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List Price: $19.95 | | Label: Henstooth Video
Salesrank: 4583
Released: November 20, 2001 |
| Our Price: $14.46 |
| Used Price: $13.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
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.
Description of Free to Be You and Me:
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
Free to Be You and Me Reviews:
The best children's entertainment ever 
2008-08-20 - What's to say?
Free to Be You and Me is timeless, brilliant, and super fun for kids of all ages.
Great cast, wonderfully imaginative songs.
Too bad nobody's making an updated version!
If I could pick just one DVD for my daughters, this would be it
2008-08-13 - My daughter now talks about being a police officer and pretends to direct traffic. She practices running races like Atalanta and my toddler asks me to show her the babies and she sings "free to be" all day long.
These stories and songs influenced me, opened the world to me, and they do the same for my young daughters. I remembered every word from my own childhood and sharing this with my daughters is emotional, special, and worthwhile.
Anyone who says female empowerment is no longer necessary is (1) not female; and (2) doesn't have daughters.
I credit these lessons with my sense of social justice and I hope my daughters develop this as well.
Quality of DVD is horrible 
2008-05-08 - Like many before me, I watched this as a kid in school for several years and was surprised to see a DVD release. The DVD has versions of songs not on the CD (a young Michael Jackson for example).
BUT
The DVD quality is pretty bad. It looks like someone put a video camera on a tripod and pointed it at the wall showing the old film on a screen (complete with things blocking the view) - I'm serious. They didn't remaster it or even do a quality transfer.
This may be the only version you will see on DVD so holding off may not be wise if you have no other copy. I pulled a copy from Showtime a LONG Time ago and it's MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the DVD. How sad...
Free to Be...DVD
2007-12-31 - Great DVD. Just as good as I remebered it as a child. My children love it. It is definitely a '70's piece, but the topics ring clear today too. Lots of music and many differnt stories make up this DVD. Every child's collection should have it.
Dated? you've got to be kidding!
2007-09-30 - Buy this DVD. Just do it. Lessons like equality, self realization, bullies and gender stereotypes are more needed in today's 'modern' life than ever. So what if the technology is out of touch when the message isn't!
What is a 2 year old going to know of technology anyway? Mine loves good old sesame street over the fancier fare availble; and, believe me, I've tried to get him into more modern stuff so I can bear to sit through it.
We complain that they spend hours in front of the TV and on Nintendo DS. They're just kids in the end and is it them or us succumbing to advertising or the cool gadets out there? Before they get too jaded try out 'Free to be...' on them.
Remember: We've read where parents said the DVD was too dated but I did not read where their kids said 'hey mom this DVD is soooo 1970's I just can't watch it'.
