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I Am Big Bird
R2 - United Kingdom - Spectrum Review written by and copyright: Matthew Crossman (20th May 2015). |
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The Film
 Since 1969 Caroll Spinney has appeared on television sets all over the World. The character he plays is instantly recognisable by those aged from two to eighty and yet if you bumped into Mr Spinney in the street (a normal street, not the sesame kind) you would no idea who he was. For over forty years Caroll Spinney has been the man inside the Big Bird costume and this DVD is his story. The documentary starts with a clip from the US television programme ‘Tell The Truth’, itself highlighting Spinney’s anonymity. We learn how Spinney was always interested in puppets and puppetry, encouraged by his Mother yet dissuaded by his Father, who thought the subject frivolous. Spinney’s Father, in Caroll’s early years at least, was a man who did not suffer fools gladly and had a short temper. It was after being on the receiving end of this temper one day that Caroll left the family home and joined the Air Force. The four years Spinney spent in the Air Force gave him a great love of travel and when he returned to his native America he was fortunate enough to get a job on television, then a novelty that had only existed in his country for eight years, with his own television puppet show alongside his co-presenter Judy Valentine. Despite the programme being a success it was not picked up for a second year and Spinney found work on ‘Bozo’s Big Top’ TV show playing several characters. Spinney’s first love was puppets though and he attended a puppet convention and despite his act going disastrously wrong he grabbed the attention of a man called Jim Henson. Henson’s company, Muppets Inc, was proving to be a success and he needed puppeteers to work on his next big project. That project was to be a television programme for children called ‘Sesame Street’. This documentary charts the life of Spinney. His many ups and downs and some of the fascinating stories that have surrounded him. From Spinney nearly quitting ‘Sesame Street’ only a few months into the job, to the heart warming story of how he met his Wife and love of his life Deborah. In fact once Deborah is introduced she pretty much steals the show and the love she shows for Caroll and the support she gives him is extremely endearing to say the least. The documentary is high on the sentimental scale and will have viewers with a low threshold for sob stories reaching for the tissues on more than one occasion. Spinney himself is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and it is that trait that makes this film so endearing. The stories that are shared, by Spinney and the rest of the people who appear, like Jim Henson’s funeral, the trip on the space shuttle that never happened, and the murder that happened on Spinney’s property truly tug at the heart strings. But for all the mawkishness that presides in the documentary there remains a fascinating story about a fascinating man who truly loves what he has been doing for all these years and can’t quite seem to give it up.
Video
The feature is presented in the 1.85:1 ratio (anamorphic). The image quality of the interviews conducted for the documentary are clean and crisp. There is quite a large amount of archival footage from old television shows and this, of course, is of a lesser quality. It also appears that Caroll and Deborah Spinney have documented quite a large portion of their life through film and video cameras and a quite a bit of it appears in the documentary. As you would suspect this footage is often grainy which is as it should be.
Audio
The DVD menu offers two different ways of listening to the main feature. You have the choice of English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo or English Dolby Digital 5.1. I listened to the film in 5.1 surround. The background music is played through the rear speakers whilst the dialogue comes through the centre speaker and the left and right front speakers. At no time does the music through the rear speakers over power the front speakers, even if you are sitting quite close to them. The sub woofer is underused to the point that it was almost pointless having it on. I did do a sample of the digital stereo track and the mix is good, crisp and clear. Either choice is more than acceptable. There are no subtitles.
Extras
Caroll on Camera (0.39) - Caroll talks briefly about the only time his face has ever appeared on ‘Sesame Street’. Chinese Big Bird (1.44) - Cheryl Henson (Jim Henson’s daughter) and Caroll Spinney talk about auditioning performers to play Big Bird for Chinese television. Crazy Crayon (3.00) - Caroll Spinney animated several episodes of the US television show ‘Crazy Crayon’. Presented here is one of the episodes in black and white. Deb’s Song (4.16) - Spinney performs, as Big Bird, a song called ‘Deb’s Song’ at the annual wrap party of ‘Sesame Street’. The song was written by Caroll Spinney’s Father In Law. First Date (1.35) - Caroll and Deborah reminisce about their first date accompanied by some home movie footage. Follow That Bird (1.59) - Home made behind the scenes footage of the feature film ‘Follow That Bird’ starring Big Bird which was released in 1985. The Goon Show (1.05) - Caroll and his family’s home movies of their own show called ‘The Goon Show’. This is a brief compilation of clips. Michael Jackson (0.39) - Caroll recalls meeting Michael Jackson whilst filming ‘A Special Sesame Street Christmas’ in 1978. The Million Puppet March (2.05) - In the 2012 Presidential election campaign Mitt Romney for the Republicans said he would cut funding to PBS and therefore Sesame Street and indirectly Big Bird. In response to this thousands gathered in Washington in support of Big Bird and his friends at PBS. This march was called The Million Puppet March and presented here is footage of that day. Biggest Fan (2.46) - Caroll talks about Nick Bertsch, a disabled young fan, who is Big Bird’s biggest fan. Here Caroll and Nick’s Mother Tina talk about Nick’s visit to the set of ‘Sesame Street’ to meet Caroll and Big Bird. Oscar Rehearsing (1.23) - Footage of Michael Buble and Caroll (who would be performing as Oscar the grouch) rehearsing for a Christmas special. Oscar’s Name (0.43) - The story of how Oscar got his name as recalled by Caroll. A Space Story (2.27) - A short film called ‘A Space Story’ made by Caroll and his family in 1974. Spooferin Commercial (2.24) - Caroll started his career as an animator for commercials in Boston. Featured here is one of Caroll’s commercials plus a spoof commercial that Caroll made and starred in. Times Square (1.28) - People in Times Square, New York City are asked the question ‘Who is Caroll Spinney?’ Yogi Berra (0.31) - Whilst shooting a Sports Illustrated cover Caroll meets retired baseball star Yogi Berra. Trailer (2.08) - The official trailer for the main feature.
Overall
The film has been deemed to be over sentimental from many quarters and for the most part it’s true. However, sometimes that can be a good thing. It’s a real feel good documentary about an amazing man, his amazing career and an amazing bird. It’s a perfect pick you up film for those feeling down in the dumps and a pleasant change of pace from the blockbusters that fill the cinemas and DVD racks in the shops today. So if you are after something that has absolutely no exploding robots, no car chases, and no political intrigue (well, it has a smidgeon of that) then I recommend ‘I am Big Bird’.
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