Customer Reviews

Biography - Irving Berlin: An American Song (A&E DVD Archives)

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4 star:		(1)
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There are so many wonderful stories of immigrants who struggled and overcame poverty to achieve greatness in some field. Irving Berlin's life experience is eloquently captured in this excellent biography. The Russian Jewish boy who left his impoverished Lower East Side New York family to avoid being a burden and became one of the greatest American composers of popular songs, songs like "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Easter Parade," "White Christmas," and "God Bless America," is the subject of a most inspiring story....There is only one minor correction I would make: the box of the A&E DVD says the running time is "approx. 100 mins.," when in fact the program runs about 87 minutes.

I agree, Irving Berlin was a brilliant songwriter, and A&E always does a nice job with their biographies. But he didn't write "Yankee Doodle Dandy," as is written in another review- that was George M Cohan. For a wonderul portrayal of George M, get the movie "Yankee Doodle Dandy" starring Jimmy Cagney- and you thought he just did gangster movies...

Comprehensive and interesting bio of America's Songwriter, especially to those interested in standard popular music, the style of which is generally no longer being produced, written or appreciated. As good as some of today's music is, can most people really easily hum or whistle any of the score of a "Phantom" or "Les Mis?"

An excellent video! It follows you from Russia to the streets of New York to Broadway to Hollywood telling you of the genius of this Song Writer of the Ages. It's 100 minutes of entertaining education!

I watched this DVD and wished it would never end, respective not as soon as it did. It's a very well-made biography about a very interesting, very smart, very gifted, very straight and non-boring man - Irving Berlin - and his social environment. I dearly regret not ever have had the opportunity to met him in person.

This man was such a genious. Couldn't even speak English when he came to this country and didn't even gradute from H.S. His talent is amazing and his love for this country mega more than most natural born citizens. Love this biography - check it out if for no other reason than it is totally inspiring!!

Everything you could possibly want to know about a true genius is contained in this remarkable video, which traces his entire life from his poverty-stricken beginnings to the master of American music, equaled possibly only by that of George M. Cohan. Berlin's life is an inspiration and a story of self-improvement that is unsurpassed.

Irving Berlin was the best American Composer ever especially for his sonfg Yankee Doodle Dandy.This is a great A&E Biography Video!!