The Great American Songbook

From the Editors

No Description Available.<br><b>Genre: </b>Documentary<br><b>Rating: </b>NR<br><b>Release Date: </b>22-APR-2003<br><b>Media Type: </b>DVD
Product Description

Customer Response

Wonderful trip back in time
What a great DVD. I have watched it several times since receiving it and thoroughly enjoyed each viewing. It really makes you want to watch more of the great old movies! What a treasure!

Excellent!
A wonderful review of the history of popular music. A must see for music lovers.

A musical history lesson
This is a delightful DVD to see and to have in one's collection. All the stars from song and stage over the past century are profiled. From Gershwin to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Even Judy Garland takes one over the rainbow and back with her soft, melodic voice. This is a DVD indeed worth investing in. You will enjoy it time and again with friends and family.

What a waste of $19.99.
Where do I start? I suppose my biggest beef is Michael Feinstein talked almost the entire lenght of the DVD. He talked over the performers which is what I purchased the DVD for. I wanted to hear the performances, not him. And, to make matters even worse he spoke while the camera was on him but the words didn't match what he was mouthing. I wanted to see the stars, not Michael.

Excellent Survey Of American Popular Music
I came of age in the rock music scene and also have had a long time interest in folk, blues and country. In contrast, the classic songs of stage and film have never been of much interest to me. But this excellent documentary really brought that music to life and allowed me to learn about an entirely different aspect of American culture.

Pianist Michael Feinstein serves as the narraror and provides fascinating commentary on great lyricists and composers such as Ira and George Gershwin, Lorez Hart and Oscar Hammerstein. The doc begins with America's first popular song, "Yankee Doodle Dandy", and continues through the 19th century, the Jazz Age, big band era and up until the emergence of rock and roll in the 1950's. Much of the music is drawn from Broadway and Hollywood musicals, with some great film clips and other footage from the historical archives. Other featured performers include Al Jolson, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra. For me this was a tremendously educational and entertaining journey into a musical world that I knew little about. Highly recommended!

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