Customer Reviews

Brother Can You Spare a Dime: The Great Depression from Human Tragedy to Hollywood Glitter [VHS]

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

 

 

My name is Amanda and I'm in a 10th grade world history class. We are currently studying the Great Depression and WWII and we have just finished watching Brother, Can You Spare a Dime. This movie helped me to understand not only the culture and life of this era but also helped me to understand the things that led up to the Depression and Stock market crash as well as Pearl Harbor and WWII. I'd recommend this movie to anyone who wants an entertaining way to learn a bit about history.

Shows the real down in the trenches struggle of America during the depression. In our times of prosperity and wealth, we sometimes forget it wasn't so long ago that money was almost impossible to come by, soup lines were many peoples only source of survival and life without all the gadgets and other pleasures we take for granted is very tough.
Saletag.

Although this documentary brings together a lot of interesting footage, lack of a commentary means that a viewer without a close knowledge of the period in question will find themselves wondering, "Who were those people, and why was what they were doing of historical significance?" On the other hand, if you are very familiar with the politics and culture of the US in the 1930s, this may provide some useful illustrative imagery. I suspect that, these days, more people will fall into the first category.

This documentary should not be down-graded due to its lack of narration. The lack of commentary is exactly what makes this such a unique piece of work and all the more memorable and fascinating.

I think the film is compelling enough to motivate those who may not fully understand the history of the Great Depression to learn more, which will only enhance their next viewing.

As of 2/12, no matter which format you seek an authorized copy of BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME in (UK-1975), it's selling for "collectable" prices, even as a used item. Unfortunate, as this is one of the most outstanding and unique documentaries ever made. Outstanding for its brilliant editing and non-stop pastiche of snapshots, movie and newsreel clips; unique for reanimating the years 1929 to '41 without a single word of obtrusive narration.

Most footage here has rarely been seen since the Thirties. Among these clips are: a phalanx of "G-men" firing hundreds of tommy gun bullets into a doomed sedan; a fat man stopping a cannonball with his gut, not once but many times; an eyewitness describing Huey Long's assassination; a serious lad of maybe 12 who names all 48 states in a single huge breath; rioting FORD plant strikers and the small civil war that ensued; a cartoon Clark Gable doing the conga; Dust Bowl devastation; jitterbug contestants going all-out; John Dillinger on the coroner's table; Jimmy Cagney (a central theme) in several of his pictures. And always, there's Frankiin Roosevelt. We watch with the passage of years his transformation from late middle-aged vigor early in 1933 ("fear itself") to a frail and world-weary elder taking America into WWII late in '41 ("day which will live in infamy").

Music excerpts are as memorable as the visuals they accompany. A partial list:
Bei Mir Bist Du Schön - Andrews Sisters; Big Rock Candy Mountain - Harry McClintock; We're in the Money - Ginger Rogers; California, Here I Come - Al Jolson; You're the Top - Ethel Merman; Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out - Bessie Smith; Jeepers Creepers - Louis Armstrong; Ten Cents a Dance - Ruth Etting; Now's the Time to Fall in Love - Eddie Cantor; Zaz Zuh Zaz - Cab Calloway; Dust Can't Kill Me (also) Vigilante Man - Woody Guthrie; Saddest Tale (Blues) - Billie Holiday; Where the Blue of the Night (Meets the Gold of the Day) - Bing Crosby. "Der Bingle" also performs the title song, as do Rudy Vallee and Al Jolson.

With its cast of literally hundreds --famous, unknown and infamous-- plus a judiciously chosen and skillfully assembled chronology of film clips, BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME distinctly succeeds at conveying a sense of the 1930s to viewers born long after that decade's passing. For those who remember all or part of the Great Depression, it's a bittersweet stroll down memory lane with the familiar shadows of that momentous era.

My father introduced me to this doc. when I was fairly young, and I loved it at even a young age. It combines news and movie clips that flow together wonderfully with period music (alot of great Woody Guthrie) The end is lacking as it jumps raggedly into the next 20 years and then ends, but on a whole it is a great film! (I introduced it to many of my history teachers as an alternative to poorly acted educational films.)

There is great documentary, movie, and news footage in this film, however, the lack of commentary is frustrating. I was expecting something that would give more of the history of the period, rather than just showing footage. The lack of narration left me questioning the history and context of the footage being shown. Narration, or even captions, would have been effective. The footage that is shown, however, is excellent and would probably be much appreciated by someone who is familiar with this time period.

I am a 6th grade teacher. After reading "Bud, Not Buddy", and learning a lot of background of the Great Depression, I thought this movie would be good to wrap up the unit. For 6th graders (and below) they really couldn't follow along with the format of the film. Some events were familiar, but all in all, they were a bit bored due to being lost. The film itself is great. But not for elementary aged students.

I had seen this video many years ago and always wanted a copy. It sports a cast of famous and not so famous characters. It is a statement on the human condition and mans resilience in the face of hardships that would make Jobe surrender.