The Dick Cavett Show - Hollywood Greats

Product Details

Of principal interest to many will be Cavett's interviews with people like Hepburn and Brando, who rarely ventured into TV land. The notoriously press-shy Hepburn, 66 at the time (1973), is seen checking out the studio and making picky remarks about the rug and furniture before agreeing to do the do right then and there, with no audience; she ends up holding forth for two entire shows (plus bonus material), revealing herself to be witty and sophisticated, as well outspoken, practical, and entirely in charge ("You keep interrupting," she chastens Cavett, "Just shut up..."). Brando, a year removed from The Godfather and Last Tango in Paris, agreed to appear only if he could discuss the plight of American Indians (several of whom are also on hand). Cavett, a sharp, self-effacing, well-prepared host, went along, little suspecting that the whole interview would be an exercise in teeth-pulling, with Brando refusing to discuss his career at all; his dismissal of his stage and screen work as "irrelevant" is laughably disingenuous, considering that were it not for his acting, he wouldn't have been invited on the show in the first place. On the other hand, Davis is grand, saucy, full of stories about Hollywood's Golden Age--everything one wants in a movie star. Astaire is charming, showing that even at age 71 he was a great dancer and good singer. Welles, the man who married Rita Hayworth, had dinner with the pre-Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, and made Citizen Kane, is worldly, erudite, expansive (in every sense--he's twice Cavett's size), and probably the most entertaining of the lot. And Hitchcock is marvelous, showing off his dry, peculiar wit and revealing several tricks of the trade (it took 78 edits to make the 45-second shower scene in Psycho). Bonus material includes several Cavett show promos and a new featurette with him and film historian Robert Osbourne. Scattered throughout the various interviews are clips from some great films, including Night of the Hunter, The Birds, Holiday Inn, a variety of Douglas' movies, and even an obscure Bette Davis item called Watch on the Rhine. --Sam Graham

Product Reviews

(5 stars) - Lost art of the interview
I just saw a marvelous interview of Gene Wilder on TCM and it reminded me of Cavett's equally marvelous interview of Hepburn that I saw some time ago. I went to Wikipedia to see what has happened to Dick and discovered that there are DVDs of many of his interviews. I will buy them all. His ability to draw out the person and get from them honest answers to intelligent questions has never been equalled. In the sorry panorama of TV today his interviews take one back to the time when TV was often fascinating, intelligent, honest and enthralling. Thank God these interviews have been preserved. Cavett was unique.

(5 stars) - A must-buy!!!!
This box set is worth buying if only to witness Katherine Hepburn's interview. What a remarkable, intelligent, insightful, witty and charimg lady she was, a true TRUE star. I agree with the other reviews....in todays era of "celebrity" where nobodies can be famous, it's a joy to watch the REAL screen legends chatting away and telling so many amazing stories. Cavett is an affable host who asks good questions and, unlike todays talk show hosts, he does NOT bounce constant jokes off his guests in a vain attempt to make himself look good. An absolume must-buy!!!!

(5 stars) - Dick Cavett
I purchased this item as a gift, after having seen portions of old Dick Cavett interviews on television. I never thought of Dick Cavett as a particularly good interviewer, but it's the guests who make the show very interesting and this DVD worthwhile. Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum are especially entertaining.

(1 stars) - Some of the Most Boring Interviews Ever Conducted
Dick Cavett is, was and always has been a pretend "intellectual." In reality, he's a genuinely stupid man. Watch him suck up to celebrity after celebrity in these twee, precious interviews. You'll feel like you're watching Jiminy Glick without the laugh track.

(5 stars) - Great Memories To Share
For those of us in our 40's and 50's the Dick Cavett Show DVD is very memorable. Unless you are from that era, you may not appreciate the unexciting Dick Cavett but what a pleasure to be able to listen to many huge and very private Hollywood Stars who rarely gave interviews at that time. An incredible look into their lives. Dick Cavett's laid back style works perfectly in this particular setting and his open affection for Katharine Hepburn is both humorous and wonderful.

The Katharine Hepburn interview was worth the price of this DVD If you ever wanted to know anything about KH and her very private life, you won't be disappointed as she also talks about others whom she worked with or befriended. KH is indeed a very strong willed individual and was her own person throughout her life. Acting was her life and romances were few because there simply wasn't time.

Look, listen and feel good about the times when humor was simple and funny without having to be vulgar or X-Rated. How refreshing to watch a classic movie and see the two partners walk upstairs to the bedroom while leaving the rest up to your imagination. Well, this DVD gives you the same refreshing feeling. See Bette Davis as you may never have before, watch Alfred Hitchcock with his double talking, if you could understand it.

Bedroom, Rec room, Living room, wherever! Toss a dozen pillows on the floor or the bed and watch this DVD in total comfort, it'll do you a world of good!

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