Customer Reviews

Janis: The Way She Was [VHS]

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4 star:		(5)
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This 1974 documentary contains some of Janis Joplin's best performances as well as some great spontaneous interviews. It has her incredible performance of Ball and Chain at Monterey ('67), some Cheap Thrills studio sessions ('68), Woodstock ('69), and Calgary ('70). She blows away the audience on Dick Cavett with Move Over and breaks down during the High School reunion interviews. Where she came from in Port Arthur, TX is such a contrast to who she was. And who she was was the incarnation of the Spirit of the 1960s counter-culture.

We get 2 great performances of Piece of My Heart, one of Tell Mama, Try, and Summertime both live and in studio. If you really get into this you might, just might, see God in Janis. She seeps sexuality in her performances, and reveals substantial depth of insight and intellect when interviewed. Even as we are in the midst of our 21st century Brittany Spears culture, we can go back to this and know there was once an unflinching soaring eagle in free flight.

This is a fascinating documentary. Those who read about Janis in "Buried Alive" will especially enjoy this movie, as the two compliment each other quite well. For example, the high school reunion scene in the movie takes on added meaning if you know what was going on behind the scenes. Musically, I believe the Full Tilt '70 footage is the best in the movie. Strangely, the order of the music footage in the film is as follows: '66, '67, '70, '68, '69. In my opinion, the '69 footage is the weakest, but the director probably wanted to show the amazing contrast between Janis in '67 and Janis in '70 by putting the film together as he did. The film of the recording of "Cheap Thrills" is great too. It sure was fun to watch Janis fooling around a bit for the camera as a take of "Summertime" that we just watched her make is played back for her. Finally, I guarantee you'll get choked up when the photo montage rolls at the end as "Me and Bobby McGee" plays. Janis fan? Buy this video!

Janis contains footage any Janis Joplin fan will appreciate. There are roughly a dozen killer live performances that really show how she belted out that emotion, including songs performed at Woodstock, Monterey Pop, and the Dick Cavett Show. There are also alternate versions of a few songs, such as a slightly different "Summertime". You get a glimpse into the recording studio and even get to see clips from her ten-year high school reunion. This video is worth every penny, especially since video of Janis Joplin seems so scarce... all that I have found is Monterey Pop VHS, Janis VHS, and the Woodstock DVD. Technically, I guess I could also count American Pop.

I was born the year after she died. I found "Pearl" in my parents albums and instantly wondered about the flamboyant old looking young woman on the cover. Listening at first made me wonder how does someone who sings like that make a record or make money. I couldn't help but listen again and again. I had to know more, hear more, and see more. This video gave me the opportunity to see the emotion purging, unbridled performances as close to live as I will ever get. I am sure that if she watched the video there would be several sections of songs she would cringe at, but all and all the performances are like no woman before or after. The interviews range from confident/eloquent and quick witted to selfconscious and painful. I have watched, and made my friends watch this video a million times and would recommend it to anyone who has a slight interest in Janis. I hope they release it on dvd as video becomes obselete. There are some different songs and clips on VH1's Behind the Music Legends, Biography, Lifetime's Intimate Portrait, Ed Sullivan Video, Women in Rock, Nine Hundred Nights-The Story of Big Brother And The Holding Co., The Lost Woodstock Performances and The Best of the Hollywood Palace...

this documentary is great for the simple fact that you get to watch and hear janis perform and be interviewed. Its all we have. It true however that there is no insight into her personal or professional problems,and some of the vocals are strained beyond all reasonable limits. At one point during a concert in canada,she actually stumbles on stage,clearly drunk. But all told,i have watched it 7 times and love it despite its shortcomings. I have to reccomend it highly if only because we have no other film/documentary focusing only on Joplin. Last words on subject,there are some astonishing performances here. buy it.

I find this film to be a piece of history all of in itself. The live footage is above all else. For example, the footage of Janis starring in the Dick Cavett show: the Full Tilt Boogie Band playing "Move Over," is one of a very few chances of seeing this song actually filmed live. Of course, all of her music performed in this film, particularly when she sang "Cry Baby" and "Tell Mama," is definately RAW,LOUD,AND LOOSE. She belt out those songs and was herself- no worries and no hesitation to speak her mind. The footage of Janis and the Kosmic Blues Band "Kosmic Blues" at Woodstock well illustrates why I consider this film as a piece of history. The studio outakes of Summertime and (briefly) "Catch Me Daddy" catches Janis and Big Brother and the Holding Company as their loose, unique selves. All throughout the film, Janis is, like I said, RAW, LOUD, AND LOOSE. Translation: JANIS! Not to mention inspiring. Hopefully, music fans will agree.

I come from my first viewing of this film with an idea of why Janis' spirit is so troubling for many who shared the period with her.

The interviews:

One first notices how uptight, repressed, and dated the interviewers dress and act. I doubt they were reacting to Janis' persona or reputation. They and many of their viewers were just that way. Cavett's outfit is laughable (and Janis does so). Questions were mostly inane but Janis generally rises above them to give us a clear view of who she is. Except at the reunion, she is completely at ease.

Did you know that Dick Cavett is still on the air, announcing for the Detroit Symphony's broadcasts? Wouldn't you like to ask him about the interview?

The reunion:

As has been written before, this ill-concieved foray was nearly her undoing. Janis seemed near tears as interviewers pressed her with more inane, repetitive questions. Again, she was surrounded by serious caricatures of the uptight, repressed 'straight' '60s society she came from but she appears to us as 'just Janis'.

Performances:

While others onstage exhibit extreme, period-identifiable and attention-grabbing excesses of costume and behavior, she dresses much as we all do today. Minimum makeup and adornment that would distract from her uncompromised message.

Did you notice, her slight S. Texas accent is only apparent in the sequences at the class reunion. Conclusion:

While most performers of all periods are somewhat unidimensional, Janis is 'bright and articulate', but can instantly and seamlessly change to 'desperately passionate'. Both phases are the same person, a concept she constantly and eloquently tries to sell to an unprepared world. It is no wonder that she 'wore out' so quickly.

Quite a powerful bio-doccie on Joplin, featuring great highlights from her performing career. There's lots of scenes of Janis talking and early pics of her life. She comes across as having been honest and unpretentious. Her high school reunion scene is funny and sad at the same time and it's the only place where she appears uncomfortable. The music is great and this film is well put together. A must for fans of Joplin.

This is an entertaining video - I was delighted to see the concert clips of Janis singing. I'm glad someone was recording her singing live in concert; it truly shows the powerful and passionate performer that she was. However, I came away with the feeling that deep inside, Janis was really a sad person despite her success and free-spirit. This is evident in the interview at her high school reunion. One can also tell in the various interview clips whether she was on something, drunk, or straight.

Janis was truly a unique and gifted yet tormented woman who, to this date, no other singer can surpass. She embodied the spirit of the 60's and there will never be another like her. It's such a shame she died so young.

Because, as the previous viewer points out, this seems one of the few ways to see this material. Janis in the recording studio is great because we get a chance to see the creative process of Janis with her best band Big Brother. I still hope that someday soon someone makes a documentary that goes a little further and show us homes, friends and places special to Joplin. No matter what her troubles I feel affection for her and love her music.