Edward R. Murrow – The Best Of Person To Person (Koch)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: D Episodes: B+
The
contributions of Edward R. Murrow to journalism and the media are enormous and
a film like Good Night & Good Luck
(reviewed elsewhere on this site) only scratch the surface. First, a terrific compilation of his hard
news journalism highlights was recently issued on DVD, which you can read more
about at the following link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/2330/The+Edward+R.+Murrow+Collection
Now, Koch
Vision and CBS News have teamed up to look at his other famous contribution,
one that has been derided as if he had a lesser side. That is his groundbreaking show Person To Person, where he interviewed
celebrities. Unlike today’s
condescending, desperate, loud, intelligence-insulting, visually blitzing,
briskly edited messes selling media stars with no talent trying desperately to
sing and/or act, Murrow’s huge reputation as a (maybe even THE) major
journalist gave him a reign of exclusive access to the top actors and singers
in the entertainment industry (plus other big names) who would only take time
to talk to him.
The
amazing list of guests from the 1953 – 59 run with Murrow contained in these
three DVDs are as follows, under subheadings for each disc:
DVD 1:
American Icons
Dick
Clark
Billy Graham
Andy
Griffith
Oscar
Hammerstein
John F.
Kennedy
Robert
Kennedy
Norman
Rockwell
Eleanor
Roosevelt
Danny
Thomas
Art
Linklater
Esther
Williams
DVD 2:
Hollywood Legends
Humphrey
Bogart & Lauren Bacall
Marlon
Brando
Tony
Curtis & Janet Leigh
Bette
Davis
Kirk
Douglas
Charlton
Heston
Sophia
Loren
Gene
Kelly
Marilyn
Monroe
Paul
Newman & Joanne Woodward
Elizabeth
Taylor & Mike Todd
DVD 3:
Legendary Entertainers
Milton
Berle
Jonathan
Winters
Sammy
Davis, Jr.
Jerry
Lewis
Dean
Martin
Frank
Sinatra
Sid
Caesar
Liberace
Carol
Channing
Helen
Hayes
To say
this is a remarkable, archival collection is an understatement. Taking place in the homes of each subject, it
is an ultra-rare glimpse into the lives of some of the most famous and
important people of the 20th Century, maybe of all time. Murrow later left the show, which ran a few
more years with Charles Collingwood before cancellation, but this set is all
Murrow and the interviewees are possibly at their most open ever in almost each
case. If not, it is very closely so.
The 1.33
X 1 image is not bad for its age, but is a bit muddy because these were all captured
on kinescopes, films of the video image shot through a machine that matched the
video frame rate. The quality can be
limited, but these transfers are very good for such material. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is also not bad
for its age, but the dated fidelity is obvious.
There are no extras, but Bob Schieffer hosts an intro to each one and
the seven hours are unforgettable. Edward R. Murrow – The Best Of Person To
Person is a must-see.
- Nicholas Sheffo
