Great American Songbook, The (DVD)

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The Great American Songbook is an ambitious documentary that chronicles 100 years of American popular song through film clips and photographs. It stretches from minstrel shows to Elvis, but features most prominently the “Golden Age” songwriters of the 1930s through the 1950s–Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Richard Rodgers with both Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein, and others. That means you can enjoy some of the most exquisite music of the 20th century including Paul Robeson singing “Old Man River,” Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing “Cheek to Cheek,” and Judy Garland’s “The Man That Got Away,” plus performances of historical importance such as Al Jolson’s “Swanee.”
Over the course of its three hours (it was cut for PBS broadcast), the program has some drawbacks–performers are identified but films aren’t, the performances tend to be almost complete rather than complete, and scenes from fictional films illustrate the earliest historical moments, which doesn’t feel true–but they’re minor, and Michael Feinstein proves a perfect host, narrating and occasionally singing at the piano. Fans of Feinstein’s cabaret shows will also enjoy his commentary track, which provides a lot of interesting and funny background on the songs and songwriters. His commentary isn’t constant, but a useful icon allows the viewer to find the next section of commentary with the click of a button. Another slight inconvenience is that chapters are named by subject matter rather than by song title so if you’re skimming for highlights you have to know what you’re looking for. –David Horiuchi

Product Description

Great American Songbook, The (DVD)
Singer and musician Michael Feinstein hosts this retrospective of American popular music “from ‘Yankee Doodle’ to Elvis,” offering a dazzling parade of hit songs as seen and heard in some of the most beloved films ever made. This delightful presentation features the musical genius of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and Fats Waller as interpreted by a roster of familiar faces–from Al Jolson to Judy Garland to Frank Sinatra. Also included are rare home movies of many of the great songwriters of the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, along with the 1942 MGM short “We Must Have Music,” a publicity film explaining the workings of the studio’s music department, and “Michael’s Memorabilia,” a gallery from Feinstein’s personal collection of musical artifacts. Originally broadcast as part of PBS’ “Great Performances.” ]]>