The Unknown Jonathan Winters: On the Loose (2000)

Tepid filler with scattered brilliance-better rented than bought

They short changed the reason we all get this video: Jonathan's performances. Granted, the docufiller is interesting, but belongs in a section titled "Bonus Feature", or "Bio" rather than fragmenting some entertaining out takes.

Probably didn't want to pay all the royalties to get more performances included...

Recommend as a rental rather than a purchase.


February 14, 2007

Wanting More

Jonathan Winters is probably my all-time favorite comedian! I liked this video but wish it had been longer and that many, many more of his comedy routines had been included. The clips were too scattered and too brief, and it just whetted my appetite for more and was frustrating. Appearances by Andy Williams and Robin Williams didn't add much. I did enjoy learning a little about Winters' personal life over the years, and seeing him as he was a couple years ago. I must say I was very glad to locate ANY video about him, but it would be wonderful if someone could put together a complete set of ALL of his routines! That would be fantastic! August 19, 2004

A Look into a unusual mind

This is a video which is sometimes shown on PBS. It is biographical in nature and truly shows the breadth of his comedy. You'll see Winters as you've probably never seen him before. There is improvisational humor galore and there's also black humor (The Execution). It is very amusing to see the "Straight Men" so totally lost and just enjoying "the master" at work. July 2, 2001

Winters wonderful, frustrating documentary

Jonathan Winters is really a treasure and it is amazing how many people do not know about him. He is clearly Robin Williams's progenitor, starting out in his television career with sound effects and impersonations, but eventually moving into original characters and amazing improvisations, often based on random objects thrown to him.

This documentary, however, is constantly teasing the viewer who is eager to watch the master. Seldom does a segment or vignette go uninterrupted by cuts from interviews which are sparse, heavy on adoration and low on information. The subjects of these interviews are limited to Andy Williams, Robin Williams (who seems to have little to say about his hero), and family members who tell few stories. Winters himself makes a statement about his nervous breakdown and hospitalization that is firm and uninformative. There is talk about the work on IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD and MORK AND MINDY but no clips. Even when we watch him at play in public places, the camera holds so closely on him, rarely showing the setting or the people he is catching off-guard, that the spontaneity of what we are witnessing is hidden.

A little of Winters is vastly better than none, but this disappoints as a documentary. July 1, 2001

Johnny Winters One of the All Time Greats

I watched him growing up and seeing this tape on PBS brought back memories of the best improvisational comedian of all time. Robin Williams will tell you, this man inspired him to be, what I would argue to be, the second best of all time...not bad because Williams is very good. The early shows with Jack Paar and Andy Williams are truly classic, and demonstrate the comic genius of Johnny or as he is better known, Jonathan. November 27, 2000

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