I'm breaking a long silence here to mention a film that just opened in three cities. And if you know me (and if you're somehow reading this, I bet you do), please take my recommendation.
The film is called "The Boys". It's a documentary on Richard and Robert Sherman. Now, odds are you have no idea who those people are, but I'd bet good cash you know many of the songs they wrote. "It's A Small World". "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers". "Tall Paul". "You're Sixteen [you're beautiful, and you're mine]". "I Wanna Be Like You" (from The Jungle Book). All the songs from "Mary Poppins", "Bedknobs And Broomsticks", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Charlotte's Web", and oodles of others.
And it's a film that shines a light on unsung giants of pop culture, provides a great portrait of painful family dynamics, and (vitally) pulls at the heartstrings with lots of great great music.
Now, there's been no publicity for this film, I only discovered it by mistake; I walked by the theater in NYC where it was playing, and decided I had to see it. And if you're in SF, LA, or NY, I encourage you to do the same. It's totally worth it, if only to remind yourself of how great the music truly is, and how vitally important it it to have these moments of genius that break through the treacle of American entertainment... And how one can create for all audiences without pandering. It's full of sounds and images that I've known all my life, but elicit emotions from me even today.
Much respect to Disney for putting this out. And thanks to the filmmakers and the Sherman Brothers. 'Nuff said.
(Film website here.)
The film is called "The Boys". It's a documentary on Richard and Robert Sherman. Now, odds are you have no idea who those people are, but I'd bet good cash you know many of the songs they wrote. "It's A Small World". "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers". "Tall Paul". "You're Sixteen [you're beautiful, and you're mine]". "I Wanna Be Like You" (from The Jungle Book). All the songs from "Mary Poppins", "Bedknobs And Broomsticks", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Charlotte's Web", and oodles of others.
And it's a film that shines a light on unsung giants of pop culture, provides a great portrait of painful family dynamics, and (vitally) pulls at the heartstrings with lots of great great music.
Now, there's been no publicity for this film, I only discovered it by mistake; I walked by the theater in NYC where it was playing, and decided I had to see it. And if you're in SF, LA, or NY, I encourage you to do the same. It's totally worth it, if only to remind yourself of how great the music truly is, and how vitally important it it to have these moments of genius that break through the treacle of American entertainment... And how one can create for all audiences without pandering. It's full of sounds and images that I've known all my life, but elicit emotions from me even today.
Much respect to Disney for putting this out. And thanks to the filmmakers and the Sherman Brothers. 'Nuff said.
(Film website here.)
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