Product Details

• Actors: Sam Andrew, David Getz, James Gurley, Janis Joplin, Nick Graventies
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Pioneer
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005BJPP
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,554 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A history of Big Brother and the Holding Company, August 4, 2001

By 

Steve F "Steve F" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Big Brother and the Holding CO with Janis Joplin / Nine Hundred Nights (DVD)

Told mostly by the members of Big Brother, you get to see Big Brother from the early days thru the Janis period. This film doesn't focus exclusively on Janis Joplin, it looks at the band and the effect that Janis Joplin had on the band.

Big Brother took a lot of flack for "holding Janis back" from some music critics, but, in truth, Janis was so incendiary on stage that any band would have taken a back seat to her, and looked mediocre in comparison. By itself this film is too tightly focused on commentary, the musical performances are mostly clips lasting a minute or so. However there is a separate menu selection that presents four full length songs performed live, all featuring Janis. This provides a good glimpse of the band, and Janis, and the energy they generated.

The main strength of this DVD is the opportunity to get to see members of Big Brother, as well as other contemporaries on the San Fransisco scene, reflect both on the band and the times. There was so much energy then, and it seems so far away now.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars VERY WELL DONE "DOCUMENTARY "ON BIG BROTHER, March 24, 2002

By 

danny (wheaton, maryland United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Big Brother and the Holding CO with Janis Joplin / Nine Hundred Nights (DVD)

very good documentary on big brother and the holding company,my major interest was good vintage concert footage, so the highlight for me personaly were the four uninterrupted songs in the "extra" section of this dvd,three of the four i consider "very rare" as i have never seen them anywhere else,(b+w footage but great quality),please understand however that the bulk of this dvd is a documentary,one i consider very well done,but remember a "documentary" not a live concert film.***i think serious fans will enjoy having this in their collection.***

39 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Stop Sulking, Boys, January 22, 2005

By 

David S. Jenkins (On the Road) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nine Hundred Nights - Big Brother and the Holding Co. with Janis Joplin (DVD)

Three things save this DVD fom the trashcan - one is the selection of KQED-TV black and white performances (although the whole show is available on VHS). Two are the very interesting films of the band recording "Summertime" in the studio for the Cheap Thrills album. Three of course is Janis. She shines. For those who only know her visually from still photos and the Monterey Pop film, you may find yourself surprised at how very attractive she is in every way. Still photos never did her justice.

Unfortunately, beyond these three saving graces this hour long documentary is lackluster, managing to make this incredibly exciting period of American rock and roll just plain boring, along with the social revolution which fed it. Most of the band's performances within the documentary are nothing short of embarrassing, PROFOUNDLY bad, bad guitar, bad bass, bad backing vocals, and just sloppy timing. When this is accompanied by lifeless modern interviews with the band, it's tough to find pleasure on this disc. It comes across, I'm sad to say, as grown men whining incessantly about how nobody liked them and everyone liked Janis more.

Even though I've always regarded the band's live playing on Cheap Thrills and an alternate evening's performance which is out there someplace on CD as being brilliant, my opinion of Big Brother's abilities (and personal character) has shrunk mightily after watching 900 Nights. All bands have bad nights, and have bad recordings out there in circulation - most Airplane live recordings are pretty scary, but nothing like what we have here. One would have had to look very hard for performance clips that made the band sound worse.

The black cherry on the sour whipped cream is found in the extras, where each band member is asked how he heard about Janis' death. Peter Albin's and James Gurley's responses are bloodless and shameful. Honest perhaps, but show a little class guys. Remember that you're part of a legendary band for one reason and one reason alone. If it wasn't for that one particular lady, no one would know your names. Stop whining. Get over it. You got fired because you were a pretty lousy band who couldn't keep time or play decent solos. The Cheap Thrills album sounds like another band, frankly.