Search - One For The Money - The Birth Of Rock 'n' Roll on DVD

Well crafted documentary, very rare clips

Phil S. | USA | 11/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Low priced but high quality documentary. Rare clips from Bill Haley, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (believed to be their first TV appearance); snippets of a Sam Phillips interview I've never seen before, typically sage and significant; a previously unreleased gem of a performance of Little Richard with the Crown Jewels on the Mike Douglas Show probably from late '69 or early '70, rockin' it up with "Good Golly, Miss Molly". Credit to the Producers here for doing the unthinkable: featuring the *complete* performance of this classic, along with two by Frankie L. and group, etc. in the bonus section. DVD Documentary producers - take a lesson!
Perhaps too much on Bill Haley, not enough on Fats Domino, zero mention of Lloyd Price, Hank Ballard, Ruth Brown, Brenda Lee; no real mention of the small independents other than in their potential to keep the bigs supplied with "cover" material.
There is an interesting, somewhat bold criticism of Mr. Dick Clark. It's a slightly oblique view, as Clark is first credited as the guy to bring the new art form and culture to afternoon TV. It's implied that he was all business and took a cold, scientific approach to the new phenomenon, finding and/or promoting Presley "replacements" (non-sequitor) during that depressing '59/'60 period; over-exploiting the mainly young female buyers. The narrator says, in effect, he was his own anti-trust argument.
The program does stick to "The Birth" of the new music, which is a plus, and does feature many interviewees not nearly as visible in their field as they should be."

The real history of the birth of R&R

Vitaly Khachkinaev | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | 12/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the rare documentaries where the story tells the real history of the birth of Rock-n-Roll. The Treniers and Bill Haley created the genuine R&R (we remember it very good), but not Elvis and other crooners. 5 stars undoubtedly!!"