Rating: 
Summary: Only If you LOVE Michael Zaslow
Review: As a big Michael Zaslow (Roger Thorpe, Guiding Light, CBS, 20 plus years) I have this one in my collection. It is a TERRIBLE movie, however. Mediocre plot, dull, boring, podantic, terrible acting.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent movie to keep for a long time
Review: Believe it or not, I watched this DVD yesterday and it was my first time watching it ever. Obviously, what had drawn me to the movie was the title track "you light up my life". The movie itself was an inspiration as well. I must agree with the write up from the viewer below that the primary audience for this DVD is for the young adults who try to make it through life. Let's just say that if you are 25 year old and have the talent of Laurie Robinson to write a song, and sing it with the finest musicians in L.A in their rehearsal room in the first take and then received a big applause from them, you are somebody. I am a musician myself, and I have played with some of the big orchestras at the age of 19 - 25, so I can really relate to this movie. The scene with the conductor and Laurie discussing the ¾ times and the violins up an octave are as real as it can be.
The tune itself is fairly simple, so it was conceivable that someone like Laurie can actually came up with it. As far as the acting is concern, not all the casts were bad. I thought Didi Conn did a great job, so is her pop, the conductor, and Laurie's lover Michael Zaslow.
By the way, I always had the album by Debby Boone, and always thought that Debby Boone sang in the movie. Then one day, I found the original vinyl LP soundtrack in my local Goodwill store for 50 cents, and I was totally shock! The title track in the record was 100% better then the Debby Boone version, and it was not sang by Debby Boone. It was sung by Kasey Cysik, One of New York's top session singers at the time. Here is what Debby Boone had to say about Kacey: "Joe Brooks wrote a screenplay and hired Kacey Cisyk to sing five songs for the soundtrack, including the title theme. Later, Kacey claimed she was never paid for that recording session, and her name did not appear in the movie credits. When the soundtrack album came out, her name was misspelled and she was listed as a "background singer."
Kacey Cisyk is the reason I purchased the DVD. She actually had a small part in the movie. She played the 1st Bridesmaid, and you can actually see her recording with Didi Conn in Chapter 3 of your DVD. She said to Didi Conn after the song Do you have a Piano: that was a really good song, and Didi Conn replies: Thanks Casey. Then you also will see Kacey sat in the studio while Didi Conn talks to Si (your pop in the movie) on the phone.
Anyhow, after watching the DVD, I noticed that my original vinyl LP soundtrack is still the best of the best, Kacey's voice dominates through out the record. They must have recorded the long version in the soundtrack in a latter session just for the record. By the way, Kacey was married to Jack Cortner (Song writter) and later married to Ed Rakowicz (sound man). Sadly, Kacey died of breast cancer in 1998 (5 days before her 45th birthday). Kacey's sister, Maria Cisyk (a concert pianist) also died recently of breast cancer in 2003. Enjoy the DVD and the vinyl LP if you can get it.
Rating:
Summary: HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE IT?
Review: BUT,,,,,I loved this movie. It doesn't get anymore corny than this but still this movie has feelings and warmth. This is the underdog of bad films. It's like cheering for the most unpopular kid you went to high school with. Sorry folks and critics, i'm cheering for this one. I really loved it. (maybe it's the song)
Rating:
Summary: Beyond campy and beyond bad!!!!
Review: BUT,,,,,I loved this movie. It doesn't get anymore corny than this but still this movie has feelings and warmth. This is the underdog of bad films. It's like cheering for the most unpopular kid you went to high school with. Sorry folks and critics, i'm cheering for this one. I really loved it. (maybe it's the song)
Rating:
Summary: The Single Worst Movie I've Ever Seen
Review: Debbie Boone had a monster hit with her recording of the pop song "You Light Up My Life;" the Didi Conn film of the same name, however, was a horrifically embarrasing flop. Conn plays the stereotypically goofy-homely-vulnerable girl who is in love with Michael Zaslow, who plays the stereotypical yuppie-wannabe guy. They are engaged, but every one knows that Zaslow isn't going to marry any one that isn't blonde and built, so only Didi is surprised when he dumps her. Needless to say, Didi is quite embarrassed. Fortunately, she has been doing a little songwriting in her spare time, and she's come up with a tune she thinks is pretty nifty. She calls it--can you guess?--"You Light Up My Life." She hops in the car and drives off to the big city to sell her song and make a new life. Now, I recall sitting in the theatre and watching her hop in the car to drive off to the big city, and thinking "Well thank heavens, we've finally got all the exposition out of the way. Now maybe something interesting will happen." And something interesting did happen. THE CREDITS ROLLED.Yep, that was it. Not only was the movie badly acted, badly written, and badly filmed, it also ended in the middle. This movie is a really, profoundly bad movie, and we're not talking cult-movie-bad here. We're talking unmitigated flop, a real yawner from start to finish. If you liked the Debbie Boone song by all means buy a copy of it. But don't waste your time or money on this flick. This is one movie you'll be glad you missed.
Rating: 
Summary: Simple plot, simple story- but timeless life lesson
Review: I remember going to the theatre to see this film during the summer of '77. No, it's not of a "Meryl Streep/Oscar winning" level in production or acting. If it were, the true power of this film would have been lost. Some of the critical reviews are overlooking the lesson this movie delivered. The movie is about believing in yourself despite obstacles, "sudden punches," and quick turns life can give hand out. It's about staying true to your chosen course and the power and belief in one's self because of the support and belief others have in you. I remember walking out of the film more affected than I thought I would be due to the last scene of the movie with Didi Conn's affecting performance and some her last lines: "I learned something today, Pop. It was really painful, but I learned something. I learned that I have to depend on myself. I can't depend on anybody else and that's ok. You know why? Because I'm a really good person to depend on. Maybe I don't have someone that I thought I loved a lot really, but that's ok because I've got me. And I've got my work. And I've got my music. And I love that- more than anything else on this earth." I was 25 and at the beginning of making my life choices in career, living on my own, and all the other "adult responsibilites" that come at you in that time in your life whether you're ready or not. I think that's why this film had the impact on me that it did. Maybe if some of the other reviewers- and people who watch this film- look back at that phase in their lives and evaluate the film again in comparison to their 20-something "coming into the real world" experiences, they may modify their original opinions as to the movie's quality. Yes, I think the film ended a bit abruptly. It would have been a bit of a happy, selfish, enjoyable pleasure to see Laurie Robinson revel in her success because of her perseverance and hard work. At least the viewer was left with the fact that she did become a winner. Everyone needs "happy ending" movies every once in awhile! I am now going to put this DVD in my player and watch this movie I haven't seen in 26 years just so I can see Ms. Conn's ending performance/scene that has stayed with me all this time and hope it still has the same positive power and impression....
Rating:
Summary: Simple plot, simple story- but timeless life lesson
Review: I remember going to the theatre to see this film during the summer of '77. No, it's not of a "Meryl Streep/Oscar winning" level in production or acting. If it were, the true power of this film would have been lost. Some of the critical reviews are overlooking the lesson this movie delivered. The movie is about believing in yourself despite obstacles, "sudden punches," and quick turns life can give hand out. It's about staying true to your chosen course and the power and belief in one's self because of the support and belief others have in you. I remember walking out of the film more affected than I thought I would be due to the last scene of the movie with Didi Conn's affecting performance and some her last lines: "I learned something today, Pop. It was really painful, but I learned something. I learned that I have to depend on myself. I can't depend on anybody else and that's ok. You know why? Because I'm a really good person to depend on. Maybe I don't have someone that I thought I loved a lot really, but that's ok because I've got me. And I've got my work. And I've got my music. And I love that- more than anything else on this earth." I was 25 and at the beginning of making my life choices in career, living on my own, and all the other "adult responsibilites" that come at you in that time in your life whether you're ready or not. I think that's why this film had the impact on me that it did. Maybe if some of the other reviewers- and people who watch this film- look back at that phase in their lives and evaluate the film again in comparison to their 20-something "coming into the real world" experiences, they may modify their original opinions as to the movie's quality. Yes, I think the film ended a bit abruptly. It would have been a bit of a happy, selfish, enjoyable pleasure to see Laurie Robinson revel in her success because of her perseverance and hard work. At least the viewer was left with the fact that she did become a winner. Everyone needs "happy ending" movies every once in awhile! I am now going to put this DVD in my player and watch this movie I haven't seen in 26 years just so I can see Ms. Conn's ending performance/scene that has stayed with me all this time and hope it still has the same positive power and impression....
Rating:
Summary: It's not THAT bad...
Review: I saw this movie when I was about 11 or 12 and I LOVED it--it was a very sensitive, sentimental story of a woman becoming independent, and it had my favorite song at the time in it--the kind of movie that was made for a sensitive girl like me--what more could I ask for? I recently saw it again (very surprised to see it on DVD!), expecting it to be really bad, but it was pretty good! Sure it has aged a bit, but it's certainly no worse than a lot of other 1970s melodramas. Didi Conn is a good actress! I think it's amazing that Joseph Brooks wrote, directed, produced, acts in (small part) this movie PLUS wrote, arranged and conducted all the music! He should get props for that. A very nice memento of the small character films of the 70s.
Rating:
Summary: HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE IT?
Review: Is it corny - yes. Is the acting terrific - no. Why do I like it so much? - it depicts what to me is one of the most important, beautiful things in life - unqualified love between parent and child and vica versa.
Rating:
Summary: although TERRIBLE...
Review: It may be the worst movie made....but i saw it ONLY ONCE 6 years ago and being a "frenchie" and GREASE fanatic i loved it! =) and today i finally remembered the name of the movie! i spent 6 years looking for it! now, im gonna buy it, but not a new one, A VERY USED ONE! does anyone have a 2 dollar copy?
hehe
|
