Video

By Staff -- Library Journal, 3/1/2007

Grey Gardens/The Beales of Grey Gardens. 2 vols. color. 94 + 91 min. Albert Maysles & others, dist. by Criterion Collection, www.criterionco.com. 1976; 2006 release. DVD ISBN 1-55940-977-0. $49.95. BIOG

Grey Gardens documents the demise of bluebloods Big and Little Edie Beale, a mother and daughter who just happen to be the aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy. Never is it clearer than here that the Bouviers had the name and the Kennedys had the money. Grey Gardens, once the home of swell parties and arranged high-power marriages, was already in squalor in 1976 when the Maysles Brothers began filming. Criterion had released a meticulous and complete version of Grey Gardens, long inaccessible in any medium. This special edition includes The Beales of Grey Gardens, assembled in 2006 by Albert Maysles, the surviving brother of the documentary filmmakers, with footage not used in the original Grey Gardens. The result is stylistically more interview/talking head than a voyeuristic peek into the women's lives. However, all the character and naïveté remain. Little Edie models wacky yet somehow smart outfits while reverentially reading an astrology paperback with a huge magnifying glass. Big Edie dotes on neighbor boy Jerry and asks Little Edie to sing her lyrics properly. The Maysles Brothers are more prominent here, as Little Edie delightfully flirts with them. Rather than delusional, she appears to be a real 13-year-old with a sincere crush. This pristine Criterion Collection remastering, which is now the gold standard, is most likely the result of the successful and critically acclaimed Off-Broadway and Broadway musical productions about the women and an upcoming film with Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore. This double-disc edition is an essential purchase for most libraries.—Gerald A. Notaro, Univ. of South Florida Lib., St. Petersburg

After viewing one episode of the third season of America's Test Kitchen (filmed in the test kitchen of Cook's Illustrated magazine), it is difficult not to run to the grocery, purchase the brand that tested best, and put it to work in the recipe in the highlighted segment. This pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to cooking basic "American" recipes that integrate repeatedly tested products and techniques seems consistently to produce a marvelous result in the test kitchen. This is not only a practical show but one with an entertaining cast of chefs, including Cook's Illustrated publisher and editor in chief Christopher Kimball. Kimball introduces the recipes, leads us through preparation, and compares his tastes with those of the testers. The recipes featured in Season 3 range from blue cheese dressing to BBQ baby-back ribs, with techniques from braising to deglazing. America's Test Kitchen Season 3 is fabulously informative for the experienced cook, exceedingly entertaining for those who like to watch cooking shows, and a mouth-watering treat for every viewer. An issue this reviewer has, though, is the lack of exact measurements for certain recipes, which would make re-creating them a bit of a challenge. This set is recommended for all public libraries. [All six seasons of America's Test Kitchen are available on DVD.—Ed.]—Claire Schaper, Free Lib. of Philadelphia

Kino has corralled movies from decades past and here presents them as vehicles for leading ladies. The Blue Angel (1930) made a star of Marlene Dietrich, of course, though its major role belongs to Emil Jannings. Josef Von Sternberg's portrait of a proper boys' school teacher and his downfall at the hands of a nightclub siren is still a potent blend of infatuation and humiliation, steeped in Weimar-era Germany. Befitting a general viewership, Kino provides only the English-language version, filmed simultaneously with the German (which were released earlier in a two-DVD set). Love Me Tonight (1932) is a classic wherein Rodgers and Hart provide the music and Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald the charm as a royal princess falls—by witty twists and turns—for a mere tailor. Rouben Mamoulian's inexhaustible inventions are a virtual dictionary of techniques for presenting musical numbers. The Good Fairy (1935), directed by William Wyler and starring Margaret Sullavan and Herbert Marshall, is a romantic-comic fairy tale of a well-raised orphan who tries to pass her improbable good fortune on to an improbable man—an honest lawyer. Made before Wyler reached his peak, Fairy has a clever early script by Preston Sturges. Lured (1947) is an odd but attractive duck: a vehicle for Lucille Ball before she became a comedic actress and a thriller from director Douglas Sirk before he became famous for romantic melodramas (such as Magnificent Obsession). Ball is an American showgirl stranded in London, pressed into service as a Scotland Yard detective in order to smoke out a serial killer. George Sanders is her foil and sometime suspect. Pandora & the Flying Dutchman (1951) is the only entry in glorious color, thanks to cinematographer Jack Cardiff. James Mason and Ava Gardner play out the fable of a man who is unable to die and a woman who is unable to love. One wishes that an early moment of Albert Lewin's surreally tinged melodrama—the sea-wracked arms and hands intertwined of two lovers washed ashore—could have presaged a story as vibrant in execution. But Pandora remains an acquired taste, despite Gardner's most ripe and ravishing presence. If your collection has only one or two of these titles, the set price is still a bargain.—Jeff Clark, James Madison Univ. Libs., Harrisonburg, VA

In this corner…in a sequel to their previously released Chubby Hubby Workout, master trainer Sharyn Pak and her one-and-only chubby hubby…Larry! Yes, the Chubby Hubby team is back for round two with a new and very innovative fitness routine for the "real" man. The Knockout Husband routine incorporates the powerful movements of traditional boxing but adds explosive martial arts skills to develop muscle strength and flexibility. The routine features ten rounds of jabs, crosses, upper cuts, snap kicks, and blocks, all capably demonstrated by a noticeably leaner Larry. Sharyn serves as announcer, queuing viewers throughout the routine while directing some affectionate jeers at her hubby along the way. As a bonus, Knockout Husband provides in-depth information on the use of a jump rope and how to employ hand wraps properly. This is fun, easy, and less intimidating than other hard-core boxing regimens. A unique addition to public libraries with a female-oriented fitness collection or as a companion to the original Chubby Hubby program (LJ 6/15/06).—Kathy Wicks, Urbana Free Lib., IL

We have all been told that some chemicals cause certain cancers, as well as many other diseases. The question is whether the government is doing enough to ensure that the air we breathe and the products we use are safe. The Toxic Clouds of 9/11 looks at the people who helped in the massive cleanup after the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. One week after the attack, Environmental Protection Agency director Christie Todd Whitman announced that the area was safe for people to return. Workers hired to clean adjacent buildings were not provided with masks or other gear. Those at ground zero itself wore ordinary paper or cloth surgical masks. Almost immediately, these people began to show symptoms of respiratory, skin, and chemical sensitivity disorders. Unfortunately, there has been no governmental relief for them. Even more alarming, many of the chemicals that settled on lower Manhattan are still there, and the government has not announced plans to remove them.

The longer-term effects of lesser chemical exposure are explored in Toxic Bust. Certain areas of the country show higher than average rates of breast cancer, and most of these areas are sites where toxic waste has been deposited over the past 50 years or more. Chemicals that we use daily at home or in our work are known to be dangerous. Can these be causing the increased rates of breast cancer? Both of these films ask serious questions and raise extremely troubling issues of which many individuals are unaware. Both are well produced and soundly researched, with highly knowledgeable experts offering commentary. Toxic Bust is a solid production but way too expensive for most public libraries. Toxic Clouds is perhaps the more disturbing film, as it resonates so deeply in the public psyche; itbelongs in every public library.—Susan B. Hagloch, formerly with Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, OH

This highly entertaining and educational film about Zapotec culture and its matriarchal society, which has flourished for centuries, features the women of Juchitán, Mexico. Though the women are quick to say that their culture values partnerships between men and women and that the workload is shared, the men comment that the women have the last word. The film investigates a society that is accepting of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender lifestyles and that supported the first successful Leftist challenge to Mexico's single-party government. Though the Zapotec language and traditions are under siege by the modern world, these men and women clearly hope to preserve their customs and values in the face of pending globalization. Director Gosling does an excellent job balancing a number of viewpoints and packs the film with interesting bits of history and ritual. Highly recommended.—Mary Laskowski, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana

Aranovich and Sokurov's important (and long-suppressed) 1981 documentary about Dmitri Shostakovich's life and work (his last piece was a sonata for viola) would make solid library programming during this, the gifted composer's centennial year, ending in September. However, any presentation would need the contributions of a specialist in 20th-century Russian history, as unidentified but moving archival footage from Soviet sources challenge uncoached viewers to identify times and places and musical pieces are often untitled. Excerpts from historical footage, official propaganda, and fictional segments mingle with rare images and audiotaped conversations with Shostakovich himself. In Russian with optional subtitles in English and four other languages, the disc includes a computer-readable essay explaining the film's history. Highly recommended for public libraries as a counterpoint to the 1987 biopic Testimony and/or The War Symphonies: Shostakovich Against Stalin (1997); also for libraries serving Russian communities and all music libraries.—Bonnie Jo Dopp, Univ. of Maryland Lib., College Park

Been Rich All My Life is the story of the Silver Belles, Harlem chorus girls in the heyday of the Harlem Renaissance. Ranging from 84 to 96, they share their stories as dancers and what happened to them as the clubs began to close. Included are extensive archival footage and photographs of the women performing as well as views of them "working it" today, entertaining sold-out audiences. An excellent study of the Harlem Renaissance, the film shows these chorines interacting as friends and dealing with injuries, illness, and the death of one of their members. Still, their collective story is uplifting as we see them survive and thrive. Also, current dancers who have learned from the Silver Belles honor their mentors and their extensive influence on tap dance today. Bonus features include dance instruction from one of the women, music from the program, a wonderful interview with director MacDonald, and more archival photographs. This outstanding film should find a home in all libraries, especially those with strong African American history and women's history collections.—Danna Bell-Russel, Library of Congress

Originally broadcast on A&E in five episodes, the reality series God or the Girl follows four young men as they discern a vocation to the Roman Catholic priesthood. Since this includes mandatory celibacy, they must choose between the priesthood and marriage. The cameras follow one as he makes his way, depending on the kindness of strangers, to a retreat house, another as he works as a missionary in Guatemala. All announce their decision on camera, and in only one case is the decision anywhere near predictable. Of European ancestry for the most part, the men do not represent the spectrum of the church, but their journey is one to which anyone who has had to choose between two incompatible things can relate. Included on the DVD are deleted scenes, footage of a fifth young man whose story did not make it to the final version, and a priest explaining some of the concepts dealt with, such as celibacy and faith. An essential purchase for libraries serving Catholics and highly recommended for other religion collections.—Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, NJ

This documentary illuminates the world of those Evangelical Christians who believe, and are training children to act upon the belief, that they must "take back America for Christ." Three children under the age of 13 are profiled. Their training to be "members of God's army," most particularly that which they receive at the "Kids on Fire" summer camp, is central to the film. Filmmakers Ewing and Grady attempt to present the true experience of these children, each of whom demonstrates a joy and passion for his/her faith. Each also professes various points of view, including belief in Creationism, in "two kinds of people" (those who believe in Christ and those who don't), and in doing things for God and not for personal glory. The children, with adult supervision, are shown taking personal and political action based on what they have been taught. Offering a brief counterargument to this training is a Christian radio talk show host who questions what he sees as indoctrination as well as the wisdom of seeking to break down the separation of church and state. Offering no obvious or prescriptive answers, this film needs to be seen by people of all political and religious affiliations; highly recommended for public, academic, and theological libraries.—Kathleen Sullivan, Phoenix P.L.

Filmmaker Davenport (Always a Bridesmaid) lives in New York City. She would have seen from her apartment window the towers collapse on September 11, 2001, if she hadn't been in San Diego at the time. This documentary is her road trip back to New York, shot during a six-week journey through the United States. It explores her sense of loss and guilt, with her healing process facilitated through interactions with people along the way, from California small towns to New York City on New Year's Eve. The individuals reveal overwhelming shock, sadness, anger, guilt, and faith. The nation's tragic loss is reflected in the losses suffered by those Davenport interviews. She alternates between candid talks and voiceover musings accompanied by views of scenery outside her car window. Recommended for all libraries as a touching tribute to a country that has survived.—Beth Traylor, Univ. of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libs.

Nearly every group in the world of pop music issues a greatest hits compilation at one time or another. How tremendous would it be if one of the most storied college football teams did the same? With this eight-disc collection, the wait is over. Eight of the most incomparable and fantastic games in Notre Dame history, including two Cotton Bowls and regular-season match-ups against Penn State, Miami, and Florida State, are presented. Each disc contains the complete game totally commercial free and navigable in four quarters on the main menu. Once a quarter is selected, the viewer can choose any of the scoring drives that took place during that particular quarter. Some discs offer pregame activities, while others have some postgame wrap-up. The pinnacle of this boxed set is the second half of the 1966 Notre Dame (No. 1) vs. Michigan State (No. 2) game (apparently, the first half no longer exists). It was referred to as the "game of the century," an overused moniker but highly appropriate here. As Notre Dame has fans nationwide, this set will be valuable far beyond the borders of Indiana. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Brian Burns, Hampden-Sydney Coll. Lib., VA