Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)i loved this dvd! it brought back great memories of growing up in philly and going with one or both of my parents to see the Mummer's Day Parade every January 1st, no matter the weather. The colder the better - the music just rang out! I realize now that I live far away tjat this was a unique way to begin every New Year - ENERGY, MUSIC, COLOR, DANCE, HUMOR, FANTASY - WOW! What a dynamic, imaginative beginning to the New Year. Thank you Philadelphia Mummers, and thank you MaxLRaab and Robt Downey Sr for creating a film that captures so many aspects of the Mummer's culture and annual parade. You included so many of the elements that I recall from the spiffy, highly costumed string-bands to the somewhat drunk-and-disorderly roaming bands of men in flaxen wigs or hobo getups. You had the African-American musicians, (although I might have liked to have seen more of the African-American bands and representatives of other neighborhoods besides South Philly, although I know the nucleus of the parade is centered there), the comics, the Elvis-impersonators (Philly has always been a big music city, was the original site of American Bandstand, etc), great footage of the 2000 parade, archival footage, interviews with club captains and some focus on individual performers, and the raucous 'mob scenes', and some lovely touches too - the photo montages, and also in one scene a man in a wheelchair, just off to the side, is greeted by a Mummer who gives him a kiss and a hug. Just great stuff. You captured the love that goes into this parade and that creates community in philly. of course, it's also fun to see real he-men, as they used to be called, who enjoy dressing up in women's garb, makeup, fantastic costumery, and who can play the saxophone, banjo or xylophone at the same time. (Hey, more xylophones next time!) It was totally a great viewing experience, and I will be watching it every New Year's from here on out.
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STRUT! spotlights the world of the Philadelphia Mummers and their annual parade. Each New Year's Day, electricians, longshoremen, plumbers, cops, and other working class wizards transform the City of Brotherly Love into the world capital of Surrealism. Their boundless celebration of life, liberty, and the pursuit of joy capture the heart and soul of America. The parade is a delicious melting pot of pre-colonial history, Vaudeville slapstick, cultural diversity, and 4-minute Broadway shows. But the real flavor comes from the Mummers themselves, who personify what we hold most dear: The mandate of freedom and self-expression... the power of family and fraternity... the lessons of the immigrant experience... and the extraordinary inclusiveness and tolerance of everyone except the competition. Shot with no script and an easy-shifting point of view, the Mummers' colorful tale is told through revealing interviews, new and vintage footage, dazzling still photos, and irresistable music. The result is a cinematic gem that is, at once, personal and epic, unique and universal, touching and funny.
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