Ella Fitzgerald - Something to Live For

Starring:Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Norma Miller, Harry Edison, Ray Brown Jr., AndrÃ© Previn, Tony Bennett
Director: Charlotte Zwerin
Studio: Winstar
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The neo-pop divas of the late 20th century may have turned up the glamour, and a few even introduced formidable technical prowess, epitomized by Mariah Carey's seemingly helium-induced falsetto (the bane of canine fans everywhere) or Celine Dion's breast-beating, stentorian climaxes. Yet only a few verses from an earlier, charter member of the first-name-only club provides instant perspective: when Ella opened her mouth, that perfectly pitched, luminous voice could leap octaves without breaking a sweat, its tonal purity and immaculate phrasing creating that illusion of "effortlessness" achieved only through true artistry.

Writer-director Charlotte Zwerin performs similar sleight of hand with this beautifully composed documentary, originally produced for public television's American Masters series. Created nearly four years after Ella Fitzgerald's death, Zwerin's film uses the lush voice and superb repertoire of "the First Lady of Song" to provide continuity while assembling convincing, if composite, narrative quotes gleaned from various interviews. The latter are noteworthy given the singer's lifelong modesty and insistence on privacy. Archival footage of early performances, as well as later television appearances, capture Ella's pilgrimage from Depression-era New York, through her discovery at the Apollo Theater and subsequent emergence as a swing vocalist and on to her long career as a matchless pop and jazz stylist.

Amazon.com

The neo-pop divas of the late 20th century may have turned up the glamour, and a few even introduced formidable technical prowess, epitomized by Mariah Carey's seemingly helium-induced falsetto (the bane of canine fans everywhere) or Celine Dion's breast-beating, stentorian climaxes. Yet only a few verses from an earlier, charter member of the first-name-only club provides instant perspective: when Ella opened her mouth, that perfectly pitched, luminous voice could leap octaves without breaking a sweat, its tonal purity and immaculate phrasing creating that illusion of "effortlessness" achieved only through true artistry.

Writer-director Charlotte Zwerin performs similar sleight of hand with this beautifully composed documentary, originally produced for public television's American Masters series. Created nearly four years after Ella Fitzgerald's death, Zwerin's film uses the lush voice and superb repertoire of "the First Lady of Song" to provide continuity while assembling convincing, if composite, narrative quotes gleaned from various interviews. The latter are noteworthy given the singer's lifelong modesty and insistence on privacy. Archival footage of early performances, as well as later television appearances, capture Ella's pilgrimage from Depression-era New York, through her discovery at the Apollo Theater and subsequent emergence as a swing vocalist and on to her long career as a matchless pop and jazz stylist.

Customer Reviews:

simply the best - The Queen of Swing.......2007-03-12

"She could swing. She was a natural" She was the queen of swing. She liked lyrics because they could tell a story.

In her lifetime she won 13 Grammy awards, and sold over 40 million records. Her off-stage life was as interesting as her life as an artist singer. She loved her adopted son, and supported her extended family with what they needed. One secret about Ella was her deep concern for children, because of her difficult early years. She would give grants to children, without any publicity.

Ella Fitzgerald has been my introduction into the wonderful world of Jazz. The queen of swing, was so talented she could sing many times of genres (big band, bipbop) but she was primarily a vocalist, and a very talented one.

This documentary has some extraordinary footage from different international concerts, and also from different times in her career. At the beginning of the movie, I really did not know who Ella Fitzgerald was or that she was even known only by her first name (can't really blame me, an engineer), but now I want to hear more music sung by Ella. I found this American Master's series DVD at my local library

No product.......2007-01-11

After several months the DVD still didn't arrive and therefore I will be extremely hesitant to by anything else from this store again!

Wonderful glimpse of "the First Lady of Song" .......2006-11-11

This DVD is a magnificent review of the life and career of the incomparable jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald! Essentially a bio flick spliced with spell-binding footage of Fitzgerald in concert at the peak of her prowess as the consummate song stylist, "Something to Live For" is a superb showcase of her octave-defying ability to elevate scat-singing to a fine art. Except for Sarah Vaughan--Fitzgerald's only real rival--no one could touch Fitzgerald's smoothness, her uncanny musical ear and improvisationary skills. Blessed with perfect pitch--an all-too-rare musical gift--Fitzgerald set a near-unmatchable course, dating from the swing and bebop eras through stripped-down combos incorporating post-modernism and retro.

"Something to Live For" charts her rise from Harlem beginnings to world-famous jazz diva. Her musical development is juxtaposed with her often unhappy personal life, which included the early death of her mother (before Fitzgerald was a pre-teen), two failed marriages, her inability to have children, the eventual toll of near-constant touring, along with her willful ignorance of the diabetes which eventually killed her. At times, you feel as if music was the only thing that kept her afloat--indeed something she truly lived for. Narrated by the great Tony Bennett, this DVD features a considerable number of wry, funny and insightful interviews with peers, friends and fellow artist admirers (Johnny Mathis, pianist Oscar Peterson)

Ella Fitzgerald has been slammed by some who have found her cool perfection boring, but this DVD makes it clear that she was anything but. She may have been a letter-perfect recording artist, but her live performances are revelations! Many of her televised and filmed performances (alone and with other artists) of are filled with humor and exceptional warmth. On the flip side, her stunning versions of "Lover Man where can You be" and "Something to Live For" prick the heart: you can actually see and FEEL her pain and pathos. As filmographies go, "Something to Live For" is as good it gets. Highly recommended!

The First Lady of Song, from teenager to legend........2005-10-24

This exciting, 86-minute video of Ella Fitzgerald's life and career, directed by Charlotte Zwerin, highlights aspects of her private life and combines that personal story with extensive footage of some of her early performances. Narrated by Tony Bennett, and containing excerpts from her long interview with Andre Previn, the bio ranges widely in time and place, filling in important biographical information, at the same time that it focuses on her development as a singer.

From her earliest days when she was an aspiring dancer, we learn of her difficulties at home, and following the death of her mother, her possible abuse by her stepfather. After escaping from a girls' reformatory, she goes on the road with Chick Webb, who mentors her, and following his death she gets the "greatest education I've ever had"--singing bebop. Playing the role of a horn (vocally), she learns to imitate its sound exactly, with her perfect pitch, and it is through this imitation of the trumpet that she creates and becomes an expert on scat.

Norman Granz, who became her manager from 1953 through her death in 1997, makes jazz "classy," refusing to allow racial discrimination in the halls where Ella performs, arranging performances of jazz at the Philharmonic, and making his musicians feel important. Through the Great American Songbook series which he arranges for her, Ella gains many new fans, and her numerous TV performances make her name a household word.

Wonderful clips of Ella singing with Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong (who cracks her up), Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, a Mel Torme so young his voice is still almost soprano, and even in a trio with Joan Sutherland and Dinah Shore, show Ella as a trouper, having fun, enjoying the company of these other famous stars, and always hitting every note.

Though she had a difficult personal life, Ella, as seen here, is often playful, singing wild country and western and a "soul" piece at a London concert, a terrific medley of children's songs with Bing Crosby, in which she sings scat while he whistles, and even an amazing tune in which she sings virtually every instrument in the band.

Many of her most famous songs are featured: "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Misty," 1968's "Summertime," "Lady is a Tramp" with Frank Sinatra, and "Azure (In An Azure Mood)." Showing Ella on the road during her entire 58-year career, this video brings her to life once again and inspires our even greater appreciation. Mary Whipple

"SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR" IS ELLA'S VOICE!!!!!.......2004-05-22

Luckily I was able to see Ella In Concert numerous times throughout the 70's and 80's and was honored to have her autograph two L.P.'s by her limousine after a concert she gave at the Junior College I attended at the time in 1972...Ella was kind and gracious and that quailty plus her brilliant artistry really come through and shine in this stunning documentary of her life and incomparable career. Tony Bennett is the perfect choice to narrate this magnificent "American Masters" production and his love of Ella comes through and adds alot of soul to the special. Performance footage is ultimately what becomes breathtaking to experience and when Ella sings the classic "Something To Live For" it is breathtakingly beautiful and completely haunting. The use of concert footage from the various stages of her career show that Ella found joy in sharing her gift with her audience and songs like "For Once In My Life" become life experiences that are emotionally engrossing and technically brilliant. This "American Masters" special is a keeper so for anyone who loves the legendary Ella get this historical work fast while it is available as this is the definitive work about the life and career of this wonderous and gifted talent...BRAVO ELLA and thank you are all the wonderful years of sublime singing and you are truly missed!!!

American Masters - The Musicians (Ella Fitzgerald Something to Live For / Quincy Jones In the Pocket / Lou Reed Rock & Roll Heart)

Average customer rating:

If It Weren't for Lou Reed, This Would have Been Perfect

American Masters - The Musicians (Ella Fitzgerald Something to Live For / Quincy Jones In the Pocket / Lou Reed Rock & Roll Heart)
Starring: Ella Fitzgerald , Quincy Jones , and Lou Reed
Manufacturer: Winstar
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

American Masters - The Artists (Richard Avedon / Alexander Calder / Robert Rauschenberg / Man Ray / Norman Rockwell / Alfred Stieglitz)
American Masters - Legends of Broadway (Leonard Bernstein Reaching for the Note / Richard Rodgers The Sweetest Sounds / Yours for a Song - The Women of Tin Pan Alley)
Grey Gardens - Criterion Collection
We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song
Gene Kelly Collection (Singin' in the Rain / An American in Paris / On the Town / Anatomy of a Dancer)

ASIN: B0002KQNTU
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Description

This gorgeously packaged collector's set features three profiles of American musicians whose work has redefined jazz, rhythm & blues, and rock & roll from the award-winning, critically acclaimed PBS biography series. Includes: Ella Fitzgerald: Something to Live For; Quincy Jones: In The Pocket; Lou Reed: Rock & Roll Heart

Customer Reviews:

If It Weren't for Lou Reed, This Would have Been Perfect.......2005-11-20

I love the American Masters series. I have a lot of them taped from TV. In my opinion, this boxed set of American Masters would have been perfect had they put somebody besides Lou Reed in the mix. After all, we're showcasing some of the finest African-American musicians here! There were American Masters programs done on Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, even Jessye Norman. It's as if PBS put together two shows people are going to want and added one that they couldn't get rid of otherwise. I took two stars away for that. I have both the Quincy Jones and the Ella Fitzgerald series on tape. I won't be upgrading to DVD just to get Lou Reed. In this case, it's best to buy separately, and buy used to save money.

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