Product Description

Follows the career of the African American singing sensation of the 60s, The Temptations.
No Track Information Available
Media Type: DVD
Artist: BROOKS/PAYTON
Title: TEMPTATIONS
Street Release Date: 12/21/2004
Domestic
Genre: DRAMA

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5803 in DVD
• Brand: BROOKS/PAYTON
• Released on: 2001-08-14
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 150 minutes

Amazon.com
Conceived as a television miniseries, this portrait of the epochal Motown vocal group scores as one of the most detailed re-creations of the '60s pop milieu ever filmed. Told largely through the eyes of founding member Otis Williams (Charles Malik Whitfield), The Temptations portrays its protagonists as soul Everymen whose early triumphs closely followed, and helped expand, Motown Records' emergence as "the Sound of Young America," providing an inspirational fable for black Americans.

Inevitably, of course, the story is also a cautionary tale about the price of success for both the Temps and their mentor, Motown founder Berry Gordy (Obba Babatunde). With hit records and tours, Williams and his partners grapple with drugs, alcohol, depression, jealousy, and delusions of grandeur. In particular, the galvanic lead singer David Ruffin (Leon) serves as both a focal strength and potential destroyer for the group, as his ego combines with a mounting cocaine habit to create a monster. At the same time, Gordy's eventual decision to leave his and the label's home, Detroit, for Los Angeles marks a loss of innocence for the group and their label-mates. The film provides ample insider detail about how the former Ford assembly-line worker created and controlled his unique hit factory.

Based on the biography coauthored by Williams and former manager Shelly Berger, the project gets a vital boost from behind the camera, thanks to executive producer Suzanne DePasse, herself a former Motown exec, and director Allan Arkush (Rock 'n' Roll High School). That lineage probably pulls some punches in terms of individual characters and Gordy's machinations, but it also affords The Temptations its convincing detail, as does the generous running time--a mixed blessing, due to the original two-part broadcast, which might have benefited from tightening for this video version. Giving the show its greatest kick are the group's original hits, performed and choreographed convincingly in lip-synched sequences. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

The Temptations
The Temptations were one of my favorite groups growing up in the Detroit area. When the movie came out I had to see it and absolutely loved it. I had always wondered what had happened to everyone in the group so many years later. It tells how they got started, all the obstacles they had to overcome to make it to the top. It tells about all of their lives and what happened to them all and what stardom did to many of them. It is a great movie with great music! I thoroughly enjoyed it and wanted it for my collection. It's a very good movie.

The Temptations ( T.V. Movie )
This made for T.V. movie should have been on the silver screen. I couldn't tear myself away from it. I have seen the Temptations in concert several times and this movie shows the human side of these superstar performers. I will watch this movie over and over again. If you love the Motown magic you won't be disappointed with this movie.

Temptations (VHS version)
I had already watched this on DVD. A reviewer said that the DVD version was cut - much shorter than the VHS one. So, based on this, I got the VHS version. I was disappointed to find that in actuality it was the VHS version that was cut, not the DVD. Sorry I wasted money on the VHS version. UNcut, this movie is a mustsee for Temptations fans.

In 1967, after a Temptations concert at the old Latin Casino, my buddies and I accepted an invitation up to their suite. Although all of the group members we met were friendly and perfect gentlemen, I remember David Ruffin above all. Mr. Ruffin chatted with us, played records for us, let us take his picture with us, was down to earth, friendly, and very funny. I saw no evidence of the unstable and troubled David Ruffin who was fired between '67 and '68 who is portrayed in the movie. He was the perfect gentleman that night with us. That is a wonderful memory indeed.