The Oprah Winfrey Show: 20th Anniversary Collection (1986) Review

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(More customer reviews)On January 29, 1954 Oprah Gail Winfrey was born. Oprah had a mountain of obstacles already in front of her as a newborn baby... she was born to unwed teenage parents, female, she was black, and she was poor.. not just poor...po!
Oprah's mother was an eighteen-year-old housemaid named Vernita Lee. Her father was a twenty-year-old doing duty in the armed forces: his name - Vernon Winfrey.
For the first six years of her life, Oprah was raised on a Mississippi farm by her grandmother. Perhaps the first stroke of good luck for the young child. Oprah credits living with her grandmother probably saved her life.
At the age of six, her mother, Vernita Lee, decided that she could care for her young daughter and Oprah was sent to live with her in Milwaukee. From ages six to thirteen, Oprah stayed with her mother. She was raped by a cousin when she was nine years old and later molested by a male friend of her mother's and by an uncle. The young girl never told anyone about the abuse. Instead, she held her anger and pain inside and she rebelled. She repeatedly ran away and got into trouble.

Her mother decided to put her into a detention home. Fortunately for Oprah, she was denied admission to the home because there were no openings. So, in what may have been her second major stroke of good luck, she was sent to live with her father Vernon Winfrey in Nashville. Before she ceased her promiscuous and wild behavior, she became pregnant and gave birth to a stillborn baby boy when she was fourteen. The death of her baby devastated her and she vowed to turn her life around.
Oprah Winfrey began her career in 1973 in Nashville, Tennessee, as WTVF's youngest -- and first-ever African-American -- news anchor, before moving in 1976 to Baltimore's WJZ, where she took over the chat-fest People Are Talking in 1978.

In 1983, Winfrey moved to Chicago to host AM Chicago, which within three years would become The Oprah Winfrey Show, roll out nationally via syndication, to become what it is today.
On learning from life-- "And what I found is that every time you have to repeat the lesson, it gets worse. I call it God trying to get your attention. The universe trying to get your attention. "Sooo we didn't get your attention the first time. We are going to have to hit you a little harder this time." So I'm still doing it. I'm still learning.
And it seems worse because it gets worse. I say, the universe is always trying to get your attention. Sometimes it starts out -- any major problem you encounter -- as a whisper. By the time it gets to be a storm, you've had a pebble knock you upside the head; you've had a brick; you've had a brick wall; you've had a house fall down. And before you know it, you are in the eye of the storm.
But long before you are in the eye of the storm, you've had many warnings, like little clues. So now my goal in life is not to have to hit the eye of the storm, but to catch it in the whisper. To get it the first time. I think the thing, the one thing that has allowed me to certainly achieve both material success and spiritual success, is the ability to listen to my instinct. I call it my inner voice. It doesn't matter what you call it -- nature, instinct, higher power. It's the ability to understand the difference between what your heart is saying and what your head is saying. I now always go with the heart. Even when my head is saying, 'Oh, but this is the rational thing; this is really what you should do.' I always go with that little... feeling. The feeling. I am where I am today because I have allowed myself to listen to my feelings.
The six-disc collection follows her impressive career, starting with "The Beginning," which outlines the early days of her show; "Heartprints," offering her most emotionally affecting interviews; "Aha!," focusing on moments that provided lessons; and the "Stars, interviews with celebrities. Everything is a highlight.
Harpo Productions, will donate its full share of the net profits from this DVD's sales to Oprah's Angel Network.
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The Stars.The Stories.The Moments.An unprecedented six-disc collection celebrating the 20th Anniversary of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW, one-on-one with Oprah Winfrey herself.See exclusive never-before-seen footage, never-before-heard thoughts and personal revelations, as Oprah takes a candid, open and look back at all the most memorable moments of 20 years of history-making television.Get the inside story on Oprah's all-time favorite guests, surprises, celebrities and the people that have touched Oprah's heart forever.Share Oprah's personal perspective on the stories that made headlines, the interviews she'll never forget and more!Plus, go on a personal tour of Oprah's home, watch never-before-seen footage from the beginning years of THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW and take an exclusive look behind the scenes of A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW!Twenty extraordinary years...from Oprah to you.Oprah Winfrey will donate 100% of Harpo's profits from the sale of this DVD Collection to Oprah's Angel Network.

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Funny Girl (1968) Review

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(More customer reviews)First off - the DVD: It's a letterbox transfer of pristine new print that has been digitally restored (sometimes frame by frame) back to its original condition. Funny Girl hasn't looked this good in thirty years - so if you've only seen it on VHS or TV, you're in for a visual treat. I saw the restored print on a huge screen this past fall, and believe me, this transfer does it justice. In addition they have included the pre-show and intermission music as well. The additional documentary material is nothing to write home about. But I think whoever did the DVD menu deserves kudos for styling it like the New Amsterdam theater marquee from the first shot of the movie, with highlights from the film playing in the background. Very appropriate and very clever.
Funny Girl is A.) the musical biography of comedienne-singer Fanny Brice, and B.) the Oscar-winning film debut of 26 year old Barbra Streisand. As theatrical history lesson it's pretty flawed - (Arnstein was Brice's *second* husband, for example). The Streisand - Brice connection is strong, however. Fanny, like Barbra, wore her Jewishness as a badge of honor - in contrast to most Jewish performers of the day, who tried to blend in as much as possible. As a matter of fact, the "You Are Woman, I Am Man" seduction scene plays like a Brice "Follies" sketch.
And as a star vehicle for Striesand, it's a winner. "I'm the Greatest Star" at the beginning of the picture is an electrifying jolt of raw, pure talent. At the end of them film when she falters on the opening words of "My Man", you'll remember what it feels like to watch your beloved walk out of your life.
William Wyer seems to be aware that he's launching a new star. The way he introduces Barbra - that long walk with her back to the camera in the leopard coat - ending with the first teasing glimpse of her face in the mirror - "Hello, gorgeous." It was a closeup that many film folk were sure would have audiences recoiling in horror. Certainly plain looking Barbra couldn't make it as a movie star. Well, it's not news anymore but it turns out that Barbra photographs beautifully. Even Barbra-hater Rex Reed had to admit at the time, "It took the combined efforts of God knows how many people to do it, but I'll be damned if they haven't made her beautiful!"
Omar Sharif plays opposite Barbra, and he holds up his end of the film nicely, no small feat when you consider that the script gives him little to do and the entire property has been tailored to Streisand's strengths. No one else registers, with the possible exception of Kay Medford as Fanny's mother. (Poor Anne Francis sued Columbia after the film was released, claiming Streisand had her cut out of the finished film. Most of you are sitting there thinking, "Anne, who?")
All in all, one of the better Sixties Broadway musical adaptations. (Note: Funny Girl was nominated for Best Picture in 1968. It lost to another Columbia Pictures musical - Oliver! If you liked Funny Girl, check out Oliver! - it's a better movie, even though it has no star names over the title. More 1968 Oscar trivia - Barbra won for Best Actress in a tie with Kathrine Hepburn of "Lion in Winter". In Oscar balloting there can only be a tie when there are the exact same number of votes. Why do I mention this? Well, it just so happens that because of her "special stature" in the industry, Barbra Streisand was admitted as a voting member of the Academy that year - with the release of just her first film. I wonder who she voted for???? If she hadn't been given special treatment, maybe Kate Hepburn's name would had been the only one announced that night!)

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ONLY HER MOTHER BELIEVES FANNY CAN MAKE IT IN SHOW BUSINESS.WHEN SHE GETS HER FIRST BREAK AT KEENEY'S MUSIC HALL, HER HILARIOUS DEBUT AS A ROLLERSKATING CHORUS GIRL GETS HER HIRED ASA COMEDIENNE. A YEAR LATER, FANNY IS WORKING FOR FLORENZZIEGFELD IN HIS FAMOUS FOLLIES AND BRINGS THE HOUSE DOWN.

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Baby Boom (1987) Review

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(More customer reviews)This review refers to MGM's DVD edition of "Baby Boom".....
They call her "The Tiger Lady". She's a woman of the 80's.She's a high powered ad exec,with a six figure income,has an apartment to die for, which she shares with her significant(but slightly dull)other(also a six figure income),and is about to become a partner in the firm.She's J.C.Wiatt,a real go-getter. She has it all. Or does she?
Diane Keaton turns in a touching and funny performance as this dynamic woman, whose life is suddenly turned upside-down by a surprising inheritance. No, not money or a family heirloom, this inheritance is "Elizabeth"....a bouncing bundle of joy who melts the heart of the Tiger Lady and will melt yours as well.A toddler was not part of J.C.'s plan.How will she juggle her career and motherhood? And what about romance,can that ever be part of her future now? It doesn't look good. But when life hands J.C. Wiatt lemons(and a baby)...she does it her way...she makes applesauce!
Written by Nancy Meyers and Charles Shyer(who also directed), it is a nostalgic look back at the evolving baby boomer.A marvelous supporting cast includes Harold Ramis, Sam Wanamaker,Sam Shepard, and James Spader as the protoge from hell. It's a sweet and funny feel good tale. The music by Bill Conti gives the perfect feel to the story.
The DVD is presented in widescreen(1.85:1) and the sound is in Dolby Digital stereo surround. The picture is good. Not the shaprest I've seen on a film this recent, but a nice view.The surround sound is nice. The music and dialouge both clear and disguinishable.There is a theatrical trailer and it may be viewed in French(also stereo) and has subtitles in French and Spanish, but none in English. If you are interested in this film and are needing English subtitles, there is a German edition(PAL)with English captioning out there. I did not see it sold here at Amazon though.
"Baby Boom" is a fun romantic comedy that was nominated for Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture(Comedy/Musical) and Best Actress(Comedy/Musical).4 stars.
Thanx and enjoy......Laurie

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J.C. Wiatt (Keaton) thinks she has it all together. Beautiful and talented, she's on the road to certain success. So when an adorable baby girl comes into her life by way of a distant cousin's will, it's J.C. who breaks out in a rash! Juggling power lunches and powdered formula, she is soon forced off the fast track by a conniving colleague and a bigoted boss. But this lady won't stay down for long. She'll prove to the world that a woman can have it alland onher own terms too!

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