Free to Be You and Me
by Bill Davis, Fred Wolf, Len Steckler
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DVD details
Actor: Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Marlo Thomas, Mel Brooks, Rita CoolidgeDirector: Bill Davis, Fred Wolf, Len Steckler
Writer: Alan Uger
Writer: Betty Miles
Writer: Bruce Hart
Writer: Carl Reiner
Writer: Carole Hart
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, Compilation, DVD-Video, Live, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 48 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-11-20
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Henstooth Video
DVD Reviews of Free to Be You and Me
DVD Review: Free to be..charming & instructive
Summary: 5 Stars
Free to be you and me is an excellent DVD presentation with stories, music and wonderful animation. It is for children three and up and even an adult can enjoy it.DVD Review: it deserves twenty stars
Summary: 5 Stars
Free To Be You And Me stars Marlo Thomas, Harry Belafonte, Rosey Grier, Michael Jackson, Kris Kristopherson and others who lend their voices to the animated shorts that make up this brief but very sweet message directed at children. Simply put, Free To Be You And Me tells children that they should love their fellow human beings as brothers and sisters; and children learn that they can and should try to achieve their dreams in childhood and especially in adulthood as well.
While some scenarios feature the actors going through routines to show that anything is possible (and remember, Marlo Thomas posing as a construction worker was practically radical back in 1974), other scenarios are animated. The animation isn't always the greatest, but it's more than adequate and it helps to impart a meaningful message anyway. For example, in one animated scenario we meet a King's daughter named Atalanta. She doesn't feel so sure that she wants to get married despite the fact that her father the King (the symbol of authority and what society expects for a young woman) wants her to get married right away. When there is a contest to see who can win the right to marry Atalanta, she meets her match in a young man named John from the village. John and Atalanta come in tied for first place; and John is wise enough to know that Atalanta has to want to marry him and that she cannot be forced to marry simply because that's what other people in society expect for a young woman to do.
Another wonderful animated scenario concerns a young boy named Dudley Pippin. Dudley is accused by his teacher of spilling paint all over the floor at school. Although Dudley denies it, his teacher doesn't believe him and makes him clean up the mess long after all the other children have gone home. Dudley then goes home--but on his way home he meets the principal who tells Dudley that it's OK to cry about being so misunderstood by his teacher. This animated segment leads straight into the very famous (well, it was very famous at the time) segment in which the ultra-macho football star Rosey Grier sings "It's All Right To Cry" while playing the guitar. "It's All Right To Cry" is very masterfully done and Rosey doesn't falter one bit.
In general, the other segments teach children that it's OK to be in touch with their feelings about friends, siblings and their parents. There's even a segment on the importance of letting a young boy have a doll--so that he can see what it's like to be a father when he grows up to have his own children.
Overall, Free To Be You And Me doesn't lack much. The quality of the print could have been cleaned up somewhat; but it's all so good that this is really minor. I highly recommend this film for children to watch; it might also stimulate some meaningful conversation between parents and their children, too.
DVD Review: A wonderful reminder
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a wonderful treat to revisit Free to be You and Me! And a gentle reminder at how much we take for granted now in the realm of parenting and working. This was one of the first mass market efforts to show kids that mommies and daddies could move away from traditional jobs, that daddies were nurturers, that boys had feminine sides and girls masculine and that differences were something to be celebrated not dismissed. Rosie Greer's singing It's Alright To Cry was brilliant and the baby sequence is delightful. Even though Free to Be You and Me is over 30 years old, it's message is current and worth getting out. My 12 and 10 year old nieces watched it with me and enjoyed it very much. DVD Review: The best children's entertainment ever
Summary: 5 Stars
What's to say?
Free to Be You and Me is timeless, brilliant, and super fun for kids of all ages.
Great cast, wonderfully imaginative songs.
Too bad nobody's making an updated version!
DVD Review: If I could pick just one DVD for my daughters, this would be it
Summary: 5 Stars
My daughter now talks about being a police officer and pretends to direct traffic. She practices running races like Atalanta and my toddler asks me to show her the babies and she sings "free to be" all day long.
These stories and songs influenced me, opened the world to me, and they do the same for my young daughters. I remembered every word from my own childhood and sharing this with my daughters is emotional, special, and worthwhile.
Anyone who says female empowerment is no longer necessary is (1) not female; and (2) doesn't have daughters.
I credit these lessons with my sense of social justice and I hope my daughters develop this as well.
Description of Free to Be You and Me
This unique, highly acclaimed entertainment, stars Marlo Thomas, and features such celebrated talents as Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Mel Brooks, Rita Coolidge, Billy De Wolfe, Roberta Flack, Rosey Grier, Michael Jackson, Kris Kristopherson, THe New Seekers, Tom Smothers, The Voices of East Harlem and Dionne Warwick. Free To Be...You And Me is a journey into the endless possibilities of life, rich with positive, life-enhancing messages about growth and change. In a series of live action and animation, positive messages of self-esteem are illustrated through songs, stories and laughter. It explores children's authentic experiences, their dreams and concerns, their fears and fantasies. Among the highlights are Marlo Thomas and Mel Brooks in Boy Meets Girl and football hero Rosey Grier, singing It's Alright to Cry. In addition, Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack perform When We Grow Up and Alan Alda narrates the tale of Atalanta. This enchanted fun-filled voyage of discovery for adults and children to enjoy together is a superb addition to any family's home video library.Like Schoolhouse Rock, Marlo Thomas's 1970s children's TV show, Free to Be. You and Me met with immediate success and became a treasured piece of entertainment over the years. Based on her award-winning album of songs, skits, and comedy, Free to Be explores the infinite possibilities of childhood. Fans know most of the skits in the 45-minute show verbatim, and it's easy to see why right from the beginning with an infectious title track followed by a puppet sketch featuring Thomas and Mel Brooks as newborns. Top talent appears on both sides of the camera, including Alan Alda who directs and performs a cartoon about a boy who wants a doll. However, the presentation does show its age at times: a teenage Michael Jackson singing (with Roberta Flack) on how he's not going to change when he grows up. For all ages. --Doug Thomas
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