Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Runnin' Down a Dream - A Film by Peter Bogdanovich 4 Disc Boxset (3DVD + CD) [2007]

Product Details

Artist : Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Format : Box set, PAL
Aspect Ratio : 1.77:1
Binding : DVD
EAN : 0693723987170
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 0
Release Date : 2007-11-26
Running Time : 355minutes
Studio : SPV
UPC : 693723987170

ASIN : B000XUNNVK

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Customer Reviews

GC (2008-05-22)

This film is a bit of an epic. It is also a fascinating insight into the dynamics within one of America's longer lasting and successful bands. It has it all, triumph and tradgedy. But perhaps it's greatest success was that it made me go and buy some Tom Petty CD's to replace the records and tapes that got worn out in the late 80's and early 90's.Overall a great story, well told and with some fantastic music thrown in. Perfect!

Into the Great Wide Open (2008-02-18)

Its all been said by other reviews,but this DVD/CD combo is absolutly stunning.Even though I left it very late to get "into" TP&THB's I feel blessed to be a fan.The words..the music..the feeling it gives to hear Tom's songs...The Band...the overall brilliance of a group of people that have been together (or very close) for thirty years.Words cannot describe what I'm feeling right now.You know whats right......... Rock on Tom :) and thankyou.

Simply Superb (2008-01-21)

This is one of the best, most engrossing, rock documentaries I have ever seen. As other reviewers have noted, the 5 hours plus encompassing the story of the band, and the 30th anniversary concert just fly by. Tom Petty comes across as a thoroughly likeable bloke, with an engagingly laconic style which masks a steely-eyed focus and determination never to settle for second best that has kept him at the top for 30 years. Lengthy interviews with Petty and all other band members, some of which reveal past tensions which still appear to rankle, are honest and revealing. Few other bands can boast 4 original members after so long, especially when they have never really delivered a duff album. Most touchingly, new drummer Steve Ferrone who replaced Stan Lynch, confesses that he would be heartbroken if it all came to an end. This is the story of a band that feels like a band, with a charismatic leader and understated multi-talented lead guitarist, that has produced some of the finest and most tuneful American rock music of all time. Plummy Englishman Denny Cordell who first signed the band makes reference to Petty as a poet, and like most afficionados has a genuine admiration and affection for the band. The sadness at Howie Epstein's death is poignantly felt; footage of his decline into drug addiction is shocking, but in Ron Blair's return to the fold there is a sense of completion. The 30th anniversary concert is equally impressive. Petty prowls the stage like the 'bad ass' he is described as in the documentary, but seems genuinely touched at the warm reception from the home crowd in Gainesville. Musically, the band are as tight and tuneful as ever, and the addition of 'honourary Heartbreaker' Stevie Nicks provides one of the concert's highlights in an acoustic rendition of 'Insider', almost worth the price of the entire package on its own. Most of the essential crowd-pleasers are played, with the notable exception of 'Refugee', whose inclusion would almost have won this fantastic DVD / CD box set 6 stars. The additional CD provides some non-essential versions of songs played during the film, but who's griping? This is a fine, well-put together and long overdue quality assessment of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. In giving the band the extended documentary treatment it elevates them to the pantheon of American greats, a position they have always deserved. Time perhaps for MCA to get their fingers out and issue remastered and expanded versions of the early albums, which to the record company's shame are now becoming quite hard to find.

Louisiana rain (2008-01-21)

A masterpiece. Unlike Scorcese whose relationship with Robbie Robertson distorts `The Last Waltz' into a dishonest albeit lasting piece of film making, Peter Bogdanovich does not allow himself to get in the way of his muse. For over five hours the director of `The Last Picture Show' lets the protagonists do all the talking, without voice-over or any agenda besides telling the story. If Bogdanovich only had access to the hundreds of hours of archive Petty and Heartbreakers footage this would have been a great film, but with the addition of Jim Lenahan's pre Heartbreakers 8mm footage this becomes quite unique. The foresight, or luck, involved with finding that early stuff - clearing the yard for a local free concert in their hippy university hometown of Gainesville Florida, the band breaking down on the way out to LA etc. etc. - provides this film with another dimension, making it a historical document. Through a mixture of talking heads, rare footage, stills, rehearsal and broadcast material it traces Petty from childhood infatuation with Elvis and the Beatles, to teenage meeting up with Campbell and Tench, through early local success and subsequent career highlights including Stevie Nicks, Dylan, Dave Stewart, Jeff Lynne etc. right up to a triumphant 30 year anniversary homecoming gig. Totally dedicated to his craft, Petty emerges as the highly ambitious but trusted leader of an enormously talented pool of musicians. Prepared to take on the record industry to the point of self-destruction over publishing rights, album costs etc. he also comes out as a man of considerable integrity. One of the funniest scenes - besides bassist Ron Blair's face after chewing a lump of hash at German customs and then having to perform for a TV show a few hours later - is Petty taking no prisoners when haranguing some hapless A&R man over material for a Roger McGuinn album. How that unfortunate man must cringe now. There is revealing background biography too, supported by home-movies: Petty's attachment to his mother, still being pissed at his abusive father who, despite early opposition to the music, has now built his identity around being the father of rock and roll in Gainesville. I found the film too short. I watched it all the way through and I could have walked round the block and come back for another five hours. Besides the 2 dvds, there's a short booklet, some neat little posters, a great dvd of the 30 year homecoming concert and a cd of some rare recordings that I haven't got around to yet. Some of the promo video footage will be familiar to people who have followed Petty's career but its good to see it presented chronologically here. Petty has quietly emerged to the front row of a few truly premier league rock and roll figures and his story deserves this kind of treatment. I would suggest if you like his music you must own this, and even if you only have a passing interest in rock or good documentary film-making it is well worth watching too. Does anyone else have this kind of footage around for good directors to play with - or is this a one-off?

Essential viewing! (2008-01-15)

I wanted to gradually watch this so I could make it last. I failed!I put the first disk in and I was hooked. I took the second disk to work with me the next day and watched it there! It has everything a good film should have, a great engaging story, humour, tragedy and a brilliant sound track. Tom Petty is such an inspiration to me, (I write music myself) and this only made those feelings stronger.You must own this boxset!

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