The 3-disc THE DICK CAVETT SHOW-ROCK ICONS features such artists as: Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, Stephen Stills & David Crosby, Mick Jagger, Sly & the Family Stone, David Bowie, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, George Harrison and Paul Simon. Not only are the musical performances a wonder to behold, but also the interaction between Cavett and the rock stars is intelligent. You can easily see why the Dick Cavett show the ideal (and sometimes preferred) TV show for the hippest rock stars to appear on - Cavett doesn't "talk down" to the rock stars or just "tolerate" them (which is the feeling you get from Ed Sullivan). Younger than Johnny Carson, Cavett fit safely in that "not too old, but still hip" category that endeared him to rock stars. Of course the musical segments are great, but I almost prefer the "talking" segments of the show. Where else can you see Janis Joplin and Raquel Welch have disagreements on TV? Speaking of Janis, she gets a whole disc to herself, containing three shows that she appeared on. You also get to see Janis "perform" in a skit with The Committee on the 1969 show. My favorite disc has to be the Joplin one, it is totally captivating, with Joplin and Cavett sharing a certain formula together (the interview segment with Dick Cavett has him retelling the one time he smoked marijuana and that was with Janis Joplin...no, not on the show!). When Cavett asks Mick Jagger if he can see himself performing at 60, Jagger immediately answers, "Yeah, oh Yeah!" While David Crosby's political hippie speak of the '60s seems dreadfully dated in the modern world, it is still a fascinating time capsule of those days right after Woodstock. Sly Stone is obviously under some kind of chemical influence as he barely can get out full sentences to the obviously concerned Cavett. Beatles fans will love George Harrison's appearance, with his "commercials" for John's new single and his honest answer to Cavett's question about drugs. The only disappointment with Harrison's musical segment is that he only appears in the background during "Two Faced Man" by Gary Wright and Wonderwheel, and his performance of "Bangla Desh" is simply a film segment from THE CONCERT FOR BANGLA DESH film. Finally, the most amazing part of this DVD set occurs during the Paul Simon segment, with Paul showing Cavett how he writes songs, playing an early version of "Still Crazy After All These Years". Hopefully, THE DICK CAVETT SHOW-ROCK ICONS will be the first of many 'rock music' DVDs from the Dick Cavett show. With this set, true rock 'n roll connoisseurs have a new DVD set to add to their "must buy" list.
Yes, another teen movie. But DIRTY DEEDS is a little more intelligent than your regular run of the mill teen flicks. Sure, there are plenty of sex jokes, parties and pranks - but the underlying message is "its all bullshit", which is basically talking about peer pressure and some of the BS associated with high school. The actual "dirty deeds" are a list of 10 challenges that anyone can take just once a year - the night before homecoming. What do you get if you pass all 10? Well...instant...immortality in the eyes of your peers. Milo Ventimiglia as "Zach" is superb as the smart-ass kid and Alex Solowitz as "JD Riplock" perfectly plays the demented bully. Overall, DIRTY DEEDS is a modern day mix between AMERICAN GRAFFITI and PORKY'S. However, the soundtrack is not as vital as say, AMERICAN GRAFFITI. While it IS a comedy about high school life, it does have PORKY'S laugh factor.
Like their cohorts YES and GENESIS [early version of the band], EMERSON LAKE & PALMER were at the forefront of the progressive rock movement ["prog rock"] in the '70s. But unlike the previously mentioned bands, ELP didn't make the jump to the "radio friendly" rock of the '80s. While they disbanded in 1978, subsequent reunions failed to give the band this type of success. BEYOND THE BEGINNING gives a great representation of the band up to 1978. Complete with various videos and performances over the history of the band [including their 1974 California Jam performance]; an interview with Bob Moog; an analysis of their album covers and most importantly a documentary of the band. I found the documentary most interesting and one point that comes out is that there were often two opposing forces in the band - Keith Emerson [keyboards] pushed for more instrument-heavy prog rock, while Greg Lake pushed for more guitar oriented, shorter songs. Perhaps this is what made the band so interesting. The documentary also gives a nod to punk rock [showing the Ramones live in a short clip], the movement of the '70s that rebelled against the "excesses" of such prog bands as ELP. There is a bit of irony in the "analysis of the album covers" clip, where it is pointed out that many of the artists that worked on the cover art for the band's albums died shortly after. It almost seems that this is where Spinal Tap got its inspiration for the untimely demise of many of their drummers! The videos/performance section of the disc is fascinating too, as you see the band progress from early performances [didn't know they played the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970!] up to their reunion shows. Also, a fair balance is given between their "epics" and their acoustic-driven tracks such as "Lucky Man". A nice bonus is early videos of the various members, who were already in famous bands before they formed ELP, such as The Nice, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown and King Crimson. BEYOND THE BEGINNING delivers an honest portrayal of ELP without the "VH1: Behind the Music" sappiness.
"A Serial Killer...murders three or more people over a period of time... It's estimated there are over 200 Serial Killers at large in the world today." - explanatory intro in THE SERIAL KILLERS. This intro for each segment of the film pretty much states the whole purpose of this 3-DVD set, which examines the "modern" Serial Killer. When I say "modern", it is only because it has only recently acquired that name. Such killers as the 1945-46 "Lipstick Killer" William Heirens would certainly apply and this case is the oldest of those examined. While there were some that I had definitely heard of and were familiar with (Henry Lee Lucas, Ted Bundy, and the "Hillside Strangler") there were others that I didn't know the background behind - like the true "Amityville Horror". Still others like Catherine May Wood and Gwendolyn Graham (nursing home killings) were the exception to the generally male-dominated serial killer, the two female serial killers operating as a "tag team". Each segment gives an overview of the crimes, the perpetrator, the investigation, an analysis by experts (both criminal and psychological experts) as well as the most important: one-on-one interviews. It is these interviews that I found the most fascinating, because you see the various personalities of these killers. Here are some of my personal observations:
THE SERIAL KILLERS gives a fascinating and sometimes chilling portrayal of Serial Killers. And remember - like the film says: It's estimated there are over 200 at large in the world today. But don't expect this film to help you identify them. If it is one thing that you learn from this DVD set - it is that NO two Serial Killers are the same!
This movie was originally a United Artist release that has recently been acquired and released on DVD by Dark Sky Films. You would think that a film from the early 1950's, especially a crime drama, would have that cheesy 1950's feel to it. But it doesn't. Rather, it is like a combination of "Dragnet" and "Silence of the Lambs", following the exploits of a serial killer and the investigation that ultimately leads to his capture. Come to think of it, this is the earliest film that I can remember which accurately depicts what we would now call a "serial killer". Also depicted is the psychological profiling and forensic science that is now standard with each modern-day murder investigation. "Without Warning" almost seems a little ahead of its time, almost a precursor to the modern, murder-mystery-thriller.
Another re-release by Dark Sky Films is the 1967 German film, "The College Girl Murders". While not as serious as "Without Warning", it is entertaining on another level - as a bizarre, outrageous fantasy film that could have only been made in the 1960's! It's almost like a combination of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, "Clue" board game, and Carnaby Street all rolled into one. The film starts as a German scientist develops a deadly nerve gas [How ironic is that with the gassing of the Jews in WWII?] that he intends to profit from. But a mysterious red robed person carrying a white whip kills him! Yeah, no one notices this character strolling around at night? The evil mastermind of the movie is straight out of a James Bond film - you only see him from behind and his voice is amplified through a sound system. Instead of the piranhas from the James Bond film, he has alligators underneath the entrance to his liar. Plus, his liar is surrounded by giant aquarium windows ala the 1962 "Dr. No" Bond film. The film's nod to Sherlock Holmes is the bumbling Sir John from Scotland Yard, who insists that everything can be solved, "It's all a matter of psychology". Inspector Higgins tries to pass as a James Bond-like figure, complete with a "Goldfinger"-type 3-piece suit and flirting with the secretary. However, his constant gum chewing is not only annoying, but doesn't fit with his image. The strangest part of the whole film for me was recognizing Mr. Evil's [Don't know what else to call him, didn't catch the name in the film] head gopher who I realized was Günter Meisner, who played Mr. Slugworth in the 1971 "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"! So, you get to see "Slugworth" get his just desserts in the film as he is killed at the end! The movie delivers a slew of suspicious characters that has you trying to guess the identity of the red-hooded-whip-wielding killer. In the grand tradition, the identity of the hooded-one is revealed at the end. With tons of mod 1960's music, the film is like watching a James Bond Beach movie on acid. It is hilarious just for the sheer campiness of the film!
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"The Dick Cavett Show - Rock Icons"
"Dirty Deeds"
Emerson, Lake & Palmer: "Beyond the Beginning"
"The Serial Killers"
"Without Warning" (1952)
"The College Girl Murders" (1967)