Product Description

This unique, highly acclaimed entertainment, stars Marlo Thomas, and features such celebrated talents as Alan Alda, Harry Belafonte, Mel Brooks, Rita Coolidge, Billy De Wolfe, Roberta Flack, Rosey Grier, Michael Jackson, Kris Kristopherson, THe New Seekers, Tom Smothers, The Voices of East Harlem and Dionne Warwick. Free To Be...You And Me is a journey into the endless possibilities of life, rich with positive, life-enhancing messages about growth and change. In a series of live action and animation, positive messages of self-esteem are illustrated through songs, stories and laughter. It explores children's authentic experiences, their dreams and concerns, their fears and fantasies. Among the highlights are Marlo Thomas and Mel Brooks in Boy Meets Girl and football hero Rosey Grier, singing It's Alright to Cry. In addition, Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack perform When We Grow Up and Alan Alda narrates the tale of Atalanta. This enchanted fun-filled voyage of discovery for adults and children to enjoy together is a superb addition to any family's home video library.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6699 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-11-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Compilation, DVD, Live, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 48 minutes

Amazon.com
Like Schoolhouse Rock, Marlo Thomas's 1970s children's TV show, Free to Be… You and Me met with immediate success and became a treasured piece of entertainment over the years. Based on her award-winning album of songs, skits, and comedy, Free to Be explores the infinite possibilities of childhood. Fans know most of the skits in the 45-minute show verbatim, and it's easy to see why right from the beginning with an infectious title track followed by a puppet sketch featuring Thomas and Mel Brooks as newborns. Top talent appears on both sides of the camera, including Alan Alda who directs and performs a cartoon about a boy who wants a doll. However, the presentation does show its age at times: a teenage Michael Jackson singing (with Roberta Flack) on how he's not going to change when he grows up. For all ages. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Sentimental favorite
When my daughter was born, a relative and I wound up reminiscing about this album and how much we both loved it growing up. Next thing I knew, a copy of the DVD arrived as a gift for my daughter and me. The first time I sat down and watched, it brought back all my memories of being a little girl in the 70's. I could even still sing along with the title song! Right now, my daughter is too young to do much except listen as I sing or play music for her, but I hope she grows up enjoying these songs as much as I did. Yes, the visuals are dated, but I believe the messages of these songs are as pertinent now as they were thirty years ago. Best of all, the songs get their messages across without being "preachy." I think this is a fabulous alternative to much of what's out there for kids today, and dated as some elements may be, "Free to Be You and Me" is still a long, long way from going out of style.

Every child, adult, and in-between should see this video!
I recently became obsessed with this movie. I'd seen it in pre-school and somehow remembered the songs, stories, and humorous skits up through college. And I'm not alone! Others like me are frantically searching for this piece of their childhood, perhaps the only video to REALLY say to kids, "Just be yourself." A football player tells boys it's okay to cry, a fairy-tale tells girls they don't have to get married, and Mel Brooks and Marlo Thomas approach subjects like gender roles and childcare in four skits that can have even grown-ups laughing out loud. Though the song featuring a young Michael Jackson singing "We don't have to change at all" is extremely ironic and more than a little sad, the video is a fun experience overall. The book and soundtrack are also both wonderful tools to have in raising open-minded children, but I must admit that as cheesy as it sounds, it's the movie that really helped shape my life.

Simply Wonderful
I have been searching for the VHS version of this production for 3 years now. Needless to say, I am beyond excited that it is being re-released on DVD. I was very influenced by this program when I first saw it in the third grade back in 1987. I was just learning how to be a best friend and how to deal with children teasing me for my very long and extremely coarse 'nappy' hair, my 'white' grandmother (she's biracial), and my 'funny' proper accent.

Watching this movie in Mrs. Hammond's 3rd grade class was eye-opening. It taught me that it was okay to cry about things and to talk about how I feel to family, friends, and bullies. I am definitely going to buy this DVD for my 15 month old son and his 1 month old twin sisters so they can enjoy it.

Oh, and the scenes with the baby puppets (a boy and a girl who teach kids about the differences and similarities between girls and boys) are must see--believe me. The scenes are extremely funny--I laugh just thinking about them--and are great for little kids and for dispelling some common social conceptions and misconceptions about gender & gender equality.

This program will re-enforce the lessons my husband and I are trying to teach our kids--epecially since we are a multi-racial family who speaks 3 languages at home and travels between our two homes. DO BUY THIS DVD when it becomes available.