Product Details

• Actors: Paul McCartney
• Directors: Geoff Wonfor
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Rhino / Wea
• VHS Release Date: November 18, 1997
• Run Time: 73 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304687567
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,082 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Following fast on his work on The Beatles Anthology, Paul McCartney was inspired to make his 1997 release, Flaming Pie, a tribute in part to his days with the Fab Four, and one of the best things he'd done in 20 years. The songs are laid-back, breezy, and soulful, like Paul has remembered everything he used to be. We can thank Anthology for that, and also for this documentary on the making of Flaming Pie, a record of the making of a record. The title, Flaming Pie, Paul tells us, is from an article written by John Lennon for the local paper, The Mersey Beat, in 1961. In the story, John says he had a vision that a man came to him on a flaming pie and said, "From this day you are the Beatles with an A." So that's that. The documentary itself is partway between a music video and a proper documentary, with Paul getting silly at times, and at other times sounding a poignant note unwittingly, such as when he sings a love song to Linda. The sound on the disc is excellent, making this a worthy addition to the library of any fan of the Beatles or McCartney. With a little help from his friends: Ringo Starr, Steve Miller, George Martin, Lenny Kravitz, Linda McCartney, and (surprise) Bill Clinton. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lesson in Studio Arts and Music, December 25, 2001

By 

Gregg Reed (St. Louis Park, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul McCartney - In the World Tonight (DVD)

"In the World Tonight," is an intimate 1997 lesson in studio arts set to the music of Paul McCartney's album Flaming Pie. The cinema verite camera lends initmacy as Paul speaks, sings, plays, and improvises in his music studios, animation studio, and television studio. But the television aspect ratio and light editing of the home-movie styled shots leave Paul in the center of the screen almost all of the time--so the cinematography is a little predictable.

In the film you might expect to see the result of Paul having a movie camera follow him around throughout his career. Paul uses relaxed poses around a campfire in a woods, boyish facial expressions and charming movements in his home studio, bright reactions in the television studio, and serious looks in the Abbey Road studio.

Voice, song, music, drawing, painting, animation, and architecture all play a part in making this "home movie" of a historic artist stay fresh. But, like a home movie, the loose style of the film leaves a couple of funny shots or shots that could be a little embarassing too.

Musicians and artists should like "In the World Tonight" because it gives a close up look at how Paul speaks, sings, plays, composes, draws, or paints in unique home, public, and arena settings. You can see Paul improvise funny songs and sing in his studio and rehearsing or recording with Ringo at home, and you can see him in formally orchestrated recording sessions at Abbey Road Studio and performing before a historic audience of 180,000 people in an arena in South America.

The cinema verite film is also a news reel of Paul's life in the mid 1990's. Paul's daughter Mary and her husband Alistaire produced and directed the film. Wife Linda sings informally with Paul in the recording studio, and rides horseback with him in the woods, but she appears in the film to be a more secondary figure than she has seemed after her death, but her appearance could be a major part in the film.

In the segment that documents Paul's award of knighthood toward the end of the film, Paul says that knighthood gives you a chance to make your girlfriend a Lady, but Linda always was a lady.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIR PAUL'S DOCUMENTARY OF HIS GREAT "FLAMING PIE" CD, January 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Paul McCartney - In the World Tonight (DVD)

A great documentary by Sir Paul of his then new "Flaming Pie" album. This is his best album of the 90's and his best since "Tug Of War". "Young Boy" (under-represented here) is one of the catchiest Beatles related songs ever, and you can see why it was a top 20 hit in the U.K. As far as the DVD, I had the VHS, and the DVD is clearer (with no lines) and the sound is crisper. However, Rhino has the "track" listing badly out of order. A correction is sorely needed. You pretty much have to watch it in order and don't rely on the printed list on the inside cover. The pace is good, and with Linda's passing shortly afterwards, this being her last footage is quite touching (especially both of them recording "Great Day"). With this and the newly released "Standing Stone" being Sir Paul's only available titles on DVD, this is a must buy as it is a very enjoyable 75 minute video. Here's to hoping that some of his other videos make it to DVD soon, like "Rockshow", "Put It There", "Get Back:Concert Movie", and "Paul Is Live"! Also, how about a video compilation Paul?

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Macca's Triumphant Flaming Pie, July 31, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Paul McCartney - In the World Tonight (DVD)

Interesting footage of Sir Paul as he puts together his best album in....well, quite awhile. Includes videos for The World Tonight, a VH-1 town meeting, Paul and Ringo, Paul and Steve Miller, Paul and Jeff Lynne. Also included are Macca discussing painting, his knighthood, his studio, working with Sir George Martin on Beautiful Night. It's all quite a diverse little trip inside the world of Paul McCartney and a good compliment to the truly wonderful Flaming Pie.