Customer Reviews

Biography - James Dean (A&E DVD Archives)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It was comprehensive, factually correct, and very interesting. I'm not sure I learned anything new, but I have been a fan/collector for 50 years so it is difficult to find anything new for me. That being said, this biography kept me interested from start to finish. Impressive.

I found this DVD to be hypercritical and spiteful in "facts" and insinuations - to the point I didn't know what to believe. Some of the people (too many) chosen to speak about Jimmy were not friends, but more backstabbers. Because I could not tell what to believe, I stopped watching and it's in the bin. I much prefer Martin Sheen's "Forever Young".
There has been so much speculation about whether Dean was gay or not and this DVD goes into great length about Dean's relationship with Rogers Brackett, a known homosexual. David Dalton, a "biographer", with his dyed red hair and Cost Plus jewelry gives the impression he was digging up dirt for his own purposes, and his comments, more than anyone else, came across as snide and publicity seeking. He couldn't say a nice thing about Dean. Martin Balsam, Dick VanPatten and Rod Steiger made no such comments and were more believable and not brutal in their assessments - more honest.
When I read or view a biography, I'm not looking for the garbage in a performer's life - I want to
know about their talent and what turned them to be an actor, singer, etc. Also who saw that talent and helped him along the way. Who they slept with is none of my business, nor anyone else's. This is why I seldom delve into biographies because too often they are sensationalized to sell and leave a bad taste in my mouth - as this one did. This DVD turned me off because it dwelled on the negative and petty comments of former acquaintances (they certainly were not friends). I'd like to see someone do a "biography" on some of these so-called friends and see how they come out. People in glass houses.....
I found this biography distasteful, petty and unbalanced.

Like all the recent A&E biography DVDs A&E are misrepresenting the actual TIME ...it is NOT 100 minutes...the program actually ends at 85 minutes...and the final credits run into the 86 minute mark! The A&E Biographies marked 50 minutes are really closer to 42!

This may seem to some a picky complaint, but ask yourself this....if you send A&E 85% of the price would they send you their products? Why should they be padding their run times on their products to make them seem like better investments...the list on these DVDs is $24...pretty steep in comparison with the much superior WB DVDs on James Dean like "Forever Young" which lists for $19 and actually DOES run the advertised..90minutes...heck they should advertise 100 minutes they are closer than this A&E..and its a better DVD anyway...AND the American Masters James Dean : Sense Memories...has the nerve to say its 53minutes when it is! Why don't they take their lead from A&E and round up to whatever they want? ...okay..enough of my ranting....don't believe the run times on A&E products
this DVD is still worth owning...but buy it used.