Average customer rating: If only socialism had been more fun Alternately boggling and boring

East Side Story [1998] (REGION 1) (NTSC) Director: Dana Ranga Manufacturer: Kino ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Musicals | Soundtracks | Styles | Music German | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video Other Languages | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video All Documentaries | Documentary | Categories | DVD | Video Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video Music & Entertainment | Television | Categories | DVD | Video Classic | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video Film Musicals | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video Region 1 | Special Features | DVD | Video DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video ASIN: 6305987130 Release Date: 2000-09-05

Customer Reviews:

If only socialism had been more fun.......2005-12-28

EAST SIDE STORY is a documentary roughly covering the period 1930-1970, when the Soviet Union, and its satellites after 1945, struggled to create Hollywood-like entertainment for the proletariat masses without sacrificing the central tenants of socialism. The fact that only forty musicals were filmed during this period suggests that the two concepts blended as efficiently as oil and water.

Chronologically, the documentary begins with the 1934 Soviet musical comedy, THE JOLLY FELLOWS, a rather unsocialist production that apparently only made it to the local cinemas after Stalin overrode the censors - a bad career move for them, no doubt - and personally approved it. As a matter of fact, Uncle Joe was a big fan of the genre, and gave a copy of a favorite reel to FDR as a gift. In any case, the visual narrative proceeds through several more Soviet releases, including the 1939 film with the catchy title TRACTOR DRIVERS and the 1946 COSSACKS OF THE KUBAN featuring synchronized wheat harvesting, and ending with the Polish, Czech, Romanian and (mostly) East German musicals of the 50s and 60s. Indeed, the costuming, hairstyles, and choreography of the DDR productions are so similar to Tinseltown fare that, if I squint my eyes against the cheesy sets and block out the German lyrics, I might just as well be watching a teenage beach blanket saga filmed in Southern California.

EAST SIDE STORY is liberally sprinkled with interviews with aging actors, production lackeys, and cinema historians. (Early on, it's pointed out that none of the films' directors have survived. A purge maybe, or just old age?) They establish quite clearly the dichotomy that existed between the desire to entertain audiences with big box office hits and the doctrinaire restrictions imposed by socialist ideology that tended to cramp the screenwriter's style. One of those interviewed wistfully observed, "If only socialism had been more fun." Gee, I don't know. I can see Stalin reprising Dick van Dyke's role as the dancing chimney sweep in MARY POPPINS, can't you?

Alternately boggling and boring.......2001-02-28

Average customer rating:

Elvis Gift Set [1966] (REGION 1) (NTSC) Starring: Elvis Presley , Arthur O'Connell , Anne Helm , Joanna Cook Moore , and Jack Kruschen Director: Gordon Douglas , Frederick De Cordova , Phil Karlson , and Arthur H. Nadel Manufacturer: MGM ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Musicals | Soundtracks | Styles | Music All Drama | Drama | Categories | DVD | Video Drama | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video Classic | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video Film Musicals | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video Presley, Elvis | Artists & Bands | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Region 1 | Special Features | DVD | Video DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video Box Set | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video ASIN: B000PMFS5K Release Date: 2007-07-24

Average customer rating:

Country Blues Guitar In Open Tunings Stefan Grossman Manufacturer: Music Sales Limited ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video Classic | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video Film Musicals | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video All Music DVDs | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Instructional | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Instructional | Documentary | Categories | DVD | Video DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video ASIN: B00062J0MG Release Date: 2004-11-17

Average customer rating:

Country Blues Guitar In Open Tunings (REGION 1) (NTSC) Stefan Grossman Manufacturer: Stefan Grossman Guitar Worksho ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD All Music DVDs | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Instructional | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Instructional | Documentary | Categories | DVD | Video DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video ASIN: 6308815144 Release Date: 2004-09-21

Average customer rating:

Ultimate Beginner Series - Rock Guitar Steps 1 And 2 Nick Nolan Manufacturer: Music Sales Limited ProductGroup: DVD Binding: DVD Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video Classic | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video Film Musicals | Musicals & Stage Performances | Musicals & Classical | Categories | DVD | Video All Music DVDs | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Instructional | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video Instructional | Documentary | Categories | DVD | Video DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video Pop | Styles | Music | Bestsellers | Greatest Hits | Live Albums | Disco | Dance Pop | Pop R&B | Contemporary Pop Music | Travel | uk-shops | Bestsellers | Greatest Hits | Live Albums | Disco | Dance Pop | Pop R&B ASIN: B00007GCYZ Release Date: 2003-04-09

DVD Review:

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2. Easy Fingerpicking Favourites [1996] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
3. Electric Guitar Basics 1 & 2
4. Electric Slide Guitar [1997]
5. Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas [1977] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
6. Expresso Bongo [1959] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
7. Fidelio - Beethoven [2000]
8. Fingerstyle Guitar - New Dimensions And Explorations - Vol. 1 [1994]
9. Fingerstyle Guitar - New Dimensions And Explorations - Vol. 3 [1994]
10. Fingerstyle Guitar - New Dimensions And Explorations - Vol. 1 [1994]

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