Mamas & The Papas: Straight Shooter
by Greg Hall
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DVD details
Actor: Denny Doherty, Dick Clark, Joe Cocker, Mick Fleetwood, The Mamas & the PapasDirector: Greg Hall
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 130 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-01-29
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: STANDING ROOM ONLY
DVD Reviews of Mamas & The Papas: Straight Shooter
DVD Review: Icky. Cool.
Summary: 4 Stars
As I write this, MacKenzie Phillips's controversial confession is swirling and the negative press is coming down, mostly on her. Never on her father, who certainly never did anything wrong, cuz, you know, he was a genius...
Straight Shooter purports to be about the group, but concentrates most on John Phillips. The entire DVD is worth it for the marvelous editing of the story about ending his marriage to take up with a 16 year old. We see his (now) ex-wife, growling about Michelle, "She was ... brazen." Just when I was thinking what a nasty, bitter old woman this was, the show cut to Michelle Phillips, cheerily saying, (paraphrasing) "I saw HER and I knew it was only a matter of time before she was gone, and __I__ was at his side." Then, just as cheerily, she describes cheating on John with Denny while she knew Cass was in love with Denny, and my jaw hit the floor.
That's (to use the writer's cliche) not TELLING you about a person, but SHOWING you. Brilliant.
The backstory of the group is good, but if you are a fan you already know most of the facts presented. Get this DVD for the interviews.
DVD Review: one heck of a story
Summary: 5 Stars
(4.5 stars)
The Mamas & The Papas: Straight Shooter is a very good documentary of The Mamas & The Papas and their history; but I must agree with another reviewer who notes that a lot of time is spent on John Phillips and the minute details of his drug taking days while not enough time is spent on Cass Elliott, Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty after the group disbanded. Indeed, the focus on John Phillips is quite something when you consider we even get footage of several of his family members which is something we don't get for the other members of the group. On the other hand, the three bonus features do a good job of filling in many of the blanks that were left in the film; and that's what leads me to give this four and one-half stars. In addition, the documentary moves along at a very good pace; I was never bored.
All in all, there's very little significant history about the group that you'll need to know after you read the lengthy editorial review Amazon posted halfway down this product page. However, there are some extra stories well worth telling that flesh out the story of this group; and I'm not going to spoil much for you by telling you all of them here. There are things like the tale of how they initially met Cass Elliott, how Cass was able to suddenly sing higher notes than ever before, Cass contributing to the group and her career after she left the group. In addition, the archival footage is really special; you've got to see it to truly appreciate the value of this film. The footage of the revived Mamas & The Papas at the end of the film is very well done as well. I also liked the footage of The Monterey Pop Festival during the "summer of love;" and I learned a lot about how John Phillips did so much to make that happen.
As for those bonus features: Chronicles has Michelle Phillips tells us her memories of Cass Elliott and Cass' history with The Mugwumps and The Big 3. Michelle also talks about how the group shot to stardom and more; parts of this come from the main portion of the documentary but a lot does come as true-blue extra info. Denny Doherty recalls how he met John Phillips and began to work with him as part of another bonus feature; and the third bonus includes commentary from documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker who made a terrific film about The Monterey Pop Festival.
It may seem as if everything has been given away and that there's nothing new to find if you watch this film, especially with the editorial review above. However, I can't tell you in words about the experience you have when you watch this film. The nostalgic effect is terrific; both the interview footage and the archival footage impress me greatly. This is a great film for folk rock fans, people who like classic rock from the mid 1960s and, of course, people who want to learn about The Mamas & The Papas as well as their fans.
DVD Review: Mamas and Papas: Straight Shooter
Summary: 4 Stars
Brought me back to the 60's to enjoy that wonderful sound of Mama Cass. ThankyouDVD Review: Bonus Interviews Make This DVD
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this originally on VHS in 1988. The bonus interview footage taped back in 1987 makes it worthwhile to have. The extra unedited interviews with Michelle, Denny & John are essential to see and hear . Each of them in their own words recount and elaborate more of the history of The Mamas & The Papas than was in the original video. It's about 30 minutes extra interviews only that is added to the original video.
I always had issues with this video concentrating more on John Phillips' life, than on each one of the members. It does tell the story of The Mamas & The Papas through interviews , television appearances & photos. It's a good documentary, but it could have been great. It traces John's life from birth to 1987 , and the group's history as well. Cass , Michelle & Denny are shortchanged and not covered in depth, as John's story is. The early history of the pre-Mamas and Papas groups that each member was in is only briefly covered. The Mugwumps, the very important group that Cass & Denny had in 1964 is not even discussed or even a photo of the band shown! What an oversight that is. When made in 1988, the video ended with the horrific stories of John's drug abuse, John's version of a " New " Ms & Ps in the studio and his rehabilitation. All of the events that have happened since then - the groups' induction into the R&R Hall of Fame, the passing of both John and Denny, Michelle's acting career - are all convieniently summed up by a simple scroll at the end of the DVD. That's so the producers didn't have to spend any extra money on new production or added footage. What a shame that the original video was not re-edited to feature extra footage. Again, just to save the expense of doing a new re-editing job, which the history of The Mamas & The Papas deserves.
As for the footage, there are some great clips of the group from American Bandstand, Where The Action Is, Ed Sullivan , and others. There are one clip each for The Journeymen, The Big 3 and a very rare performance of The New Journeymen featuring John, Michelle & Denny. Also of interest is the 1977 clip of them reunited on Denny's CBC TV show that is great to see. However, all the clips are not of the full performance. Also, Cass' life and her untimely death are only very briefly shown. Such a shame, as this should be the definitive chronicle of the group. We don't really need to see an interview of John Phillips' neighbor interviewed in 1987 talking about the condition of his home in the history of the group.
This DVD is essential for a history of the group, but you must add the VH1 BEHIND THE MUSIC documentary done in 1998 [ but never released on VHS or DVD ] and the CALIFORNIA DREAMIN': THE MUSIC OF THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS DVD for a more complete history of this important group in the history of rock and roll.
Description of Mamas & The Papas: Straight Shooter
This is the definitive video biography of one of the 60s' most influential bands, The Mamas and The Papas, and its founder, John Phillips. ?Straight Shooter documents the group's beginning in the Greenwich Village folk scene through their inception in the Virgin Islands and travels to California, the inspiration for one of their biggest hits and the event of the 'Summer of Love,' the Monterey Pop Festival. ?In exclusive interviews, founding members John Phillips, Michelle Phillips and Denny Doherty tell the story of the Mamas and the Papas, supplemented by home movies and personal photographs and interviews with others who witnessed it all. Features performance footage of their greatest hits including: California Dreamin', Monday, Monday, Go Where You Wanna Go and Creeque AlleyIncludes Bonus Material: The Chronicles of The Mamas and The Papas; featuring never-before-seen footage and extended archival interviews with John Phillips, Michelle Phillips, Denny Doherty, Scott McKenzie, John Stewart (Kingston Trio), Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac), Spanky McFarlane, Mackenzie Phillips, Susan Adams and others who were there through the good and bad times, recount the stories of the band, their break-up, the death of Mama Cass Elliott, John's addiction and recovery and much more.
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