Rating: Summary: Alot of Cash Review: A veritable enough-to-make-a-grown-man-cry collection of rare performance clips, mostly complete. On the interview side, there's alot of gushing over the Legend, though it's quite sincere: Judy Collins view on the Cash-Folk connection is very compelling, and longtime JC admirer [and Cash Tribute producer] Marty Stuart contributes some nice sections on what Johnny has meant to budding Country talents. Rodney Crowell's words about his own discovery of Cash at age five is heartwarming. Mr. Jack Clement is on hand with fascinating details of Cash's early sessions, plus the development of the post-Sun "Ring of Fire" recording. There are two cassettes in the package, The Johnny Cash Anthology and Half Mile A Day. Simply put, Half Mile is essentially an expanded edition of the Anthology. By the time we've gotten through over 140 minutes of material, we've seen a black and white clip of "Big River" three times. Although, if we're gonna see a clip three times, that's the one. Obviously filmed during his period of struggle, some between 1962 and 1967, probably c. 1964, it's a raging rendition, very well shot and recorded. But the Lincolneseque stoicism we expect yields to exaggeration, possibly something beyond his control at the time. I assume there are better kinescopes from the '50s with this song out there someplace, but this performance is still worth the price of admission. Half A Mile does include a very early "Home of the Blues", but sadly, we hear interviewees overdubbed. Both tapes contain the first performance of "Man In Black", beautifully capturing apparently at a college in 1971. There are several close-ups of spellbound female concert attendees. It's an unusual offering. It's mostly for fans. It's a keeper.
Rating: Summary: Great for younger fans Review: As I am a 12 year old fan of Johnny Cash I have never seen him in concert. But after buying the Johnny Cash- the Anthology DVD I felt that I really saw the true personality that is Johnny Cash. The interviews with friendds, confederates and collegues of Johnny Cash were truely heart-warming and very interesting to listen to. The DVD has only just come out in England where I am; I bought it last week but I have spent at least an hour a day watching it: it is truely magnificent. The one thing that annoys me about it though, along with people talking over the songs, is in the middle of the song 'Man in Black' the camera zooms in and focus' on some girls faces. We don't want to see them, we want to see the guy on the stage!! Never mind though, it's a must have for any Johnny Cash fan. Buy it!!
Rating: Summary: Thank the Lord for the Man In Black Review: Didn't think I'd ever hook up the DVD player I got for Christmas, until I just got this and David Allan Coe's DVD for my Birhtday and that meant I had to hook it up and fast! I've watched them over and over. This is wonderful.
Rating: Summary: The man we all know and LOVE!!! Review: Everybody knows and loves him. Most people wish to be him. But there was only one "Man in Black." This DVD captures the man and his music from the early days at Sun Records and up through the years. It is a great recollection of his hits along with commentary from several artists that were inspired by his music. Don't miss out on an excellent retrospective of a man that will never be replaced. He was one of a kind and this DVD proves that his influence on all music will go on forever.
Rating: Summary: The man we all know and LOVE!!! Review: Everybody knows and loves him. Most people wish to be him. But there was only one "Man in Black." This DVD captures the man and his music from the early days at Sun Records and up through the years. It is a great recollection of his hits along with commentary from several artists that were inspired by his music. Don't miss out on an excellent retrospective of a man that will never be replaced. He was one of a kind and this DVD proves that his influence on all music will go on forever.
Rating: Summary: A bit of a [take] -- but glad I bought it. Review: I am a great fan of Johnny Cash, but this is a bit of a [take].They obviously couldn't afford rights or couldn't get rights to the film that they needed. Very misleading to have the interviewees introducing key events but have the film be the song from some other occasion. For example talking about the Folsom Prison show, but showing film from an awful studio performance. Another example, there are no segments from the ABC TV show -- even though this is regularly implied in the interviews. I can understand why they couldn't get the rights -- but why deliberately mislead? The producer could at least have put up a subtitle giving the actual date of each clip. The second program is a [take]-- recycling almost exactly the same material in a longer format. I think there were only two more chunks of Cash performing -- the rest was duplication. Way too much of Judy Collins bragging about how important she was. Interesting to hear Jack Clement describe how Cash said the trumpets in "Ring of Fire" came to him in a dream Nothing of Cash talking himself. Obviously, he was not in support of this production. Glad I bought it -- for these performances: The intense early TV performances of "Big River" and "Five Feet High" by the clearly high Cash (he was "wired" as Rodney Crowell puts it.) The performance of Johnny and June doing "Jackson" live is very good. The film of his first public performance (for a group of students) of "The Man in Black" is much more sincere, in my opinion, than the released recording.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: I can't get enough of Johnny Cash, I'm glad I purchased this DVD. Lots of Johnny in his younger days. A lot of his hits uninterrupted This is a must for any Johnny Cash fan.
Rating: Summary: Great history of Johnny's career Review: I loved this tape. We see Johnny Cash as a young man, skinny and edgy, reckless and a bit foreboding, in his early days of music, then see him change into a somber serious minded artist who's dark side of music and earth bound ways grip us with his undaunted spirit. We see him mature, evolve, become a bit weathered with age, but no less believable. He commands your attention, the commentary from other stars and artists flourish this great documentary with a personal touch. It took me back in time, to my youth when I first met Johnny Cash and I purchased this immediately after his passing. Later, I read his music sales had gone up 300% after his death. If you love Johnny Cash this one is a collectors item of great memorabilia. Highly recommended as a memoir. You will be missed, Johnny.
Rating: Summary: May he rest in peace Review: In these crazy times, and in light of today's fickle marketful of pretenders and johnny-come-latelys, Johnny Cash's passing leaves a void that will never be satisfactorily filled. After a wildly tormented life, Johnny now finally rests in peace, while we are left with fifty years' worth of legendary material which resists comprehensive summation. This DVD, however, makes a convincing case for Johnny as THE nonpareil figure in country music history, and probably the greatest songster in popular music history.
Rating: Summary: A Really Good Overview Review: Johnny Cash is one of those Musical Figures&Icons that you just relate to whatever He is presenting.this Documentary showcases the Depth&Legacy Of one of the Most Important Voices in all of Music History.the Musical Segements are on Point&the Interviews truly Highlight His Solid Career as a Artist.you come away wanting even more.
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