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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The only Grateful Dead video to have received a theatrical release (in the mid-'70s), this film is a real time capsule. See Keith and Donna Godcheaux as integral parts of the band! See the Wall of Sound! See the trippy animation! See Jerry with all-black hair! The photography and sound are crude and not on par with those in some of the more recent Dead videos, notably Ticket to New Year's or Downhill from Here, but its earnestness, and its focus on an era in the Band's history with little other video documentation, more than make up for the lack of polish. There's some above-average music, too, especially "Eyes of the World" and the ever-irresistible "U.S. Blues." --Anne Hurley
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Grateful Dead movie came out in 1977 but consists of footage shot during an October 1974 series of concerts at the Winterland, the last to use the "wall of Sound" system, and the shows preceeded a break from touring but by the time it came out, they had already resumed performing. It is as much about the fans, the sound crew, the "wall of sound" PA, and promoter Bill Graham as about the band. When I saw it back when it came out and a couple times at local high school auditoriums over the next few years, I was always left with the feeling that it was a little short on uninterupted concert footage. The film tries to cover so much ground the music performances suffer. The other place I felt it was lacking was the sound mix. This new DVD release basically fixes my two main gripes about the original release. It has a second bonus disc of extra song performances, and it has been remixed- it now sounds alot better (but for those who want the original mix, you can play it that way too for the movie portion). There is also some extra interview footage. The transfer of the film has been well done. The dead always had good people working for them, whether it was Betty Cantor, Dan Healy, Steve Parish or Ron Wickersham- and now Jeffrey Norman and David Lemeieux, the keepers of the vault. They have done some excellent work with this release and "The Closing of Winterland" DVD....both come from a period many consider to be their best. Now we can have our own virtual Dead concert. If you like this DVD, I'd also recommend the 5 CD "Movie soundtrack" set which is one of the best audio releases.
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
David Lemieux is the Grateful Dead organization's current "keeper of The Vault", having taken over for the band's original archivist Dick Latvala, may he R.I.P.
Remastering The Grateful Dead Movie is his second major video project, the first being "The Closing of Winterland", which is also highly recommended.
Even though the Dead were at their creative peak in 1974 (my opinion, of course), the audio and video quality of the multitude of concert videos that have been released by and of this band arguably improves as we move forward in time, if for no other reason than technology. Simply stated, they were able to make a better recording in, say, 1990 than in 1974.
All that changed when when David Lemieux decided to go back to some of earlier masterpieces and painstakingly remaster them.
I own The Grateful Dead Movie on VHS and on LaserDisc. Yet they rarely get played due to lack of decent audio quality. There's simply so much more to enjoy from this band that's of so much better quality.
The remastered Grateful Dead movie on DVD is a treat for the eyes, ears, and spirit! If I'm not up off the couch dancing as if I were at a show, I'm sitting there mesmerized with an ear to ear grin, sort of like the dude in the front row of the show!
THE REAL TREAT, however, is the "second disc", which includes footage that never made it to the original movie. In my opinion, the second disc with its never-seen-before-footage is where you'll find the real nuggets of pure joy, pure Grateful Dead heaven, the band at their best! Wait, oh just you wait, until you experince The Other One > Spanish Jam > Mind Left Body Jam > The Other One! Yeeow!
I own every piece of commercially available Grateful Dead video, and some that are not commercially available and this magical "Second Disc" is the finest bit Grateful Dead video available. Period.
Remastering The Grateful Dead Movie is his second major video project, the first being "The Closing of Winterland", which is also highly recommended.
Even though the Dead were at their creative peak in 1974 (my opinion, of course), the audio and video quality of the multitude of concert videos that have been released by and of this band arguably improves as we move forward in time, if for no other reason than technology. Simply stated, they were able to make a better recording in, say, 1990 than in 1974.
All that changed when when David Lemieux decided to go back to some of earlier masterpieces and painstakingly remaster them.
I own The Grateful Dead Movie on VHS and on LaserDisc. Yet they rarely get played due to lack of decent audio quality. There's simply so much more to enjoy from this band that's of so much better quality.
The remastered Grateful Dead movie on DVD is a treat for the eyes, ears, and spirit! If I'm not up off the couch dancing as if I were at a show, I'm sitting there mesmerized with an ear to ear grin, sort of like the dude in the front row of the show!
THE REAL TREAT, however, is the "second disc", which includes footage that never made it to the original movie. In my opinion, the second disc with its never-seen-before-footage is where you'll find the real nuggets of pure joy, pure Grateful Dead heaven, the band at their best! Wait, oh just you wait, until you experince The Other One > Spanish Jam > Mind Left Body Jam > The Other One! Yeeow!
I own every piece of commercially available Grateful Dead video, and some that are not commercially available and this magical "Second Disc" is the finest bit Grateful Dead video available. Period.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I cannot express in words how awesome this dvd set is. They did an excellent job with it in every way. The sound will blow you away, especially if you have a 5.1 system (you don't need it, there is a regular stereo sound option too) but the surround sound is insane.
The extras are all top notch - stuff you actually want to watch. I have to say that this is probably the best music DVD purchase I have ever made - the content, the packaging the little booklet - it's all of the highest quality. Very highly recommended!
The extras are all top notch - stuff you actually want to watch. I have to say that this is probably the best music DVD purchase I have ever made - the content, the packaging the little booklet - it's all of the highest quality. Very highly recommended!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
New to the Dead? Grate place to start.
Before I saw this movie, I had a hard time getting into the Dead and really wrapping my head around what they were doing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by casin
nothing else like it
You can't find better footage of the Dead. If you loved the Dead in the 70's you will love these dvd's. The horrible video I've seen of post 1980 Dead just makes me cringe. Read more
Published 8 months ago by dire wolf
This *is* the Grateful Dead.
This set is really something else. The performances and sound are incredible and, aside from that, it has the best camera/editing work for a music film that I've ever seen. Read more
Published 16 months ago by David Frost
Iggy's poem??
In the GD Movie, a guy named Iggy recites a poem "If the Grateful Dead was to live, many concerts they'd give... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Nagronsky
Just like being there
Watching this, except for smell, is like being there. Wait, I was there. No, was I? I think so. And if I wasn't, this film makes me feel like I was.
Published 20 months ago by D. Barton
who is that jerk?
Who is that jerk in the front that they keep showing throughout the movie? He is so annoying, he ruins the whole movie. And Keith and Donna Godchaux are also annoying. Read more
Published on December 21, 2009 by David J. Sussman
!!! IF ITS NOT A BABY, THEN YOUR'E NOT PREGNANT !!!
This is the only footage available from the BEST era of the Dead. Although the performances aren't always the best, Jerry seems downright confused and/or timid during China... Read more
Published on June 30, 2009 by aspiring saint
Dead Head's movie
We watched this and thought it was great to see all the dead head's from back in the day jamming out. Really cool.
Published on November 10, 2008 by W. Belk
An Insight into Ingenuity
Let's see, kickin set list with fan favorites and some beautiful extended jams? check. Wall of sound? check. Interviews with the band and some colorful dead heads? check. Read more
Published on September 14, 2008 by Matt A.
Great movie - need HD!
Born too late and having missed out on one of my favorite bands this movie provides the closest thing to a Grateful Dead show out there. Read more
Published on January 18, 2008 by J. A. Pettler
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