Customer Reviews

Goodnight, We Love You - The Life and Legend of Phyllis Diller

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 2002, the 84 year-old legendary comedian Phyllis Diller decided to retire from doing stand-up comedy. But never retire altogether! As her son Perry says in the documentary, "We never use the R word in mother's house. She will never retire. She'll always be working at something." Today Diller continues to make appearances in films and on tv and continues to paint, another of her many talents. "Goodnight, We Love You" provides the viewer with a glimpse into Diller's private and public life and shows what a consummate professional and caring and giving person she truly is.

This wonderful documentary follows Diller as she prepares for her final appearance in Las Vegas. We see her arriving at the hotel, inspecting her rooms, rehearsing, applying her make-up, wig and costume, and her 5-minute "quiet time" that she demands before every performance. It is a grueling routine and Diller is a perfectionist and pro when it comes to the set-up of her stage, lighting and sound. We also get a glimpse inside her beautiful Brentwood home which includes rooms for her wigs and costumes. She also shows off one of her many antique automobiles and her red kitchen, where she often prepares gourmet meals. Her home office contains huge filing cabinets where thousands of her jokes (all of which she wrote!) have been filed, cross-referenced and organized.

Throughout the documentary, comments are provided by fellow comedians such as Don Rickles, Lily Tomlin, David Brenner, Bonnie Hunt and others as well as people who have worked with Diller through the years like her personal secretaries (who were given the name "Dustbuters"), agents, etc.

Extras on the dvd include her full 43-minute final performance in Las Vegas, a question and answer session with Diller and director Gregg Barson and a "Dustbiter Reunion," where Diller meets up with many of her former secretaries.

This is a very nice documentary on the legendary comic, Phyllis Diller. The focus is on her final stand up performances. But we learn so much about her and the people that have been a part of her life. Much better than an A&E biography. I didn't know she was a painter.

The bonus is you get one of her final shows uncut.

This is must viewing for anyone who enjoyed her.

Even though I am still actively stalking Phyllis Diller to this very day, my association with her goes back to 1971. People always ask me, "Is she really that funny in person too?" Is she EVER! Unlike many comedians, like Jerry Lewis for instance, who was often actually quite morose offstage, Phyllis was and is a genuinely funny lady. In the 1980s I shot a feature on Phyllis for the Los Angeles Times Sunday HOME magazine, and spent the entire day at her home in Brentwood. Because prepping the shots took up most of my time, Phyllis would keep bouncing into whatever room I was setting up to shoot in, or the yard, to check on me, feed me, bring me something to drink, and always make some wonderfully off-the-wall comment or joke that made my work that day a luxury. Even though I have worked as a photographer for, and with, approximately 200 celebrities, Phyllis remains one of the people I can count on one hand who treated me with warmth, kindness, and inclusion. We photographers are basically a throw-away, interchangeable commodiity in Hollywood, but Phyllis has always treated me with respect and regard. And I love her for it. And you'll love this DVD!

An excellent documentary of the best female comedian of our time. Certainly the best of the 20th century!! Well filmed, with great interviews from her peers. The special features are wonderful with a full uninterrupted version of her final performance. Truly Wonderful!!

This movie is a must for anyone who enjoys stand up comedy. Ms. Diller is the Godmother of standup. The film captures her rise to stardom in a man's world. She stayed on top of her game because she kept up with the times. I recomend this film to everyone.

I loved this DVD, fantastic, inside the life of a legendary woman comic. The past clips of shows Phyllis was on, priceless.

I ordered this DVD for my husband for a gift. He has always loved her as a comedian. We saw her and her DVD advertised on Jay Leno early this year. I was only able to find this DVD on Amazon.com. High quality, quick shipping, average price. Thanks.

This shows how much of a professional Phyllis Diller is. She controls all of her act to make the audience really enjoy her performance. What a trooper!!

I have been a fan of Madame Diller's for a long time. I had seen the A&E Biography, and I've read her book ("Like a Lampshade in a Whorehouse" which is excellent by the way). So I bought this expecting a nice little DVD.

I was quite surprised at the depth. This film is truly great. It mixes footage leading up to and including her last stage show before retiring from stand-up. This was great, but also interspersed was interviews with Phyllis Diller, friends, and associates. There is also a fairly in-depth tour of her home: her clothes, her painting, her office, the gag file, etc.

One of the most delightful things for me was the interviews with the "Dustbiters." They were Madame Diller's traveling secretaries over the years (most apparently only lasted on the gruelling life of touring for a couple of years). It is a true testament to the person that she is that they all have come together with only warm and loving things to say. Her son Perry Diller also provides his thoughts as well.

The bonus features are great too. There is footage from a Q&A with the director and Madame Diller after a showing of the film at some festival that lasts about 10 minutes. It is entertaining as well as interesting. Also included is a chat with a "Dustbiter" from the 1980's who was not with the other Dustbiters in the film. The films trailer is also included, but by far the best bonus feature is the complete performance of Madame Diller's farewell show. A lot of it is seen throughout the film, but it is really great to watch it in its entirety.

This is a must-have for any fan of Phyllis Diller, but it is also a great buy for people who love to laugh. I laughed a lot watching it!

Watching Phyllis discuss her work ethic and comedy in general makes you feel lack an underachiever no matter what your chosen profession. Phyllis is incredibly prolific and it's great to see her open up about her decades in the business. The stakes were never particularly high and certain moments seemed subdued, but it was lovely to follow her towards the tail end of her expansive career for 90 minutes. Truly lovely.