http://www.kultur.com/Frank-Yankovic-p/d1714.htm
This is a one-hour documentary on the career of one of the most beloved entertainers in the history of American popular music. Alright, it is polka music, but eventually we all gotta polka in our lives, and this was the guy that is responsible. The film shows without a doubt that Yankovic had the power to move people -- to touch their hearts, to make them laugh and dance and sing. He was a one of a kind, a character and a true entertainer. What was particularly unique about him was that his music unified people with diverse ethnic backgrounds, while at the same time, it enhanced people's ethnic pride. Not a bad politically correct tact to take-and he made millions doing it!
It's true... Sometimes you just gotta Polka!!
The best part of this story is that it captures the man and his music very accurately. It tells Frank's story and as we go through his life the film uses music wall to wall to carry us through Frank's decades of performing. More than 60 songs are sampled in the hour piece. In addition to the music we see rare footage from Frank's private home movies and original band members - and Frankie offer insights to what his life on the road was like. The film is a backstage pass to Frank's life. He was an original superstar with his biggest heydays being the late 1940s and early 1950s. The period footage and anecdotes from his original band members is very entertaining.
The film make a strong case crediting Frank for the singular achievement of Americanizing polka music and bringing it into the masses. This film won an EMMY winner when it aired on PBS - it played in 250 cities and drew an audience of five million. Not bad for a story about immigrant music in America. The film also includes some rare music videos of Frank that were filmed in Hollywood featuring his million-selling hits "Just Because" and "The Blue Skirt Waltz". Those clips still look and sound great even after fifty years. My favorite is "The Acapulco Polka! Say that fast 5 times after two beers!
This film succeeds in gives you a good feeling for what Frank's life was and for who he was. Everyone should like this film but especially people over 50 -- especially those who came to know and love Yankovic's music during the peak of his national popularity. And I'm not just saying all this because I directed this film. I really liked how it turned out.... Frankie was truly charismatic, an incredible showman and a person that I am grateful I got the chance to know and to help tell his story! Rees Candee, Producer, Writer, Director.
5.0 out of 5 stars Quality Production, Not A Budget or Generic Production, June 18, 2010
By
Nick B. - See all my reviews
This review is from: Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King (DVD)
Since this is the first DVD on the Polka King, I was expecting a bunch of blurry, low quality production videos thrown onto a disc and called a documentary. You know the ones - the 1,009 different Beatles "unofficial" biography DVDs out there that are low budget. This DVD is anything but.
From the beginning Title Menu to the very end, this video far exceeded my expectations. Unfortunately, now that they are both gone, Myron Floren did a incredible job narrarating this biography of Frankie Yankovic. There is great footage from the ol' days with Frankie and video from the '90s where Frankie candidly reminisces of the past.
I've read his biography, but if you would like an insight into the Polka King, this is it. I highly recommend this to any Frankie Yankovic, Polka or Accordion lover out there.
The only thing that would have made this DVD better, would have been an added hour of material.
5.0 out of 5 stars Better on DVD!, March 18, 2011
By
David Thrower - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King (DVD)
I got the original VHS tape of this program from Ida Yankovic, Frankie's widow, some years back. I loved the documentary, and it really did Frankie justice. Frankie is a hometown boy (his hometown and mine are only 14 miles from each other) and his musicianship is great. Although now gone, he will always be the "polka king"!
Myron Florin did a fantastic job narrating it too, and with him and Yankovic being close friends, he was the ideal person to do it. It is a great piece of recorded history, and thanks be to God it is now available on DVD, as anything worth preserving deserves better than VHS tape.
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Top Of The Hill Polka - Frankie Yankovic and his Yanksby KenWelrecords1,546 views
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