Product Details

• Actors: Dusty Springfield
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Taragon
• VHS Release Date: February 11, 1997
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000003H7B
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #271,666 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Veteran British singer Dusty Springfield was all but forgotten when inclusion in Quentin Tarantino's savvy '60s soundscape to Pulp Fiction and a high-profile cameo on a Pet Shop Boys single helped resuscitate critical acclaim for her soulful yet velvety delivery. This affable '90s British documentary offers a broad view of the oddly self-effacing yet emotive stylist's career, and it's instructive viewing in the poignant aftermath of Springfield's March 1999 death from breast cancer, on the eve of prestigious British and American honors (an MBE and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, respectively).

American fans remember her primarily through a modest but indelible string of blue-eyed-soul singles from the mid-'60s, and from the brief but stunning late-decade "comeback" of Dusty in Memphis, still a hallowed soul album. But Full Circle regards the once and future Mary O'Brian from a homeland perspective, tracing her often eclectic path from her earliest home tape recordings through the earnest, rough-hewn pop folk of the Springfields (source of her stage name) and into the swinging '60s. Springfield's infatuation with Brill Building pop and epochal Motown soul shaped those early solo hits and led her to material from Carole King and, more crucially, Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

A bumper crop of vintage British television clips from her appearances on her own shows will offer retro-surfers a delirious array of wigs, eyelashes, and couture that may be cause enough for viewing. Yet Springfield's vocal poise and superb taste in songs is borne out on a more serious level by interviews with Martha Reeves (for whom she was an honorary Vandella, and whose best early Motown sides are triumphantly covered in vintage Springfield clips), Burt Bacharach, Elvis Costello, Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant, and producer Jerry Wexler.

Giving the hour-long documentary an irreverent spin are interviewers Jennifer Saunders (of Absolutely Fabulous) and Dawn French, who lampoon celebrity worship and reverent pop biographies. Music fans should be forewarned that the bulk of performances are from live television performances, suffering the lo-fi limitations of their source in old British air checks. But Dusty herself emerges as a winning, clear-eyed presence, making this a worthy valedictory. --Sam Sutherland

Product Description

VHS video features extensive archive footage & rare performances with hosts Dusty, Jennifer Saunders (of TV show 'Absolutely Fabulous') & Dawn French. Plus footage of a performance with Jimi Hendrix and guest appearances by the Pet Shop Boys, Elvis Costello, Dionne Warwick, Martha Reeves & Burt Bacharach.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The video was absolutely terrific!, April 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Full Circle--The Life & Music of Dusty Springfield [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The video of "The Life and Music of Dusty Springfield" contains up-to-date information on the "White Queen of Soul" who was born on April 16, 1939 in Hampstead, England. The video features her very first recording in 1951, and footage of her with the Springfields and it also shows a clip or two of Dusty Springfield on her own television show "Dusty" from BBC (1964-67) and of course focuses on her main 16 hits in 7 years (1963-70). One of my favorite parts is when Dusty sings Martha Reeves's mowtown songs such as "Dancing In The Street". I also remember being at the age of 2, and hearing her 1987 comeback with the Pet Shop Boys. That was the first time I ever knew who she was. At the end of the video, it shows her recording the hit off of her last album. Springfield died of breast cancer on March 2, 1999 at the age of 59. I am one of Springfield's biggest fans, and probably the youngest of all. I am only 14 years old and have spent the last 5 years doing Karaoke to her music.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A PARTING GIFT FROM DUSTY, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Full Circle--The Life & Music of Dusty Springfield [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A beautiful restrospective of a unique career and an unforgettable performer, this documentary showcases one of pop music's most enigmatic personalities. The reclusive Springfield somehow was lured in front of the camera to be interviewed by the oddball duo of French and Saunders. "Huh?" you say? Well, believe me, it works! Her own comments are interspersed with clips from her long career, highlighting the maturing of a consummate artist. By the time you've viewed this, you'll know as much about Dusty as do her longest-standing fans (of whom I am one). The anecdotal comments from her peers in the industry give testament to the vast talent she shared with the world, and it becomes obvious that probably the only reason she did not maintain Superstar status throughout her career was because she was unwilling to compromise ANYthing. For those of us who have loved her for four decades and for those whose interest has just recently been piqued, this is a "must-have!" Thank you, Dusty, for this wonderful parting gift. In our hearts your immortality is assured!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: NOT A FULL CIRCLE..., July 21, 2003

By 

S. Sittig "Divawatch" (Washington, D.C.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Circle--The Life & Music of Dusty Springfield [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Full Circle? Hmm..how about 3/4 of the circle?

This way too brief documentary, attempts to cover the vast musical history of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) pop singers of the 20th century, who's career spanned 40+ years, in just 1 hour. That was a foolish thought.

From her early days with the Lana Sisters and The Springfields, to her triumphant chart breaking smashes of the 60s, to her resurgence with the Pet Shop Boys in the late 80s, the program tries to give us a comprehensive look at Dusty's career, but leaves many many stones unturned. And some of them are sacriligiously left that way.

The problem is, by ignoring the vast high quality material from her "dark period" or "lost years" (roughly 1972-1987) when Dusty was not spinning out chart hits or simply not singing with any regularity, it denies the viewer the insight into Miss Springfield's highly complex character, her drive, her keen sense of artistry, and most importantly, of seeing (and hearing) Dusty at her peak vocally. Some of the work from 1970 -74 especially, is criminally overlooked.

Other than a brief clip (glorious as it is) from her Royal Albert Hall smash concert in 1979, and a stunning live rendition of "A House Is Not A Home" with Burt Bacharach himself at the piano (circa 1972?), we get nothing from the 70s Dusty whatsoever...

I suppose it's hard to get all the information out there, but Serena Cross's much superior British documentary, DEFINITELY DUSTY does a much better job at giving the viewer a complete (or somewhat more complete) picture of the reclusive icon.

The mock question and answer set-up with Jennifer Saunders (of ABFAB fame) and Dawn French hamming it up, is fun at first, but gets a little annoying towards the end and is somewhat distracting from the subject at hand. Who wants to waste precious time watching Miss French or Miss Saunders crack a stale joke when instead we could have more stunning musical footage of Dusty doing what she did best, singing Pop music with an amazing sensitivity and ear for subtle rhythms.

Nevertheless, i'd still like to see this on DVD, if nothing else for the stunning clips of live performances from knock-your-socks off renditions of "Dancing In The Streets" and "Nowhere To Run" to the sight of Dusty dueting with Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jones and even Marvin Gaye!