Search - Godfathers and Sons: A Film by Marc Levin on DVD

Movie Release: 2003 DVD Release: 05/04/2004 Format: DVD SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 13 mins Studio: Hip-O Members Wishing: 1 Genres: Music, Biography, Social History, Music History

Part of The Blues documentary film series on PBS, Godfathers and Sons is directed by Marc Levin. This installment explores the Chicago blues, the influence of Chess Records, and the connection between blues and hip-hop. Revolutionary rap group Public Enemy notes the 1968 Muddy Waters album Electric Mud as a major influence on the development of their sound. Working closely with Chess Records heir Marshall Chess, along with Public Enemy's Chuck D, Levin travels to Chicago to make a record with contemporary hip-hop artists and veteran blues musicians. Modern electric blues rockers Sam Lay, Magic Slim, and Koko Taylor provide performances and interviews. Includes archival footage of Bo Diddley, Howlin' Wolf, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Godfathers and Sons was originally broadcast by PBS on October 2, 2003. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Marc Levin's contribution to the Martin Scorsese-produced documentary series The Blues examines the past and present of Chicago blues, focusing on Marshall Chess, whose family once ran the powerful Windy City blues label Chess Records, and his efforts with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D to reunite the band from Muddy Waters' infamous experiment in psychedelic blues, Electric Mud. The film has been transferred to disc in letterboxed format at the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.78:1, and the images look sharp and clear throughout. The audio is presented in two formats, a surround mix in Dolby Digital 5.1 and an uncompressed two-channel mix in PCM Stereo. No subtitles or multiple language options have been included. As a bonus, the film includes a handful of additional performances, including enthusiastic numbers from Chicago scene veterans Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, and Otis Rush, and fine archive material from Howlin' Wolf. The disc also features an interview with director Marc Levin, his filmography, and a commentary track from the filmmaker. Also available is an option that allows users to cue up individual musical performances within the film; a trailer for the series is also included as a "special feature," though including a commercial for Volkswagen (a sponsor of the series) as a "special feature" seems to be pushing it. Overall, the disc looks and sounds great, and matches the level of quality of the other releases in this series. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide