Great documentary about a great dancer.
921486
Lots of things I never knew about Gene Kelly offered here.  Makes me like him even more!  Well put together.
2767693
This DVD is for you.  I also had the Sydney DVD so I was able to compare this one to the first.  Actually, I'm a big fan of dance music, and after hearing Fever, I scoped this out as soon as possible.  If you're into the more dancey version of Kylie, this will quench your thirst, and probably wear you out!  There are some small issues, the biggest one being that the coneert itself wasn't as freeflowing and intimate as the Sydney DVD.  I for one LOVED the projections and I've been excercising to them, but there should've been more, if they could fit it in there.  Oh well.  That's about it, and it didn't really detract from the good time I had watching it.  I'm was especially impressed with the way they remade the classics (especially Confide In Me and Shocked).  In the documentary, we learn some pretty important things, especially about how prepared Kylie and her team were when they blew up in this country (not quite), and her reaction to her work in Impossible Princess (more positive than before), and why she included tracks from that in the set.  All in all, it's a nice DVD if you're into her music, but especially, the dancey side.  If not, you'd probably do better with the Sydney DVD.
1864642
Excellent profile of one of H'wood's journeyman practitioners. Began as a dancer, graduated to choreographer, then director;
worked with the greats, Garland, Astaire. Lot of intriguing dish about studio politics, rivalries. If this is your ballpark, you'll revel in it.
3239255
A great documentary about a legend in the world of pop and country music, and also a very helpful documentary about the tragedy of Alzheimer's. Very honest and revealing, yet respectful to this amazingly talented man.
2788596
This is a very enjoyable look into the inner workings of New York City Ballet. No complete ballets are shown but there are substantial segments of Serenade, Western Symphony and others. The interviews with Peter Martins and the dancers are more interesting than what are typically seen in this type of video. The film also provides comments from the audience giving a good cross-section of audience reactions.
3681285
I have been a Gene Kelly fan ever since I can remember.  Gene symbolized the era of the great "American Musicals" and his legacy continues to influence new generations of dancers and artists.  Gene was "one of a kind" an amazingly spirited individual whose zest and drive for perfection produced some of the most "memorable moments" on film!

This documentary is a fascinating glimpse into the life of a genius who truly cared about his work and listening to his fellow actors and choreographers talk about their association with Gene is wonderful!  Gene was also very human and this documentary points it out very well!  Seeing all the clips of Gene dancing is a treat and hearing him being interviewed gives quite a bit of insight into what Gene thought about dance and life in general.  This is one of the best film documentaries I have ever seen of a Hollywood celebrity and is a "must see" for any fan of Kelly's or for anyone who has ever seen one of his great films!

I think I have practically seen all of Gene Kelly's movies and whenever I'm down and need a little pick me up I'll put one of his movies on and immediately I feel better!  Gene had that effect on people..His bright smile and enthusiasm and the glorious songs that pepper his musicals are all classic reminders of a joyful time!

My hats off to the producers and directors of this wonderful program!  Thank you for bringing us closer to Gene and the people who loved and cared for him!  Gene was a true genius of cinema and his wonderful films will always be a legacy to the legendary artist that he was..God Bless you Gene..
3077725
This biography was published as a first edition in 1995. I received the book promptly and in mint condition. Massine was arguably the most important choreographer in ballet in the 20th century. He was affiliated with the legendary Bellet Russes De Monte Carlo. His Gaite Parisienne is on You Tube. The biography carefully traces his life from birth, early childhood, through his amazing career as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. Illustrations are adequate, sources are numerous, there are extensive notes, a good bibliography and good index. The author interviewed a great number of people who knew Massine.
I can only praise this wonderful book, similarly the distributor for Amazon.
589436
If you wanted to know about the real life of Grace Kelly's successes as a Hollywood movie star and as a royal highness, this documentary is a pretty good bet to see it all in one sitting. Good quality film clips. Good audio. Informative. Grace Kelly was for real.
4008418
This video is amazing.  The footage of the dancers from decades ago is a real treasure.  And it just gets better and better as the aging dancers give their philosophies on the art of dance.  Truly inspirational.
246410
Great documentary, very sad, but well put together. Janis was an icon and an inspiration to many female and male singers. The movie has some live concert footage and interviews many people that knew and worked with her..a must see for Janis fans!
864424
I loved this documentary. It was very candid. It profiles Nat's triumphs, but doesn't shy away from the tragedies, either...it captured the life from beginning to end of this larger-than-life entertainer on video, and I loved the clips of Nat singing the songs. It was a little sad to see some of the celebrities who were close friends of Nat's had since died years after this video was made (Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald) but I still enjoyed watching it. Even though they were friends of Nat's it was obvious that they were still in awe of him, as they should be.
Nat King Cole, in my opinion, was the greatest singer that ever lived, and he was a wonderful jazz pianist (even though after 1948, he played the piano less and less). The video goes into a lot of detail, whereas other Nat documentaries somehow leave you wanting to know more. Also featured are interviews with Freddy and Evelyn Coles, Nat's siblings, Maria Cole, Cole's widow, Natalie and Carole Cole, Nat's daughters, jazz pianist George Shearing, Harry Belafonte, Eartha Kitt and Quincy Jones. Also very moving was the final tune, "Stardust", undoubtedly the best version of that song ever recorded. When you heard Nat's voice, footage of his funeral was shown. I honestly broke down and cried, I was so affected.
NAT KING COLE: UNFORGETTABLE is an excellent look at what made this man and his music so special and beloved all over the world. Obviously he made a colossal impact, because his music is still selling, perhaps even better now than it ever did when he was alive. Seeing this video plainly shows why. It is a must-have for Nat's fans, and also makes for a wonderful study in African-American history. Highly recommended.
2874477
Most people know that Gene Kelly was a gifted dancer. This DVD certainly gives plenty of evidence of that fact.

However, he was more than "just" a dancer. As this DVD shows, he was a skilled choreographer and director. He had a great eye for camera shots.

The biography doesn't pull punches or gloss over his faults. I came away with a much deeper admiration for his abilities...and a thankfulness that I never knew him. He took competitiveness to extremes and was intolerant of some groups, such as amateurs; he was also a perfectionist. Granted, he had to push his dance partners to get them "up to speed" if they weren't dancers when hired on...but making them keep at it until their feet were bleeding was going beyond the line.

This is an excellent and balanced biography.
3082061
This video not only looked at Gene Kelly's dancing but at his personal life as well. Did you know that Gene Kelly:
introduced ballet into modern dance?; that Debbie Reynolds was terrified of him?; and that he danced with Fred Astaire? This DVD lasted approx. 90 minutes and I look forward to seeing it again and again.
2917619
A biography in pictures of arguably the most influential female film-maker in the history of the medium...though all too many people in the industry are afraid to admit to it.  Made the greatest propaganda film in history (unfortunate choice of subject matter) and the most important and influential sports documentary of all time (Olympia).  Dancer, actress, director, producer, still photographer, underwater cinematographer...an astounding list of accomplishments driven by a desire to perceive and record the world around her has compelled Leni Riefenstahl since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Oversized, handsomely produced volume (typical Taschen quality) is packed with rare photographs and fascinating commentary.  Note: sparkle in eyes of 19-year old dancer and 99-year old legend is exactly the same.
3527777
This film was shot in 1981 and shows what life is like for the professional dancers(and some of the students) at the Kirov Ballet. It is the only documentary that shows us both Konstatin Zaklinsky and his wife, Altynai Asylmuratova, rehearsing together and separately for the principal parts of Swan Lake. Other dancers are also shown, such as Galina Mezentseva. Many classroom scenes are presented and they are very interesting and exciting, showing very difficult combinations and dancers getting very exhausted and laughing about it. I especially enjoyed seeing what happens to Zaklinsky practicing when he gets too tired and falls out of many of his pirouettes; he musters one last bit of energy and completes his pirouettes successfully and throws in the towel. It is nice to see this video finally come to dvd, since it has been on VHS.
1197479
There aren't enough words to describe this mans talent or life.  Such an incredible journey.  Such incredible insight into the inner workings of films and studios for a dancer.
871794
I've studied flamenco, spent about six years in Spain on and off, and really liked this documentary.  There was thoughtfulness about HOW it was put together, all the shots, the interviews, the short performances, the stories told about family members...Lately I don't purchase many DVDs (I prefer to rent) but this one was worth buying in my opinion.