Stephen Fry in America [2007]

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Audience Rating: Exempt Binding: DVD EAN: 5037899004128 Format: PAL Label: West Park Pictures Manufacturer: West Park Pictures Number Of Items: 2 Publisher: West Park Pictures Region Code: 2 Release Date: 2008-11-17 Running Time: 378 Studio: West Park Pictures Theatrical Release Date: 2007
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Editorial Reviews: A staple diet of the television schedules, travel documentaries in the company of famous names are clearly nothing new. But do consider making some time for Stephen Fry’s incredibly infectious trip around the United States, as Stephen Fry In America easily makes space for itself in a very crowded genre. Traveling with the company of his black cab, Stephen Fry In America sees him covering the many States of America, on a mission to get some kind of flavour of US life. His journey takes him on one hand to making his own ice cream, through to spending time with hunters, the Amish community and Navajo Indians and plenty more besides. It’s a breathtakingly broad snapshot, and clearly a fascinating journey. What really lifts Stephen Fry In America, however, is the joyful intrigue of our tour guide. Fry is an ideal choice for a project such as this, with his mix of intelligence, humour and genuine interest in the subject matter simply hard to resist. By turns fascinating and very funny, it’s a wonderful adventure, and one that always make sure to engage the viewer. Here’s hoping Mr Fry gets a few more stamps in his passport in the years ahead… --Jon Foster
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Stephen Fry in America Comment: I missed quite a lot of the TV series but my Daughter bought the DVD for my birthday which I have really enjoyed. Stephen Fry does a quick visit to all the states but I really enjoyed his take on the different people and cultures Customer Rating: Summary: Very disappointing Comment: I don't have the DVDs but I did watch the series on TV. The original idea for the series must have looked good on paper - send Stephen Fry to every state in the USA and see what happens. However, in practice it didn't work out so well. Most states were covered in less than a minute each, which leads to a feeling of breathlessness and a lack of depth. If the producers had sent Fry to 12 of the states and given half an hour to each of them, it would probably have been a lot more interesting. As it was, a lot of the programme time was spent watching his pretend London taxi being driven along long, straight roads and seeing lines drawn on maps. A waste of money and time. Customer Rating: Summary: fantastic series! Comment: This is a brilliant series which shows Stephen Fry travelling around all of America in a black cab. He visits some really unusual places and coupled with his amazing humour and wit its a great dvd! My favourite part was when he was ice fishing, and the ice started to crack! pure tv magic! Customer Rating: Summary: Witty, whistlestop tour of the States Comment: The BCC made two documentary series about the USA this year. This one is the light-hearted, fast-paced one, which sees Stephen Fry gallop about the country in a black cab stopping for short segments in different states, trying to convey a flavour of America rather than the detailed historical persepctive of Simon Schama's alternative series (see Simon Schama's The American Future: A History Stephen Fry in America is very entertaining, always presented with a wry smile and a witty comment. It contains some stunning photography of the landscape and some interesting interviews with local characters as well as Fry's two-minute historical overview of the area. The programmes cover the West, the Mountains and Plains, the Deep South, New England, the Missisipi and the Pacific. Memorable moments include his visit to Morgan Freeman's blues bar and seeing the reality of Angola prison, going to the civil war battlefield and going underground into a missile base. Even milking sheep! However, this programme really does try to cram too much stuff into too little time. It would have been so much better as 12-part series. Most of the interviews just get going and -- wallop! -- you have to gallop onto the next bit. Some states don't even get a look in (and some of the editing choices are bizarre. There's a lot of time spent gawping at the voodoo ritual, for instance, and Fry has plenty of time to make smart-alec jokes about sheep's private parts but barely a moment to discuss how the cheese is actually made...). Overall though this is entertaining and informative, if rarely revelatory. It offers a window through which we can understand American culture a little better. 7/10 Customer Rating: Summary: Fantastic TV series!!!! Comment: This is an excellent TV series. It's a unique look at the side of American life that you rarely see & Stephen Fry is the ideal host, injecting his unique perspective & brand of humour. Unlike other series, looking into America, he hasn't gone for the obvious subjects. Instead concentrating on the people & their different ways of life. His love for the country & its people is apparent & his presentation of a different side of America (away from the usual stero-typical over weight arogant race we're normally presented with) is both fascinating & informative. The filming is beautifully shot, with some stunning views (this weekends episode featuring Monument Valley was simply stunning & makes you want to jump on the next plane over there). I can't wait to get the DVD to watch even more & look forward to more of Stephen Fry presenting in the future. The natural successor to Palin. Highly Recommended !!!! More Reviews