Customer Reviews

Patsy Cline: Sweet Dreams Still - The Anthology

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm as happy as anyone that these classic Patsy performances from 1950's and early 1960's television have finally made their way to DVD - the full numbers, not just snippets like on the Patsy documentaries. But this DVD loses some it's charm with the extras herein.

1. Too much commentary by Robert Oerrman. Do we need to hear this guy's opinion on every Patsy performance here? He is rather repetitive too (how many times does he say "she owns this song" or something similar). We don't need him to tell us she gives a great performance on a track, we can hear that ourselves!! Maybe some sort of introduction was needed but I don't see why it couldn't have just been a segment at the start of the DVD and not before every song.

2. Song titles on the screen. Do we need this? I mean first of all we've got Oerrman telling us what is coming up. Then we've got on most of the performances, the original introductions from the long-ago hosts telling us what she is going to sing, and finally we've got the menu chapters telling us which songs are which. Do we need to have the song's name on the screen, too then??

3. Poor choice of menu chapter starts. The Oerrman intros wouldn't be so bad if the menu chapters would ignore them and jump right to Patsy's performance - that's what chapters are for to get right to the good stuff. But you've got to sit through Oerrman everytime you want to hear a particular song by Patsy if you don't fast forward. Seesh!!

Picture quality of the vintage films are all over the place, from stunningly flawless (the Town House party appearances which look better than most 1950's movies) to pretty bad and scratchy on some tracks. But this is how these films and/or kinescopes exist, so cherish them in any form. One strange song selection is "I Saw the Light" which is sung by Ernest Tubb and features an all-star singalong on the chorus including Patsy, June Carter, Chet Atkins, Jean Shepard, Ferlin Husky - and Tony Bennett (!!!!!!) This would be a fascinating track but it's not the full number unfortunately and Patsy in fact is only spotted briefly on the film. This is one track we could have used some more information on - did Bennett go to Nashville or did Nashville go to New York for this appearance? I guess we should be greatly it's here in any form but it will certainly leave you wanting more. Also odd is the second version of "Walking After Midnight" which Patsy sings wonderfully but the foolish long-ago TV director has her cast as a fabric shop owner going about her business as she sings to herself - Patsy never looks up once or at the camera during the whole number!! And what makes it most exasperating is the print quality on this number is outstanding!

Don't let my criticisms of the DVD's production scare you off of this DVD. It's truly a treasure for Patsy fans and we certainly should be greatful these films of "The Cline" exist. Hopefully more will surface for a volume two.

"Sweet Dreams Still" Review

Finally the Patsy Cline DVD the fans have asked for, full video performances uninterrupted! This is a video anthology of her work from 1955 to 1963. The big hits are here with some lesser-known performances as well. Nashville Music Historian, Robert Oreman, host the video giving insight and history into each performance.

A condensed version of this has appeared nationwide for PBS Fundraisers in 2005. Hallway Production put this together with Patsy's widower, Charlie Dick as consultant. This group has put together 2 outstanding video bios on Patsy and other country legends. So we can count on a quality project from this group.

The video starts with her first release, "A Church, A Courtroom and Goodbye" from a Grand Ole Show in 1955. It's wonderful to see this new star being introduced by Opry Legends, Little Jimmy Dickens and Ernest Tubb. As we watch other performances such as her first hit "Walkin After Midnight" we notice the confidence she gains in herself. We also notice the heartbreak she breathes into such classics as "Crazy" and "She's Got You." One of the most touching moments are her performances of "I Fall To Pieces" and "San Antonio Rose", taped days before her untimely death. Some may notice she is not quit up to par, but she was sick with a bad cold or the flu at the time of the taping. The show must go on and she comes through with the "fly-a-nest of colors".

The extras performances are what the fans will clamor for. A cast performance of "I Saw the Light" that includes June Carter Cash and Guy Mitchell is a rare treat. One of the first true video is her lip-synching "3 Cigarettes in the Ashtray". Kd lang must have seen this as she did a similar version on Carson's Late Night. The camera angles on "Come On In" are much like "I Love Lucy", they capture the audience and we see the side of Patsy at the same time. Oh, and the arm movements are very much like what Patsy did in her live performances according to her friend Anne Armstrong.

The video concludes with an interview with Charlie Dick and current family photos.

In this video of clips from Patsy Cline's TV appearances, Patsy is as compelling to watch as she is to listen to.

I appreciated country music author and historian Robert K. Oermann's commentary and setups to the various segments. I have seen a few of these clips before, but many were unfamiliar. The only thing missing for me was that I would have liked a little more detail on all the clips --what shows they came from, what year they were broadcast (some of that information was given in spots, particularly on the earlier clips, but not enough in the more recent ones).

Another reviewer made reference to the possibility of other vintage Patsy video performances in existence; let's hope there is a followup somewhere down the road.

I love Patsy. I bought two documentaries the same day, one was this, the anthology, the other was The Real Patsy Cline. I watch the movie Sweet Dreams with Jessica Lange over and over and always wondered what Charlie Dick was really like and what happended to him and the children. The Real Patsy Cline DVD has more of this. The Anthology DVD is more live video of Patsy. I enjoyed it, but not as much as the other one. It depends on what you are looking for. Interviews with family members, get The Real Patsy Cline, if you want live video of Patsy back in "the day", get the anthology. Hope this helps.

I have been waiting a very, very long time for a DVD like this! It's amazing to be able to watch full-length video performances by Patsy Cline. I had heard of some of the rare footage ("Let It Snow" with Ferlin Husky, for example) but thought that most of it must simply exist in the hopeful minds of fans like me. Well, folks, here are the goods! I agree with the previous reviewer: I'd like to know a little bit more about the dates and TV programs, but at least they are arranged chronologically by period in her career. Absolutely, positively a must for a serious Patsy Cline fan.

Love it! I've watched this video fives times, and each time I walked away with a little something different--whether it was her unique way of phrasing or how she walked. I think Oermann's narration helps to make the video memorable. For instance, when he says, You hang on every word of the performance, I find myself hanging on. I'm glad that this video does not dwell on her death. Her death is too sad, and I want to enjoy what she has left. This video gives you full-length performances of her singing her earlier songs as well as some of her most popular ballads. She rocks! If I have any criticism of the video, it is that it is too short. I would have loved to have seen her American Bandstand performance, for instance.

I WANT EVERY PERSON WHO IS THINKING ABOUT POSSIBLY BUYING' THIS DVD, TO LISTEN TO THESE THREE WORDS: A MUST HAVE! I WAS IN WINCHESTER FOR THE PATSY CLINE LABOR DAY WEEKEND. PATSY CLINE'S HUSBAND, CHARLIE DICK BROUGHT TWO COPIES OF THE DVD FOR THE SILENT AUCTION. SOME OF US LOOKED ON IN THE HOTEL WITH THE WINNER'S COPY. EVERYTIME YOU HEAR PATSY'S TONE AND PERFECT EMOTIONS, YOU JUST MELT. THIS DVD OFFERS PATSY IN "FULL RUNNING VIDEO'S". NO OVER DUBBING OF FOLKS SPEAKING ABOUT HER. SO WHAT YOU GET IS A CONCERT LIKE SETTING OF PATSY THROUGH THE YEARS. I WILL SAY THAT THE EXTRA BONUS CLIPS ARE JUST AS EXCITING AS THE FULL RUN SONGS. THERE IS ONE CLIP, WHERE IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE ON STAGE WITH HER. ANYONE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A REAL PATSY CLINE FAN MUST BUY THIS FOR THEIR COLLECTIONS. IT IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE HER IN ACTION. YOU NOW HAVE A PLATFORM TO SEE IN YOUR MIND NEXT TIME SHE COMES ON THE RADIO. A FAN, SEAN

This DVD collection is a unique and very rare opportunity for fans of Patsy Cline, and music historians alike. For the first time we actually have the chance to sit down and watch the magic and the music that is truly, and uniquely Patsy Cline, I would highly recommend this program to everyone, the sound is great, and they did a great job on cleaning up the video as well, trust me, these songs never looked or sounded this great in the 50's and early 60's when they first appeared.

I recently had the opportunity to see this program on Public Televison, and will most definately buy it when released. This show breathes new life into the career of Patsy Cline. From her first nationally televised performance on the Opry to her last appearance 5 days before her death, it's amazing to watch Cline's growth as an artist.
However, I do have 2 suggestions. I wish there was a cd of the music on this program, so one can enjoy these performances all of the time.
In addition, I believe there is enough footage in existance for a second volume to supplement this disc. Just from memory, I recall Patsy's performances of "Walkin' After Midnight" from Ranch Party in 1957. She sounds better than on record for this performance. In addition, there is footage in existance of Patsy singing "Lovesick Blues", "Strange", "Imagine That", "When I Get Through With You", "Why Can't He Be You", "Your Stronger Than Me" and I believe from her last televison performance "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" and "Someday You'll Want Me To Want You". I'm sure there may be more, and I feel this would be a great supplement to this already wonderful DVD. Just some food for thought for all the many Patsy Cline Fans.

This documentary on the fabulous Country Singer, Patsy Cline, shows the depth and talent of an artist whose too short career shows what the world lost because of her un-timely death.

This is a must for all Patsy Cline fans. It shows her first appearances on the Country Music scene and compiles rarely seen footage of Ms. Cline's stellar performances. I'll watch it again and again.