Review
JOHNNY CASH: THE MAN, HIS WORLD, HIS MUSIC
Sanctuary, 2005
Shot between August of 1968 and early 1969, the newly reissued The Man, His World, His Music captures Johnny Cash in a time of transition. As 1967 drew to a close, Cash weaned himself off amphetamines and was no longer the gaunt stick-figure the music industry had come to know. He was also entering a period of musical fertility after years of diminishing record sales, soon to become a major country star again through the airing of a forthcoming top-rated TV show.
Tragedy had a way of following Cash and those he loved, however. Filming started mere weeks after longtime guitarist Luther Perkins, credited for inventing Cash’s patented boom-chicka-boom guitar sound, died in a house fire. Filmmaker-cameraman Bob Elfstrom captures several concerts with rockabilly legend Carl Perkins (no relation) filling in, as well as performances with Bob Wooten, who ultimately got the job after showing up backstage one night and telling Cash he knew all his songs.
Elfstrom’s cinéma vérité approach (no commentary, no script, only natural light) adds an appealing grittiness, especially in the scenes when Cash revisits his childhood home, but it’s the music that matters – and there are some great moments. Johnny and June Carter absolutely nailing "Jackson," Cash and a young Bob Dylan in the studio together (cut from the original release) and the Carter sisters joining in on an otherworldly "Were you There (When They Crucified my Lord)" all make for an excellent DVD. |
Copyright ©2005 FFWD. All rights reserved.