a thing," says Marilyn Monroe, her voice being approximated by Trudi Jo Marie Keck, who also doubles as the editor of We Remember Marilyn, a historical appreciation of the life of the much-vaunted sex goddess. "I always thought symbols were things you clashed together," she continues to muse. "But if I'm going to be a symbol of anything, I'd rather it be sex than some other things there are symbols for. I know how they'll remember me: 'Here lies Marilyn Monroe, 34-24-36.' But, anyway, they'll remember me." And remember her they do, in this concoction written and directed by Ted Newsom (Ed Wood--Look Back in Angora). Newsom doesn't bother to cite the source for the above words ascribed to Ms. Monroe so it's hard to say where they came from, but they pointedly set the tone for any discussion of sex-symbol iconography. The quote is by turns sad and funny--funny because of the lack of self-awareness evinced in the words. And how better to sum up a career that moved between celebrity and the highest seats of power on a vehicle of sex, and ended early and abruptly. Film clips, photos (where Marilyn the icon truly shone), and a rich array of stock footage form the backdrop for the proceedings. At one point, the voice of director John Huston enriches the soundtrack. --Jim Gay
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely unbelievable!.......2006-10-03
This DVD is so good that I'm almost beyond words. I've read every book about her and never thougtht that I'd see the film footage that's contained here. I can't help but wonder where they got it all and how they got it all. I'm just glad they did! This is a REAL treasure. My thanks to previous reviewers whose comments motivated me to buy this.
Don't Judge a DVD By Its Cover.......2005-10-20
One might look at the cover of this DVD and think that it is a cheap look at the legend Marilyn Monroe. The photograph is the famous "Golden Dreams" Playboy nude taken by Tom Kelley, but a black bathing suit has been badly drawn on top. This doctored photo might mislead; We Remember Marilyn is one of the most thorough documentaries available on Monroe.
Monroe's mother's life is described, as well as Monroe's childhood, modeling, romantic relationships, plastic surgery, three marriages, life in films, and personality including her shrewd comments directed at Joan Crawford's criticisms.
This documentary is narrated by John Christopher Hyke and Monroe's words are spoken by the slightly annoyingly childlike voice of Trudi Jo Marie Keck. However, the use of Marilyn's interviews and book My Story, although possibly altered to protect a studio manufactured image, are highly effective and personal. There are also interviews with Jim Dougherty (Monroe's first husband), Jeanne Carmen (Monroe's model friend), and Robert Cornthwaite (fellow actor).
This documentary is filled with archive footage including that from her films and many rare extras. One gets to see Monroe when she was a model, in early commercials, at premieres, award show film, entertaining the troops, in interviews when she was famous, in film taken on the sets of her films, in a video from her announcement of her divorce from Joe DiMaggio, in a video from a hospital visit, and in footage from the president's birthday party.
Overall, this two hour documentary is exceptionally well done and a must have for Marilyn Monroe fans.
Tom Kelley Sr. cover Art.......2002-03-15
Tom Kelley Sr. Did the cover for this video, at his Los Angeles studios. Now Tom Kelley Jr. is trying to snag the real Marilyn, me! But since the real Monroe can't even get an agent, I would rather write hilarious reviews for people to smile and laugh at! I havent seen this video on Marilyns life, but I'm sure her fans will enjoy it since she has started a hysteria that is like a huge most surfable wave, grab anything about Marilyn you can get your hands on! I hope you like this sort of review but I've written so many today I'm getting punchy!-Love to all my fans out there! Whee its me!M.M.-Marilyn Monroe-if I could, I'd sign it here beautifully!
Better than I thought.......2002-01-02
I have the DVD and have never seen the video, so I can't compare the two. However, I was impressed with this Marilyn documentary because it provided many details of MM's life and career, including her brief career at Columbia. Marilyn's words (spoken by someone else) were used appropriately throughout so that you got a sense of Marilyn's pain and struggles. The clips of Marilyn's movies were usually the trailers, but that was fine. Film clips were also presented of her news conferences, tv appearance on Ed Murrow's Person to Person show, and Korea appearance--some clips that I had never seen before. Most importantly, Marilyn is presented with sympathy and compassion; still, she was portrayed realistically, not as a Goddess. My only complaint: I wasn't satisfied with the abrupt ending of the documentary; it appeared as if the creators did not want to speculate on MM's mysterious death. Maybe they were right. Speculation on MM's death could provide another documentary! I recommend purchasing this documentary if you are a MM fan. I have seen it many, many times and am still enthralled.
A glance back at a legend.......2001-03-06
This video is an in-depth look at the life and career of Marilyn Monroe. It displays a woman who was used all her life, but found the determination to make it to the top. Filled with Memories of Marilyn, this video proves to almost make your heart break as you remember her. This is a great recollection of Marilyn for avid fans. For non-fans this is a great look at a Hollywood legend; this could change your mind about this star completely. This video is a must-see!
Average customer rating:
|
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years [Region 2]
Starring:
Lucille Ball ,
Desi Arnaz ,
Vivian Vance ,
Gale Gordon , and
Bob Hope
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Marx Brothers
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| Comedy
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| Video
Arnaz, Desi
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
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Ball, Lucille
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
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Benny, Jack
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
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Burton, Richard
| ( B )
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Carson, Johnny
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Dyke, Dick Van
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Frawley, William
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Gordon, Gale
| ( G )
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Holden, William
| ( H )
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Hope, Bob
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Kaye, Danny
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Martin, Dean
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Marx, Groucho
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Marx, Harpo
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Skelton, Red
| ( S )
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Stewart, James
| ( S )
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Thomas, Danny
| ( T )
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Vance, Vivian
| ( V )
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All Titles
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ASIN: B000058ANZ |
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DVD
DVD