American Pop

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Ralph Bakshi's ambitious multi-generational take on popular music, American Pop, comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and Spanish soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. English, French, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a theatrical trailer. Unquestionably, this is the best the film has ever looked on home video. Considering the vast amount of music in the film, supplemental materials concerning the music would have added to the viewing experience. On the whole, this is a very good disc. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard), 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Surrond
• Screen: Pan and Scan, Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Subtitle: French, English, Spanish
• Features:
  • Interactive menus
  • Languages: English, Spanish
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Scene selections
  • Widescreen and full-screen formats

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Ron Thompson - Tony & Pete
       Marya Small - Frankie
       Jerry Holland - Louie
       Lisa Jane Persky - Bella
       Jeffrey Lippa - Zalmie
       Hilary Beane
       Vincent Schiavelli

• Director:

  Ralph Bakshi

• Producer:

  Ralph Bakshi, Martin Ransohoff

• Screenwriter:

  Ralph Bakshi, Ronni Kern

• Cinematographer:

  R&B Efx

• Composer (Music Score):

  Lee Holdridge

• Editor:

  David Ramirez

REVIEWS:

• American Pop is an ambitious and groundbreaking work of storytelling that also just happens to be animated. For years, love-him-or-hate-him director Ralph Bakshi pushed the envelope of animation as far as he could, which more often than not, resulted in some rather racy material (Streetfight, Fritz the Cat). Then came American Pop, which in 1981 ushered in not only a new style of animation for the masses (rotoscoping -- something Bakshi had played around with years before), but a soundtrack that covers almost 80 years of popular music, from Scott Joplin to Hendrix. It's a lofty goal, and even more so because of how utterly serious the sprawling story line is. This isn't loud and flashy like Heavy Metal, nor was the music as hip as Rock & Rule two years later. American Pop is a heavy drama that deliberately takes its time while trying to do justice to each character and their time period's music. That said, it tends to drag in some parts, focusing in on this or that person for too long -- but when the rock & roll revolution starts to take over, it knows when to turn it up and let the crazy visuals flow. The end, for instance, shouldn't work. Bakshi's been putting his audience through the emotional ringer for almost 90 minutes, but by the time Bob Seger starts blastin', you're there, fist in air, ready to preach the gospel. It's a great close to a daring animated film whose ambitions have to be respected, whether you enjoy it or not. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
• {#American Pop} is an ambitious and groundbreaking work of storytelling that also just happens to be animated. For years, love-him-or-hate-him director {$Ralph Bakshi} pushed the envelope of animation as far as he could, which more often than not, resulted in some rather racy material ({#Streetfight}, {#Fritz the Cat}). Then came {#American Pop}, which in 1981 ushered in not only a new style of animation for the masses (rotoscoping -- something {$Bakshi} had played around with years before), but a soundtrack that covers almost 80 years of popular music, from {$Scott Joplin} to {$Hendrix}. It's a lofty goal, and even more so because of how utterly serious the sprawling story line is. This isn't loud and flashy like {#Heavy Metal}, nor was the music as hip as {#Rock & Rule} two years later. {#American Pop} is a heavy {\drama} that deliberately takes its time while trying to do justice to each character and their time period's music. That said, it tends to drag in some parts, focusing in on this or that person for too long -- but when the {\rock & roll} revolution starts to take over, it knows when to turn it up and let the crazy visuals flow. The end, for instance, shouldn't work. {$Bakshi}'s been putting his audience through the emotional ringer for almost 90 minutes, but by the time {$Bob Seger} starts blastin', you're there, fist in air, ready to preach the gospel. It's a great close to a daring animated film whose ambitions have to be respected, whether you enjoy it or not. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

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