8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Lost film of 1975, May 26, 2006
The movie that explains their awesome breaktrough album That's the Way of the World(1975 CBS Records)album soundtrack. Here is a copy of the official press release:
Thursday, May 04, 2006
That's the Way of the World press release
Current mood: excited
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
CELEBRATE THE 70S AS BCI PRESENTS THE FILM DEBUT OF THE LEGENDARY EARTH, WIND & FIRE
THATS THE WAY OF THE WORLD
First Time on Home VideoAvailable July 18th For $19.98;
Coinciding with Earth, Wind & Fires Summer Concert Tour;
Breakthrough Film Score Features Classic Hits
Shining Star and Reasons
Also Available This Summer in HD-DVD Format
Los Angeles, CA Theyre one of the most inspirational, influential and successful bands in music history, and have consistently changed the face of R&B and pop music over the past 35 years. In 1975, their breakthrough hits Shining Star and Reasons were the featured songs on the soundtrack for the film Thats the Way of the World. Fresh on the heels of their 23rd album, Illumination, BCI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, will release this long thought lost film Thats the Way of the World on DVD July 18th, at a suggested retail price of $19.98. The title will also be available this summer in the HD-DVD format. Featuring an array of special features, Thats the Way of the World explores the politics that surround the recording industry and a producer trying to fight the system, and stars Harvey Keitel and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Earth, Wind & Fire has reached iconic status in the music industry, earning a plethora of accolades too numerous to mention, said Ed Goetz, President, BCI. This film and soundtrack helped skyrocket their career, and were pleased that it will finally be available to the widest audience possible.
Thats the Way of the World stars Keitel as Coleman Buckmaster, a highly-regarded record producer who appreciates the talent of The Group, played by Earth, Wind & Fire. But the system under which Buckmaster works sees things differently. The record executives want him to focus on a white pop act whom they feel has the sound America wants. To keep his creative integrity, Buckmaster carefully begins to fight the system that has made him the respected producer he has become.
Special features include:
Feature length audio commentary with Earth, Wind & Fire members Verdine White and Ralph Johnson
Eight page booklet featuring liner notes and photos
Stills and poster gallery
Trailers and TV spots
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Blacksplotation?, February 27, 2008
Irony? It's a pity. Back when this movie was originally made in 1975, movies starring black artists had a tendency to be short on plot, budget, & actual input from the actors. There was precious little input from the members of EWF, & the story line suffered. Of course Sig Shore of Superfly fame was notorious for these movies, & in true form the REAL stars of the movie, EWF,had little more than a cameo appearance in a movie named after their breakthrough LP. They litteraly mirrored the record labels brush off of the Group (EWF) in the movie. Although the live footage, & the instrumental backing done by EWF was stellar, there was precious little of it. Even Harvey Kietel couldn't save such a bad script. Sad to say most record companys still do business in this fashion, so the script comes off as sad but true. It's a fair assessment of the music & the blacksplotation films of the time, & a sad assessment of the music industry as a whole. Not a great film, but entertaining none the less. Outside of EWF's music, I'd say the plot reeks of Saturday Night Fever psydo drama. If you're a big EWF fan, you'll enjoy their music, but be prepared for a long wait to get to it. Rare film. The movie is OK.
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