Genres

Visitors Review

Chris Bumbray 2012-05-20 13:48:59

Definitely worth a look.

Michelle Orange 2012-05-20 08:01:23

Opportunities for deeper investigation arrive and are passed by regularly

2012-05-19 04:52:52

The Man in the Velvet and Silk, Really the Man in the Flannel Pyjamas

"He is a fine gentleman."-Mike Wallace about Hugh HefnerHUGH HEFNER/PLAYBOY/ACTIVIST/REBEL (a/k/a HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBEL, 2009) is a stunning and fun biographical documentary. Produced by a Canadian company, this does not shy away from Hefner's contributions to the world via "Playboy" magazine, but it doesn't dwell unfairly on it either. It is hard to believe Hef is nearing 85, the same age as Pope Benedict. For a man heavily influenced by him, a great admirer, that doesn't make me feel exactly young again - I recall Hef when he was young, his black hair flowing, and he didn't wear silk and velvet bedclothes at the time.Who could have remembered that Hefner was a political activist, a social reformer and kicker of sacred cows? How many people knew that Hefner shaped the fabric of society from the 1950s onward? My father read the last essay written by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King - published in "Playboy". That is a typical example of the work Hefner really did, and this film explains it through the people who were there.Dick Gregory, the great comedian (and my father suspected he was a distant relative) got his start with Hefner. In case you didn't know, Gregory is the first successful black stand-up comedian in the world. He got his start in Hefner's first club in Chicago, and like everything Hefner, no racism allowed. Mingling equally has been a hallmark of Hefner's entourage, his way of life and his personal signature.Hefner was also a television pioneer, with an important and influential 'night club' sort of program in the 1950s and a few later programs. He always showcased the best of all talent, and was especially fond of the counter-culture. Hefner also personally went to any cause in which a citizen was being victimized by the government - something that happened to him early in life. Later, as a result of this and his fascination with cultural anthropology, Hefner would offer clergy a special discount rate on "Playboy" subscriptions. (He wasn't spurned, either!)This documentary managed to snag a couple of feminists for interviews. One prominent feminist in particular seemed especially resentful of Hefner's being "very clever", something she must have repeated a dozen times in the interview. Apparently that was the worst thing she could think to say about Hefner. The sheer diversity of Hefner's personal circle - Jack Nicholson, Dick Gregory, Dick Cavett, Gene Simmons, it goes on and on - is the example of cultural optimism. That feeling of one great family was invented by Hefner.He played a huge role in the "sexual revolution", which is to say Hefner showed it was OK to be sexual and not hide it. At the same time, with his famous Key Clubs, infamous victimization at the hands of the government, and courageous tangling with legislators, Hefner continued to affect society directly in the ensuing decades.A few minor criticisms of this film: too much pointless animation, not enough addressing of the past and present criticisms of Hefner, and that's all. It is one of the best documentaries I've seen, and I wonder that someone as major as Hefner got this low-key Canadian treatment. Yet it works perfectly for him; I cannot imagine Hollyweird being able to handle the subject like this excellent film.Get this ignored, underrated film and see for yourself. See what a man of humble origins and plain-wrapper beginnings can do in this country. See the true history and impact of "Playboy", and see what a fine, great genius Hugh M. Hefner really is. Don't embrace his politics or his social mores if you don't like; but watch this and give him what he deserves: your attention.

FilmRap 2012-05-18 17:21:20

Admiring tribute to Hugh Hefner

Filmmaker Brigitte Berman won an Oscar for her documentary film abouticonic musician Artie Shaw. Hugh Hefner is a great jazz aficionado andfounded the acclaimed Playboy Jazz Festival which is how they hadoccasion to meet and get to know each other. Berman decided that shewanted to make a documentary about Hefner but one, which shows thelargely unknown side of the man who in most people's minds representsthe Playboy lifestyle of beautiful women and lots of sex. Hefner likedthe idea of such a film and gave Berman free access to his vastarchives as well as participating in extensive interviews with her.Friends of Hefner such as James Caan, Tony Bennett, Dick Cavett, JoanBaez, Jessie Jackson, Jim Brown, Bill Maher, Dick Gregory and othersalso gave very fascinating interviews. What emerged in the two hour and4 minute film was a picture of a hardworking man who was determined tobe a success. He loved women (many women) and did not believe that hewas demeaning them by making them sexual objects. More to the point ofthe documentary, he had a sense of fairness and acceptance that wascompletely color blind at a time when much of the country and certainlythe entertainment industry was not. He did not allow discriminationtowards blacks to occur in his Playboy Clubs and commonly showcasedblack entertainers on his after hours TV shows. Interviews with JessieJackson, Jim Brown and Dick Gregory were extremely clear on this point.Hefner also did not hesitate to have writers, who were blacklisted ascommunists or communist sympathizers by the nefarious Senator JosephMcCarthy, to continue to write for Playboy magazine under their ownname, which was unheard of at that time.He also had blacklistedperformers on this television show. This film is not only enlighteningabout these contributions of this man but it also is quite entertainingas it includes wonderful clips of Sammy Davis Junior performing as wellas ad-libbing on the Hefner TV show. There was a young Tony Bennettperforming in his relaxed style. We saw a beautiful Joan Baez singingand youthful Pete Seeger doing his thing with some injected clips ofthe craggy older Seeger reflecting on the significance of Hefner'ssupport of him and his causes. James Mark Stewart provided an excellentoriginal score for the background of most of the movie There are a fewcounterpoints to the Hefner's views about sexuality and the Playboylife style which are periodically presented in the film by such peopleas Susan Brownmiller, Pat Boone and others. They are shown as weakrebuttals, at times almost humorous. It is clear that this film is anadmiring tribute to Hefner now in his 80s. Ms. Berman director,producer, writer and editor told us that Hefner was extremely pleasedand touched after seeing the documentary. The filmmaker said that shewanted to show him objectively as he really was which led me to ask herif there was anything in the film that Hefner didn't like? She said no.The film comes to an end with Hefner being true to his philosophy andreinventing himself after two marriages by now having seven intimategirlfriends which he then cuts down three. There is a very revealingstatement by this older guy reflecting on his life. He indicated thathe understands that his outgoing life style of loving and enjoying manywomen has to do with the fact that his parents were very cold andrejecting. In fact as a child he says he was never hugged. Even thoughhe has had a very successful life, it is sad to see the lingeringeffects of what has been missing from his childhood.

Diana Saenger 2012-05-12 19:19:12

A well-done story that reveals more about Hefner than most of us knew.

Stephen Holden 2012-05-12 16:03:09

The film is too busy promoting St. Hugh to offer serious discussion of his life.

2012-05-12 00:20:35

Interesting but Flawed Look at An Interesting but Flawed Man.Hugh Hefner:Playboy,Activist and Rebel.

Nothing like A Canadian funded movie to prop up a Megalomaniac's ego,The Man who always wears pajams credits himself and his softcoresmut enterprise with Everything associated with what's "Right" according to him and some of those interviewed,Women's rights,(Ironic),Abortion/contraceptives,and of course He won a NAACP(that should tell you how sad and radical the organization became)Award.If that doesn't make you laugh you have so-called "Reverend"Jesse on here(Hymeytown?)I am surprised Sharpton and Cornel West was not on here? these so-called "activists" sold their souls and love the limelight. Then you have "comedian" Gregory who takes potshots and takes the usual flawed joke about The Church and little boys.Basically with the exception of a Feminist I actually agree with(I am far from a feminist supporter) and Pat Boone,And the William F Buckley Jr Interview.All you have is one sad Degenerate who thinks the world owes him accolades for everything,I am surprised he does not take credit for inventing the wheel and Mickey Mouse.

2012-05-11 17:32:40

Mr Hefner, an amazing man

This review is from: Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel (DVD) After seeing several ads in Playboy about this dvd I decided to buy it and it is one of my most favorite dvds in my library.I have watched it and was amazed at the information about Mr. Hefner I didn't know.I would say it is a must see for anyone who is interested in this man.It shows he was color blind on who was performing on his TV shows and his Playboy Clubs. He gave a chance to new talent that maybe some people never new about. I would definitely recommend buying this dvd.

Mick LaSalle 2012-05-11 18:10:41

As ridiculous as Hefner's life sometimes seems, he has been an exemplary citizen, as this documentary by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Brigitte Berman spells out.

Doris Toumarkine 2012-05-11 05:51:03

Teeming with commentary from well-known celebrities, this exceptional doc about Hugh Hefner and the ascent of liberalism celebrates both the iconic Playboy founder and the receding of taboos and prejudice over the past half-century.

Gary Goldstein 2012-05-08 18:51:11

An involving look at an American icon as well as an adept snapshot of our national zeitgeist from the McCarthy era through the Reagan years.

James Verniere 2012-05-08 00:37:47

Stylistically, the documentary is generic: existing footage and talking head interviews with the addition of centerfolds and shots of classic Playboy short stories and Forum debates.

Jeannette Catsoulis 2012-05-06 12:58:47

This eye-opening documentary reveals the mensch beneath the moolah, the ardent social reformer beneath the paisley-patterned shirts.

2012-05-06 02:35:40

A great modern documentary on Playboy in older eras & Hef

This documentary is an eye opener on how Hef started the magazine and how Playboy, the company, shaped civil rights and women's rights in the 1950s/60s. A lot of information in this movie is also in the book Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and The American Dream by Steven Watts, with the book going into greater details, but by far an intriguing documentary. I like how the filmmaker uses cartoons based on Hef's early drawings to tell the story of Playboy and Hef's life. I was lucky enough to go to the premiere with Hef in attendance and I could see the looks on his face throughout the film, he really enjoyed it even with more criticizing points of Playboy mentioned by feminists. Definitely not the Playboy ideas/images I grew up with, but insightful to know how Playboy used to be in those time eras.

tomgillespie2002 2012-04-28 23:01:31

Flatters its subject

We are all very familiar with the iconic brand that is the Playboybunny. We are also familiar with the image of Hugh Hefner: An ancientLothario; mannequin for a smoking jacket; pipe, and gallons of young,beautiful women, adoring him, as in the "reality-TV" horror that wasThe Girls of the Playboy Mansion. Some are unaware of his manypolitical activities that he was involved in, in each decade since the1950's. His involvement with the breaking of many socially draconiantaboos and laws of sex, sexuality and the representation of these:Freedom of press and speech: The civil-rights movement: The antiVietnam protesters of the late 1960's and early '70's: The Reaganomicsof the 1980's and it's religious-extremist attitude towards"pornography". Hefner, according to this film, was active (if notsystematic) in all of these 'historical' events that have instigatedsocial change, not only in America, but throughout the western world.Perhaps this statement is too strong.This documentary, directed by Brigitte Berman (who had previously madethe Academy award winning film, Artie Shaw: Time is All You've Got(1986)), tells the story of Hefner, not just as a magazine producer,but as a political activist. beginning with the publication of themagazine Playboy, the film charts Hefner's rise as an advocate ofliterature and for political polemics, published in a monthly men'spaper that also riskily showed the naked female forms. Alongside theplaymate-of-the-month's and centre-fold's there contained abridged,monthly sections of books by such writers as Ray Bradbury and IanFleming; interviews with political activists/thinkers such as Dr MartinLuther King Jr and Malcom X. The magazine was breaking taboos set by arepressive society. Historically Hefner was also embroiled in the HUAC(House UnAmerican Activities Committee), who's McCarthyism was seen asa dent in America's freedom and an infringement of the first amendment.We also discover that Hefner supported Lenny Bruce (at a time when itwas seen as career suicide to do so) through his trials for obscenitieson stage.Whilst the film focuses on these more flattering aspects of Hefner'slife, it does skirt around many issues thrown at him by groups againsthis "objectification" of women. It does not fully explore the feministand journalistic backlash that was aimed at him. I felt the film wouldbenefit by exploring these issues, and present a less biased (lessHefner-centric) argument in the film, and it's issues of (particularly)sex and sexuality and all its representations. The film uses some verybizarre talking heads: Gene Simmons (well I guess he's probably methim, and probably reads Playboy) and George Lucas?? Hang on a minute!(Lucas oozes about as much sexuality as a brick oozes Virgina's). Asidefrom a few under-explored avenues of Hefner's career, this is still aflawed but entertaining documentary. We are shown that Hefner is notmyopic in his outlook. He has been politically active and has given tomany worthy causes. But, as he now is (seen by millions on reality TV),we just see an old man still unable to be monogamous, and surroundinghimself in fresh, young girls, which are pushed aside annually for newmeat. (Am I criticising that? Pfft!).www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

Ben Larson 2012-04-28 08:21:06

Who I am is an open book with illustrations.

Love it or hate it, Playboy magazine changed the way people in Americaviewed sex and sexuality. Certainly, it objectified women, but theywere not alone in doing so. Advertising has done an excellent job ofthat through the years.But, Hugh Hefner was a lot more than a magazine. He was an entertainerthat did more to promote jazz than anyone I know. He was also a man whodid more to promote equality among the races that most anyone inAmerica.Entertainment was prime with Hefner, but his social activism againstthose, like Gene McCarthy and Charles Keating, who would impose theirparticular brand of morality on others.He was at the forefront of women's issues, racial issues, free speechissues and more.One of a kind and a fascinating man to listen to.

Joe Williams 2012-04-21 00:37:39

A bountiful history lesson, but the portrait of the man behind the bunnies is unrevealing.

Rob Nelson 2012-04-20 15:17:24

This fawning docu goes to lengths to portray the octogenarian Playboy magazine founder as among the greatest figures of 20th-century American popular culture, while only cursorily acknowledging his status as a pioneering softcore pornographer.

Claudia Puig 2012-04-15 15:20:08

This is not a probing examination of Hef in all his complexity.

Michael O'Sullivan 2012-04-15 00:50:24

Te Hugh Hefner in this movie is Thomas Paine, Martin Luther King Jr., Mohandas Gandhi and William Kunstler all rolled into one.