Customer Reviews

Johnny Cash - The Man, His World, His Music

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Yes, the footage is ragged in spots, and there is nothing slick about this one. But there are gems you won't find elsewhere. Much of the concert footage is riveting, including Carl Perkins' rocking "Blue Suede Shoes." Some of the reasons for Johnny Cash's broad appeal also emerge here. Combined with his onstage showmanship and bravado are his backstage kindness and affection toward his fans which seem remarkable in today's era of chic contempt. He called his shots straight from the heart, and this DVD gives us the pleasure of watching that in detail. A must for the Cash fan, and for anyone who wonders what all the fuss was about.

If you like Johnny Cash, this is a must. The picture and sound are good enough so as to not get in the way of enjoying the rare footage. His duet with Dylan is almost worth the price alone, but you also get to see Johnny with his parents, onstage doing most of his big hits and lots more(it's 90 minutes long). I felt it was a much more intimate portrait than the Anthology dvd which spends a lot of time interviewing Cash's friends and not with the man himself.

This was not at all what I expected, but it was a rare treat. It really is like one long home movie, scratchy, not at all slickly produced or well-edited, with footage of Johnny going about his daily routine, at home with his parents, walking through his now-vacant childhood home, on a farm with his children, visiting the gas station owner & other folks in his home town, interspersed with footage of Johnny (and others, including June Carter & her sisters) performing. The performances are powerful, of course, but the real treat is seeing Johnny in his element, with his family & old neighbors. The only odd aspect of the film is that it devotes significant time to other aspiring performers who want to play for Johnny -- It's interesting, but what it shows about Johnny (his reaction to these aspiring writers & performers) seems to be limited in comparison to the time given to others performing entire songs. If you're looking for a slick musical production of Cash performing, you'll be disappointed. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the Man in Black, this is well worth the money.

This is such an incredible opportunity! The fact that there was someone there on tour, on a hunt or backstage, filming Cash in the late sixties, is and of itself incredible. Sure, the sound quality and picture quality is not great, but folks, were talkin' the late SIXTIES!!! How many people even owned movie cameras then? If you did, how many of those movies do you still have, nevermind converted to DVD format? This film is historic! If you are a fan of the man in black, don't miss it. The studio session, with a then young Bob Dylan, cutting "It's Been One Too Many Mornins' nad I'm a Thousand Miles Behind." It's mightyfine-aaaah!

This is more a snapshot of one of America's greatest icons during his real life than it is a narrated documentary. The film is a compendium of homemovies that showcase Cash as an entertainer and as a man. Predictably, Johnny is accessible and friendly to just about everybody and you see that while he's "adjusted well to prosperity," he's still an honest country man inside.

This is also a ninety minute performance video. Most of its segments include some kind of singing or impromtu recital. We see Johnny playing at country fairs and at a prison (not Fulsom).

What pleased me the most about this film was the inclusion of Cash's duets with Bob Dylan. Watching the two of them record together was riveting. Also, I forgot how great June Carter's voice was. Hearing her sisters and June as Johnny's opening act was a great highlight. I may give a listen to some of her music in the future.

"Johnny Cash -- The Man, His World, His Music" might adequately be called a period piece. Filmed in an age when music and film were decidedly low-tech, this DVD, which was released in some theaters as a film, captures a raw image of the Man in Black. Indeed, the picture and sound suffer a bit, but I don't imagine anyone anticipated a DVD release (or DVDs for that matter). That makes this film all the more worthwhile: it's not showy. All the focus is on the music, and there's plenty of that. The DVD is a bit "campy", but I like it.

This DVD shows Johnny Cash during the heyday of his career in the late sixties. I want to say it shows him "in his prime," but that is a matter of debate. Even though he was not at the height of his powers physically, the series of recordings that he did at the end of his life with producer Rick Rubin is among his best work. This production highlights that phase of his career when he and June Carter Cash were riding the wave of hit songs that made him a household name in country music and beyond.

Raw concert performances of a number of those songs, including "Ring of Fire," "Daddy Sings Bass," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Jackson," are found along with rare recordings of lesser-known songs. This includes a couple of gospel songs and some guest appearances, that include a solo performance by Carl Perkins on "Blue Suede Shoes" and a duet with Bob Dylan. Cash and Dylan clearly warm-up to each other, smiling as the song progresses from opposing microphones. It's enjoyable throughout the DVD to see a healthy Cash singing in such a strong voice.

Footage of Cash backstage, on the road in a motorhome, and interacting with family and friends is also provided. Cash comes across as a down-to-earth guy who relates well with ordinary people. He doesn't try to impress, and never postures for the camera. It's an unadorned look with no narration or graphics.

The music is country with a little bit of folk and gospel. The sound and picture quality is a little more than acceptable, but the content is historic. This is the music that made him famous.

The varied settings--a prison performance, a concert on a reservation, a trip to Wounded Knee, a song sung at home, or in the woods with a wounded crow, provide moving moments in the life of a man, who despite his success was humble and kind to others.

This is a must for the Cash collector and worth exploring for those looking for a mix of documentary and performance from the early life of a music legend.

In an interview on the DVD, Cash says, "Singing seems to help a troubled soul." This DVD provides a glimpse of the many people and the man himself who were helped on their way through the singing of simple songs about everyday life.

3.5 stars

This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. Oh, and Joachin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon this is NOT. Forget about Walk the Line. This is the real thing here.

It really gives you insight into Johnny Cash's background and the inspiration for his music.
I learned about this film when I was traveling on business and was just flipping channels on TV and landed on the channel running the film. I was immediately drawn into it but I had come in on the middle and after seeing the remainder I wanted to see what I had missed. I couldn't find it listed anywhere else running on TV and so I found it online and purchased it. I'm very happy with the purchase. I even showed it to my adult kids and they enjoyed it very much also.

My favorite parts are when he is in the dressing room after receiving the CMA album of the year award in Nashville and someone has introduced him to a kid who is a singer song-writer and he tells the kid to play his best stuff for him. The attention and encouragement he paid to that kid was just amazing. There are other similar scenes where he patiently and humbly gives his time to fans.

Another scene is of him peering through the windows of his childhood home, a share-cropper house in Arkansas upon returning for a visit there. The home is long abandoned. Then he and June Carter Cash enter the house through the back door and he reminisces about living in that house and his childhood. Haunting to me. I grew up on a farm in Arkansas and that whole scene really connected with me but I think it would connect with you also even if you didn't grow up on a farm.

The intimate scenes sitting in his living room and singing and talking about songs he had written is very compelling also.

This film is well worth the price and worth watching over and over.

I've read other reviews for this product and while I can't deny the fact that the camera work and editing leave a little something to be desired, for me, it doesn't take away from the experience of the film. It's titled 'The Man, his world and his music and that's what it feels like. It felt like we were truly getting a look into who John was, even though he's always in the spot light. I went with this version because it's 10 min longer that the american counter part. I would recomend this to anyone who is a Johnny Cash fan.

I saw this program on educational channel. I grew up with him in Ark., and find his childhood factual. The people are proud of his success.
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