Great American Songbook, The (DVD)

Movie / Show Details

Hosted by Michael Feinstein, this 2003 documentary explores the Great American Songbook, tracing a century of American popular song from minstrel shows through the mid-twentieth century. The program focuses primarily on the Golden Age of songwriting from the 1930s to 1950s, featuring the work of composers like Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, and Richard Rodgers. Vintage film clips and photographs showcase legendary performances by artists including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Paul Robeson, presenting some of the most celebrated music of the twentieth century.

Warner Bros. released this documentary on a single DVD with a runtime of two hours and fifty-four minutes and a not-rated designation. Feinstein serves as both narrator and occasional pianist, and the disc includes a commentary track where he shares background stories and insights about the songs and their creators. Grab this used copy and experience a comprehensive look at American popular music history.