1 comments about Biography - Casanova.

1. Casanova was the greatest romantic of all time as wonderfully told and illustrated on this A&E Biography.It's a must see!!

1 comments about Biography - Vladimir Lenin.

1. Were it not for Lenin, Karl Marx may have languished into a footnote of history, the Soviet Union and thus the Cold War might never have become a reality, and the oppressive evils of Stalin, Ho Chi Minh, Mao Tse-tung, Fidel Castro and others of the Communist ilk might never have been inflicted on the world. The irony of this is, of course, the fact that Lenin's revolution was not Marxist at all in the true sense of the term. Marx predicted that the "inevitable" social revolution would grow out of the exploited working class of developed countries, and Russia was anything but developed in the early twentieth century. The name and image of Lenin watched over the Soviet Union from its conception to its dismantlement, yet how many people today really know anything about the father of Communist Russia? Even the Russian people knew less than about him than they thought, as his life was mythologized in the interests of the state over the course of four generations. With the defeat of the USSR, hidden truths of history began to emerge, Lenin's statues and images began to fall left and right, and the Russian people were - typically - left to come to terms with an ambiguous history.
   
   Lenin's public persona as a kindly leader of the Soviet Union served to cover up the man's ruthless pursuit of power. This biography walks you through Lenin's life, including a childhood that would not seem to supply the flames of revolution. After his older brother was executed for conspiring to assassinate the czar, however, young Lenin (now watched by the government) began studying the works that inspired his brother - Marx, Engels, and especially Chernyshevskii. Soon thereafter, he began working among radical groups looking to overthrow the government; at 26 he was arrested, spending 14 months in prison and three years in Siberian exile. During this time, he worked diligently on his revolutionary writings and pamphlets, basically rewriting Marx to apply his revolution to the backward Russian state. His party of Bolsheviks was never a major player in affairs, and Lenin himself was forced to flee the country on several occasions. Through it all, he was obsessed with revolution, and his desperate moves to keep his few remaining followers together threatened to marginalize Lenin for good - and then World War I began.
   
   The war, Lenin knew, would afford him the opportunity to realize his dreams. He was in Sweden when the Russian Revolution of 1917 took place, and he wasted little time returning home to influence events. Few listened to his harangues over continuing the revolution, and the Provisional Government branded him a German spy and a traitor. Ironically, Kerenesky's Provisional Government essentially handed themselves over to the Bolsheviks when they recruited their aid in resisting a different internal threat. Lenin quickly called for the armed overthrow of the government, and his revolution came to power with little bloodshed. Lenin seized total control, eliminating enemies, destroying vehicles of dissent, and setting the stage for the future abuses of Stalin and his successors.
   
   All of this and more is detailed in this biographical video. You cannot truly capture Lenin's complicated essence over the course of only forty-plus minutes, but this video makes for an impressive effort. Lenin unleashed the Communist menace upon the entire world, and it is important that we fully demythologize the history of such a dangerous man.

5 comments about Biography - Truman Capote.

1. Despite facing homophobia, heightism, and anti-effeminacy, Truman Capote became a star. Unfortunately, like so many others, drugs and alcohol did him in. Many viewers will relate or be fascinated by the subject's extreme highs and lows. For those who loved the film "Capote," this will give them a longitudinal look at his life, not just his Kansas days. For those who read Gerald Clarke's biography, you actually get to see Mr. Clarke speak. Unlike most men with clefts that look like the dot of an I, Mr. Clarke's cleft is shaped like an upper-case T: it is soooooo adorable. As many say comparing fictional books with movies, the biographical book was better than this A&E special, though the special is laudable too. This A&E work doesn't talk about Capote's intense rivalry with Gore Vidal. It doesn't mention the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird" who got exceptional coverage in the "Capote" film. Also, it is not mentioned that one of Truman's photos was the cover of a record by Morrissey's ex-band, The Smiths.



2. If you're looking for a documentary on the life of Truman Capote, you have two choices:
   
   * Truman Capote, A&E DVD Archives (2005) [ASIN: B0009HMTFS]; and
   
   * Great Writers: Truman Capote (2000) [ASIN: B000FC2HNG]
   
   Neither one is inexpensive, so I would have liked a review saying which one is better. As it turned out, I ended up buying and watching both. Although both programs are of roughly the same length, the differences are significant.
   
   The Arts & Entertainment (A & E) version is clearly better. It has more information, photographs, film footage, and interesting interviews than the Great Writers version, which seems to be trying to make some sort of artistic statement of its own - lots of pictures of grass waving in the wind, country roads, etc., none of which are terribly relevant.
   
   You will be better off buying the A & E program.



3. A&E's Truman Capote bio is head and sholders above the Great Writer's bio. A&E uses rare footage, new reasearch, and exclusive videos to bring the experience to life. The only problem is its just too short at only 50 minutes. As it is, it won't lose your interest, and touches all the important bases. See why Truman Capote is also known as "the tiny terror"!



4. The video is everything you'd expect from the A & E Biography series. Factual, balanced, highly relevant film clips are all part of this film biography. This work gives one a better understanding of and appreciation for Capote's major works, particularly "In Cold Blood". I've viewed it three times and on each occasion, I pick up something new. Very good.



5. I'm interested in literature, so naturally, I purchased this DVD. I am also regularly impressed with the quality the BIOGRAPHY series put out by A and E. That said, this "Biography" doesn't focus upon the things that interested me, but focused upon Truman Capote's celebrity connections and his demise by alcohol, loss of purpose, and drugs. The last twenty minutes show a Capote that could be any stumblebum -- except for the fact that this stumblebum is videoed in one of the most embarassing dispays of talent loss since Jack Kerouac went on a talk show lo those years ago.
   
   The DVD corruptly focuses upon the years where Capote was doing the Club scene during the last years of his life. The focus upon his regalia by A and E is just a cheap shot, and the omission that he was despised by Gore Vidal is never mentioned--- even though they were the competing writers of their decade. And the praise heaped upon Capote by Norman Mailer is selective Pabulum.
   
   I think the film, Capote, offers a better understanding of Truman Capote's faults; however, this A and E is not a biography of much worth.

No comments about Biography - Marshall Fields.

No comments about Biography - George Armstrong Custer.

No comments about Biography - Malcolm Forbes.

3 comments about Biography - Sophia Loren: Actress Italian Style.

1. This A&E Video tells the life story and movie career of what I consider the greatest,most beautiful italian actress ever Sophia Loren.This video is a definite must see!!



2. Fine story of Sophia Loren.With good commentary by co-stars like Tab Hunter.Worth purchasing.K Nolting



3. As a man who will be forever in love with this very beautiful and sexy woman I will tell you that this is one very good work on the woman.

No comments about Biography: Kris Kristofferson.

5 comments about Evel Knievel - Hell on Wheels.

1. I agree with the previous review. This is a very cool film of the early 70's, clearly designed to promote Evel and his planned jump of the Grand Canyon (he had to settle for the Snake River Canyon in Idaho instead.) But this is quite simply the worst DVD transfer I have ever seen. The video quality is terrible. For a few bucks you might consider snatching this up, but don't expect much quality wise. On the other hand, this is my favorite George Hamilton performance, although he doesn't really look like Evel, he really nails the performance. John Milius co-wrote the script early in his career.



2. EVEL KNIEVEL was a favorite of mine when I was a kid. The idea of someone risking their life for my entertainment didn't bother me then. I was nine after all. Looking back, I think of Evel as an adrenaline freak with major issues, but still respect his right to jump over things. George Hamilton is perfect in the role of Bobby "Evel" Knievel. He captures his smirking attitude toward danger, bodily injury, and death. Hamilton hams it up in a way that only he could pull off, giving life to the legend and the man. We start off in Butte Montana (Knievel's hometown) where a young Evel watches as a car is sucked down into a sink hole. In flashbacks, we are treated to the story (well, small slices of it anyway) of Knievel's life, a tall tale almost as big as Paul Bunyan. I especially liked his obsession with and eventual kidnapping of his future wife (played by Sue Lyon). Hamilton gives us a portrait of a daredevil who knows his own destiny as an american superhero. This is Elvis on wheels, a showman who performs for us, knowing full well that he could splatter at any minute! This guy broke every bone in his body except his neck! The crashes are spectacular and disturbing. I found myself wondering at Knievel's nuttiness and disregard for safety, while marveling at what he actually did. The fact that he survived his many public suicide attempts is a miracle! Watch and enjoy...



3. I saw this in a theater, for a "children's matinee"(the original version had some racey stuff in it,and it may have carried an R or at least cautious PG rating, but other versions were edited for the kiddie market), it only ever seemed to play 2nd run in smaller theaters(and 2nd billing at Drive Ins) between 1971 and '73. VERY typical of early 70's filmmaking when just about anyone could make an indie film and get it easily distrubuted to "theaters and drive-ins near you".
   This low-end DVD sadly, maybe from the only copy available-on faded 16mm-it is on several other "public domain" labels("Public Domain" is when a film falls out of copyright because it's been edited different ways by different distributors and theaters and the original makers simply lose track of it, or disown it altogether). Still it is a product of it's time. They don't make'em like this anymore! A fun "road" movie from a more fun and carefree time.



4. My purchase and delivery of the VHS movie " Evel Knievel " was easy and prompt . However , I disliked the product because the video reproduction was faint and grainy (poor). Also , the sound reproduction was very noisey,cracking and had blank spots (terrible) ! I've enjoyed similar products from indiviguals selling a "used" movie , more than this unopened
   item ! My rating is up because the original film is very entertaining ! !



5. While remembering Evel Knievel, (gone Six Months now), this was the first film
   that was made of his life. George Hamilton in the Title Role (also known for
   his portrayal of Hank Williams), captures the essence of this daredevil. Seeing this
   in my early years, led to many Twisted Handlebars and bruises. My copy is from a
   Rough Film Transfer, maybe there's a better one. Still worth it after all these years.

No comments about Biography - Katharine Graham.