Branson!

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Program: C+

 

 

When I saw the show Branson! was out on DVD, then heard what it was about, I thought it was something from the 1970s, but it was actually made in 1999 under the name “It’s Branson!”  With that said, this is essentially a travel and commerce promo laced with a bunch of music performances.  There is no doubt Branson, Missouri is a place with some beauty, but the term “tourist trap” kept surfacing because this show tries too hard.

 

The songs are as follows:

 

Moon River – Andy Williams

Shepherd of the Hills – Keith Thurman

Riders in the Sky – Roy Clark

Spiders and Snakes – Jim Stafford

Amazing Grace – Branson 1^st Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir

Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair – The Lennon Sisters

By The Time I Get To Phoenix – Glen Campbell

Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell

Beautiful Dreamer – Danny Eakins

Golden Slippers – The Homestead Pickers

Turkey in the Straw - The Homestead Pickers

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) – Andy Williams

The Mississippi Squirrel Revival – Ray Stevens

Since I’ve Laid My Burdens Down – Touch of Country Church Choir

Boxcar Blues – Boxcar Willie

Shall We Gather Sat The River/Deep River – Steve Grimm

Broken Lady – The Baldnobbers

Stand By Me – Mickey Gilley

Here We Are – The Osmond Brothers

Nearer My God Top Thee - Branson 1^st Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir

Gone, Not Forgotten – The Baldnobbers

Everything Is Beautiful – Ray Stevens

Impossible Dream (The Quest) – Andy Williams

 

It turns out many of these clips simply come from other videos previously released.    That more than confirms my suspicions about the nature of this program, which is not a disaster, but not totally forthwith in what it is really trying to do.  With that said, the songs are full length, but buyer beware.  As for the performances, Williams struggles the most, especially in vein to cover the Motown classic How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), while Stevens and Campbell fare better.

 

The full screen color image was shot on analog videotape and is not bad, but the Steven’s Music Video looks best.  This is about right for such a program.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some Pro Logic surrounds, but nothing great.  The stereo is simple, though some of the live recordings are not as clear as others.  There are no extras.

 

This program felt like a throwback to something like Hee Haw, and many like programs that were produced up until the 1980s.  The history segments fare better.  Branson! is only for the absolutely most interested.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo