Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King   January 11, 2001

This film gives you a good feeling for what Frank's life was and who he was. Everyone should like this film but especially people over 50 -- especially those who came to know and love Yankovic's music during the peak of his national popularity. And I'm not just saying all this because I directed this film. I really liked it! Rees Candee


Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King   January 11, 2001
  10 out of 10 found this review helpful

"Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King" "After all this time, female fans swoon when Frankie sings: Frankie Yankovic, that is, the patriarch of polka on tour for 61 years now." Wall Street Journal Front page story headline September 24, 1991

This is a one-hour documentary on the career of one of the most beloved entertainers in the history of American popular music. Alright, it is polka music, but eventually we all gotta polka in our lives, and this was the guy that is responsible. The film shows without a doubt that Yankovic had the power to move people -- to touch their hearts, to make them laugh and dance and sing. He was a one of a kind, a character and a true entertainer. What was particularly unique about him was that his music unified people with diverse ethnic backgrounds, while at the same time, it enhanced people's ethnic pride. Not a bad politically correct tact to take-and he made millions doing it!

What I liked was that this film is filled with music. It tells the story of Frank but there's music wall to wall. More than 60 songs are sampled in the hour piece. In addition to all the music we see rare footage from Frank's private home movies and his life on the road. There's a lot of history but the story propels you... He was an original superstar and his biggest heydays were the late 1940s and early 1950s. Footage and anecdotes from his original band members prove very entertaining.

The film make a great case crediting Frank for the singular achievement of Americanizing polka music and bringing it into the masses. An EMMY winner too! When it aired on PBS it played in 250 cities and drew an audience of five million. Not bad for a story about immigrant music in America. The film also includes some rare music videos of Frank that were filmed in Hollywood. The million-selling hits featured were, "Just Because" and "The Blue Skirt Waltz" and they still look and sound great even after fifty years. My favorite was "The Acapulco Polka!

This film gives you a good feeling for what Frank's life was and who he was. Everyone should like this film but especially people over 50 -- especially those who came to know and love Yankovic's music during the peak of his national popularity. And I'm not just saying all this because I directed this film. I really liked it! Rees Candee


Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King   January 11, 2001
  3 out of 3 found this review helpful

"Frank Yankovic: America's Polka King"

This is a one-hour documentary on the career of one of the most beloved entertainers in the history of American popular music. Alright, it is polka music, but eventually we all gotta polka in our lives, and this was the guy that is responsible. The film shows without a doubt that Yankovic had the power to move people -- to touch their hearts, to make them laugh and dance and sing. He was a one of a kind, a character and a true entertainer. What was particularly unique about him was that his music unified people with diverse ethnic backgrounds, while at the same time, it enhanced people's ethnic pride. Not a bad politically correct tact to take-and he made millions doing it!

What I liked was that this film is filled with music. It tells the story of Frank but there's music wall to wall. More than 60 songs are sampled in the hour piece. In addition to all the music we see rare footage from Frank's private home movies and his life on the road. There's a lot of history but the story propels you... He was an original superstar and his biggest heydays were the late 1940s and early 1950s. Footage and anecdotes from his original band members prove very entertaining.

The film make a great case crediting Frank for the singular achievement of Americanizing polka music and bringing it into the masses. An EMMY winner too! When it aired on PBS it played in 250 cities and drew an audience of five million. Not bad for a story about immigrant music in America. The film also includes some rare music videos of Frank that were filmed in Hollywood. The million-selling hits featured were, "Just Because" and "The Blue Skirt Waltz" and they still look and sound great even after fifty years. My favorite was "The Acapulco Polka!

This film gives you a good feeling for what Frank's life was and who he was. Everyone should like this film but especially people over 50 -- especially those who came to know and love Yankovic's music during the peak of his national popularity. And I'm not just saying all this because I directed this film. I really liked it! Rees Candee