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| Director: Peter Meyer
Actors: Danny Glover, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, John Hammond, Robert Lockwood Jr.
Studio: Winstar
List Price: $24.98
Buy Used: $4.45
You Save: $20.53 (82%)
New (4) Used (11) from $4.45
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 35857
Format: Black & White, Color, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 77 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 1572523794
UPC: 720917112633
EAN: 9781572523791
ASIN: 1572523794
Theatrical Release Date: 1998
Release Date: December 22, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 16
 Can't You Hear the Wind Howl? January 7, 2002
Benita Williams-Pagoria (Rome, Italy)
9 out of 19 found this review helpful
This is another example of Black History that few people know about. The music is raw because mixing didn't exist in those days. But it is not just about the music. The message here is if a black man can survive back then without advertising, agents and the like and be known as one of the greatest artists of all times; What excuse does most young black men have like him today?
Example: This man played and danced on the back roads of Arkansas to earn money to buy a guitar that was lost in a fire. He became so popular for Sunday afternoon drivers even the police had a hard time directing traffic. How many black americans had cars then? Then we know who loved his music too.
 Ambitious, a little cheesy? March 23, 2005
James Patrick Page
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
6-7 years after John Hammond provided us with a decent (if somewhat slight) documentary on Robert Johnson in 'The Search for Robert Johnson', 'Can You Hear the Wind Howl' attempted a far more ambitious interpretation of Johnson's life which, whilst offering little new information (and rehashing stories from interviewees [Johnny Shines, David Edwards] that have long circulated in 'blues' circles), nevertheless provided a good deal of (musical) context missing from the Hammond outing.
The depiction of Johnson here often times feels a little cheesy, until one realises that he's never quite been visualized like this before. And it's intelligently done, with Keb' Mo striking the famous pose from the 'King of the Delta Blues Vol. 1' album cover (an overhead view of a seated Johnson playing guitar) in a sequence that is artfully constructed via chiaroscuro lighting. (The only 'letdown' is that Mo mimes to Johnson's recordings; it might have been more convincing to have him perform them outright). Indeed, the filmmakers bravely attempt to depict Johnson living his daily life, which, whilst largely understated, becomes slightly repetitive (apparently Johnson spent quite a bit of time aimlessly wandering deserted warehouse backalleys and empty city streets!). Nevertheless, this is an interesting approach and prods the viewer to reflect upon the common life experiences of Johnson (and his personal tragedies) in straightforward dramatic terms.
We also receive information about Johnson's 'dying message'. I for one had never heard this piece of information before, and I wonder if it has since been disproven (Clapton's latest DVD, which offers an overview of Johnson 'evidence', makes no mention of this). Accompanied by an unsettling depiction of Johnson's final moments, this is perhaps the most important element of the documentary.
Danny Glover is serviceable in narration, although his somewhat stilted 'enthusiasm' grates at times. With a figure like Johnson, the need for a 'personality' to narrate the events of his life is questionable; Johnson needs no-one to make him interesting.
Overall, this is a largely entertaining depiction of Johnson that attempts to break away from 'museum piece' academics and consider Johnson's music in its lived, performed state. Whilst it does traffic in silliness at times (the 'Crossroads' sequence is more amusing than terrifying), 'Can't You Hear The Wind Howl' is a nice companion piece - if somewhat redundant - to the Hammond documentary.
 Pretty good but.... December 11, 1999
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
I feel this is a fine film. Although there are no real new insights to the music or the myth the story is told in a nice cinematic way. I prefer The Search for Robert Johnson with John Hammond Jr. but this is still a fine addition to any music collection. I have the DVD and highly recommend it.
A TV Movie May 4, 2001
Demoley (Danbury, CT USA)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
This was originally done for the Discovery Channel. Part of the reason it's lacking certain things is the limitations for commercial interuption on the air. I felt it could have plunged a little deeper, but what I really appreciated were Robert Johnson's contemporaries and friends remininsing. Being that there's very little material around on the historic Robert Johnson it's these sorts of interviews that are going to preserve the biographical aspects on a man whose life and image are just as fascinating as his music. Be forewarned, you'll want it to be longer.
 A Steady Rollin' Man July 18, 2005
Robert Conroy (Elgin, Il)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Robert Johnson was one of the most enigmatic bluesmen of the 20th century and his life is still a mystery today.Fans only have two grainy pictures of Johnson and various accounts of the mans' life by those who knew him and those who purport to have known him.Having died at the age of 27 by poisoning only adds to the legacy.Johnson, like many of his contemporaries in that early century era, liked women and whiskey and that became his undoing...a jealous husband poisoned his drink and sent Johnson off into the history books forever.In this documentary, other bluesmen will tell you what Johnson was all about, right up to those final hours but some of their testimony is questionable, as was Johnsons' entire life.But the music is there and it lives up to the Johnson image. Many songs are haunting (Hellhound on My Trail, Come On In My Kitchen) and many are sad (Drunkenhearted Man,From Four Til Late)but they all carry Johnsons'unique stamp on the blues. One listen and you'll hear it.Danny Glover's narration is compassionate and blues musician Keb Mos' silhouetted figure makes you feel that you are watching actual footage of Johnson himself. Good stuff...
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