Product Description

This incredibly personal documentary offers an extraordinary insight into one of the world's greatest musical talents and his larger than life lifestyle. For the first time Elton John gives a camera crew unprecedented access into his personal and professional lives. This remarkably brave and honest film gives the viewer a fascinating and touching look at the complex character of a modern day composer and performing artist.
Directed by his partner, David Furnish, the film chronicles the year 1995, one of the most successful years in Elton's multi-faceted career. The Brit Awards, the Academy Awards®, a new album release and a massive world tour provide the backdrop for some frank, funny and touching filmmaking.

Special Feature(s): First Time Ever: Commentary featuring Elton John and (Partner/Director) David Furnish; Never-Before-Seen Footage featuring Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, and Fashion Industry Icons Mario Testino & Gianni Versace; Deleted Scenes; Bloopers; Collectable Embossed O-Card Packaging with Elton John's Signature

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31966 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-11-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Director's Cut, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 74 minutes

Customer Reviews

Great documentary - Fair DVD release
I own this previously rare documentary on VCD. The two disc set includes a bonus unreleased concert taped in Rio. Admittedly the VCD leaves a bit to be desired as the audio and video quality is just good, but nothing much better than that.

I was very excited when I learned that Echo Bridge was releasing this to DVD, and it came today. As I watched it, all I could do was shake my head. The quality is not much better than the VCD, Frankly, it resembles a VHS transfer. This is not only disappointing. but an insult to fans and Elton John as well. Certainly better source material exists than what was used for the VCD and now this. Echo Bridge's transfer is 'fair' at best and the audio is tinny uninspired standard stereo. As for the extra's, they're a lot of fun and makes up for the quality of the documentary transfer somewhat.

The documentary itself is a treasure-chest of interviews and candid footage of Elton being his bitchy ingenious eccentric self; at times showing a quick dry wit as well as moments of insight and reflection that we rarely experience from this man outside his music. There are a few moments of Elton obviously hamming for the camera and overacting his emotions a tad, but we forgive him for it. Any rare glimpse into this icon's life is better than no glimpse at all. The documentary gets an A+ The sleeve and jacket design get an A. The extras get a B+ The transfer gets a C-.

Inside the Life of A Superstar
Tantrums and Tiaras gives us a look inside the personal life of Elton John during 1995's Made In England Tour. Shot on video by his partner of then two years David Furnish the viewer gets a warts and all look at John's daily life on the road.

Beginning with the video shoot for the single,Believe, and covering the European album promotion tour the film moves into the stars interaction with family and friends. There is a touching scene with his grandmother that is not to be missed and a hilarious rant about flower arranging. The film then covers the Academy Awards and ends with concert footage of the American and South American legs of the tour.

This is one of the most honest portrayals of a star that I have seen. The commentary recorded 13 years later is just as informative as the film and offers a good retrospective on the couples busy schedeule and their relationship. Extras include some deleted scenes.

See it if you are a fan.

NEVER wave at this Pop God and say "Yoo hoo"...
How'd this DVD slip by me for five months? I was pleasantly surprised to find this at the soon-to-be-extinct Virgin Megastore* in Orlando last night. (*In his commentary with director/partner David Furnish, Elton also laments the death of record stores.)

Maybe as an early, and risky, personal exercise following his then-five-year recovery from intense rehab, Elton John allowed Furnish to film him "warts and all" during the 1995 tour promoting his "Made in England" CD.

Even during his now-well-known downward spiral (circa 1975-1989) of drug addiction and promiscuity, Elton appeared intelligent, funny, and more than capable of making state-of-the-art pop music. Then I saw his interview with David Frost, around the time of "The One" single and CD, in which he revealed his newfound sobriety and his relationship with Mr. Furnish (though I don't think he mentioned him by name). He truly sounded like he'd turned a personal corner. It looks like, happily, the progress has continued ever since.

Anyway, I only counted two tantrums. At the outset, he's ballistic before filming the video for "Believe". His "reason" was that a bag got left in a car, but soon allows that he "hates @#$%ing videos" and is insecure because he's less "photogenic" than Madonna or George Michael. [I've always found his videos, "Believe" included, to be brilliant. I was glad that, in the commentary, he acknowledges both the song and video as excellent. The film, being the "slice of life" that it is, only showed Elton's reaction to the single's somewhat disappointing chart performance (it narrowly missed the Top Ten in both the UK and US).] Later he abruptly stops playing some tennis, swatting the ball away and throwing his racket. After much prodding over an apparent three-day funk, David finally gets Elton to admit he was ticked off by...some lady who dared to wave at him and say "yoo hoo" during his game! Oh, I also counted only two tiaras, both in Elton's touring "closet" which is of course bigger than my home.

The most touching moments include Elton's last moments with his grandmother and the Oscar acceptance speech* during which he thanks her; a tearful bit with Elton and his mum in which she recalls his drug addiction days and talks about his late father; and reminiscing about a young staff member who had succumbed to AIDS. I'd be remiss not to note the ensuing segue to an event for Elton's AIDS foundation which continues, 13 years on, to raise lots of money. (*for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King, which he wrote with Tim Rice.)

Fun deleted scenes feature Elton singing dirty songs at the piano, plus bits with Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, and Madonna.

Very interesting, and a happy post script to the fairly somber, stuffy Philip Norman book I've been muddling through for the past few...well, forever.