Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)

Subject: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 06:26 PM

Has anyone here seen the film of the surviving Weavers' 2003 tribute to Harold Leventhal titled Isn't This a Time? I have not seent it but want to.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 06:32 PM

No, but I did see Wasn't that a time, when the 3 surviving Weavers talked about The night the old nostalgia burned down. How many are left of this marvelous group?

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 06:38 PM

I haven't seen it either, except for a few excerpts on TV. I'd be glad to check it out someday. If it's available via Netflix, I'll put in on my queue.

Two questions:

Isn't the correct title "Wasn't That A Time"?

Weren't many scenes in Christopher Guest's "A Mighty Wind" ~ if not the entire film ~ directly derived from this movie?

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: GUEST,Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 07:41 PM

The Weavers performing "So Long, It's Been Good To Know You"

there are still another couple of their clips up there, although, sadly, Goodnight Irene " has been removed for "copyright reasons".

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: frogprince
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 08:43 PM

"wasn't That a Time" dates back at least to the early 80's, and followed the surviving Weavers as they prepared for and held a last reunion concert at Carnegie Hall, with interviews with others influenced by them, and other material to put things in context I have a sharp memory burned in of two moments: 1.Lee Hayes making what sounded like an offhand remark, as someone stirred his compost heap, to the effect that he expected to be part of that pile soon. 2. The note on the end of the film, saying that, according to his wishes, his ashes were in fact stirred into the compost heap.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:21 PM

Doesn't look as though netflix has it, darn it, anyway.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:24 PM

I enjoyed that film. I think it is one you should watch if you can. It's formally called The Weavers - Wasn't That a Time! and is available at Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Weavers-Wasnt-That-Time/dp/6302460247.

SRS

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: C. Ham
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 10:50 PM

Wasn't That a Time dates from 1980. Isn't This a Time was filmed three or four years ago. I was lucky enough to see the world premiere here at the Toronto Fim Festival a couple of years back. It's a wonderful film. I was assuming that it would be available on DVD, but I haven't seen it out yet. I also think that it's a natural for the Documentary Channel or PBS.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Apr 07 - 11:04 PM

Okay, here's that link also:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424189/. I remember hearing about this, but I'm sure if I'd seen it I'd remember Bikel and Guthrie and the others.

Here is some more. Order it from 7th Art Video.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: Flash Company
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 10:36 AM

Saw 'Wasn't That a Time' on UK television some years ago. Lee Hays in a wheelchair, Pete full of enthusiasm as ever, Ronnie Gilbert duetting with a rather beautiful Chilean girl. Laughed a lot and cried a bit for something we had lost.

FC

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 10:43 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU1I28yzrKU

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 11:32 AM

I have seen "Isn't This A Time?" and enjoyed it. I did not think it as good as the previous film, this one is more of a concert film and the documentary footage seemed to cover old ground already well trod upon.   Still, it was wonderful to see the Weavers again - with Erik Darling!   I feel that Erik's contributions were often ignored as well as those of Frank Hamilton, and in some wasy the earlier film re-wrote the history of the group. There was more to the story and in some ways the new film helps make up for it, but it could have been better.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film Isn't This a Time?
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 12:31 PM

I'm glad to see that this will be available on video. I hope to arrange a showing in Eastern VA later this year or 2008. The showing of Wasn't That a Time I saw in Norfolk 25 years ago was almost sold out.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 05:44 PM

The Weavers - Wasn't That a Time!, I believe was filmed by old family friend George Stoney, for which he won the Film Scholarship and Preservation Award in 1998. Do a Goggle search on "George Stoney film maker" and you'll find some interesting reading.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 07:57 PM

So, who is still surviving besides Pete Seeger?

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 08:12 PM

Fred Hellerman, Ronnie Gilbert, and the others that Ron mentioned---Frank Hamilton, Erik Darling, and there was also one other person for a very---very---brief period. Bernie Krause.

Here is an intersting ancecdote. A while back there was a showing ofWasn't That A Time with a performance afterwards by the group Work O The Weavers and an appearance by Harold Leventhal being inteviewed by Janet Maslin of the NY Times.

The Work O The Weavers blew the house away---which surprised me. How do you follow the originals.   But Harold Leventhal---this is a gem. Janet Maslin has to be one of the worst interviewers. She also did not seem to know anything about Leventhal.

At one point an audience member in the Q & A asked what was the difficult thing in putting all this together at Carnegie Hall--and filmiing it. NOW--remember---these are The Weavers and they sang many pro labor songs. Harold Leventhal's response to the question---one word---UNIONS.   

Suffice it to say the place exploded in laughter.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'?
From: black walnut
Date: 03 Apr 07 - 09:47 PM

Yes, at the Toronto Film Festival when it first came out. Very well done.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'?
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 05:38 PM

You know Wasn't that a time is not an easy thing to find. Where I live anyway.wish it would get a re-release on DVD (other then the one time offer PBS out out in march) . everyone should atleast once. even if they are not weaver's fans they will probably after they watch it!

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'?
From: BTNG
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 05:49 PM

to quote the PBS website dated March of this year (2011) "This classic documentary will now appear for the first time in HD on PBS stations and will be available for the first time on DVD exclusively through PBS.

I just checked the PBS shop, nothing there, so who knows.

The Weavers

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: oggie
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 06:35 PM

It was one of the first films ever shown on Channel 4 when it launched many years ago. The same weekend they also showed Jean Redpath and Serge Hovey in "The Liberty Tree" which was about the work Serge was doing on reuniting the songs of Robert Burns with the correct tunes. If anything that is an even better film.

Steve

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 06:36 PM

WASN'T THAT A TIME is definitely available on DVD.
It was offered as a premium with membership. Check the NHPTV site.

The film was available on VHS/BETA/LD from MGM/UA circa 1982,
and was reissued circa 1995 by WARNER on VHS, don't know if it appeared in other formats.
If anyone has the WARNER version, I'd appreciate receiving the
catalogue number.

The DVD will probably be available commercially either late this year
or early next year (if it follows the usual pattern for PBS premiums).

There is a 2004 film titled "ISN'T THIS A TIME!", documenting
a tribute concert for HAROLD LEVENTHAL. Ronnie Gilbert appears.
It does not appear to be available except for commercial exploitation,
if at all.
I would appreciate any further information.

Thanks!
Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 03:10 PM

I had ordered the DVD from a place called cinamoon/ google checkout im afraid I got scammed. I would love to see this movie again I had it on VHS and it got lost in a move someone or maybe one of the movers was a huge weavers fans and decided to help them selves to it. PBS also has it for sale on their site now for 90$ but only avialble for US customers. and amazon has it on VHS for a whoopin 234$!

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 03:32 PM

I saw it just last Saturday, and was frankly rather disappointed. Too much memorising and rehearsing and not enough about how the Weavers came to be, and how they ened up being shafted by McArthyism.

I couldn't help being reminded of a similar concert DVD, Down From the Mountain, which had too much talking and too much rehearsal and not enough concert.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Elmore
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 03:54 PM

Owen: I totally disagree. As one who has seen The Weavers in concert many times, I thought this was a remarkable film. Jim Brown, the director knows what he's doing. The group's joy at getting together jumped off the screen, and into my living room. This was not a biography. It was a celebration.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 03:58 PM

4 years ago Flash Company said "Ronnie Gilbert duetting with a rather beautiful Chilean girl."
That was Holly Near - later singing with HARP.
There's a thread here.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:14 PM

Goodnight Irene is still on youtube.
As Pete described them:
Three stuffed dummies and a Barbie doll
I love it!
Robyn

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,Banjopicker
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:44 PM

I wouldnt really describe Holly Near pretty so they both got both things wrong both with her being chillien

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Elmore
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 07:35 PM

What the Hell is Chillien? children? Chilling?

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 08:44 PM

Are critical of everyone who is not that good in spelling in english because their native language is French or just me? I didn't know this was a grammar school

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 08:48 PM

You*

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Little Robyn
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 10:00 PM

Try Chilean.
Robyn
Ex school teacher.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 10:02 PM

I wonder how much slack Woody Guthrie would get if he posted on here ( if he were living) considering that he never wrote with the most common way to spell or say things.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: JJ
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 08:29 AM

Thomas Stern (among others) is correct. I saw ISN'T THIS A TIME during its brief run in New York City. It was supposed to be released on home video soon after. To the best of my knowledge, that never happened.

And I think Holly Near is beautiful...

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Elmore
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 09:10 AM

Attn: Banjopicker. You're no Woody Guthrie.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: Elmore
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 09:30 AM

Banjopicker: I apologize. Whether You're from Paris, France, or Paris, Texas, I had no business bitching about your English. Sorry.

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:01 PM

Trust me I KNOW Im not Woody not even the tad bit close I couldn't write a song to save my life. Im actually from Canada but I accept your apology

Subject: RE: Anyone see film 'Isn't This a Time'? (Weavers)
From: GUEST,banjopicker
Date: 01 Dec 11 - 02:19 PM

I was born in Waltham but I moved to canada and went to a french school so my spelling and adjectives ect in English isn't that good.