Salesman [Criterion Collection]

Jamie Baker Director: Charlotte Zwerin, David Maysles, Albert Maysles, Charlotte Mitchell Zwerin Charlotte Zwerin

Overview

"Considered one of the best documentaries of all time, Salesman focuses on the lives of four Bible salesmen who will do almost anything to get the Good Book into the homes of people with cash to spare (or not). The Criterion Collection's DVD is superb and easily sells the film's greatness to any unbelievers out there. The high-definition black-and-white transfer is excellent, though much of the film's original graininess is still apparent. The full-screen (1.33:1) picture is sharp, stable, and overall, looks fine. The mono soundtrack has also been upgraded and also sounds fine. Whatever audio noise detected is from the original recording and not due to the disc's remastering. In terms of extras, the disc offers up an excellent commentary track from filmmakers Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin. Both tracks were recorded separately, but their comments flow nicely and seem unified. Among other things, both filmmakers talk at length about some of the strange, peculiar things some of the people would do in front of the camera, as well as the film's subsequent critical praise and devoted following. They also talk frankly about some of the film's negative reviews, in particular Pauline Kael's belief that some of the scenes were staged and that one of the salesmen (known as the Badger) had to be an actor. Overall, it's a great and insightful commentary track. Also included on the disc is a brief audio segment from NPR's Weekend Edition program from 2000, which includes an interview with the Rabbit, one of the salesmen profiled in the film. But the highlight of the disc, besides the film itself and the commentary track, is a 1968 television interview with the Maysles brothers, conducted by film critic Jack Kroll. Production stills, filmographies, and the original theatrical trailer are also included. A really top-of-the-line disc in all ways."

Product Details

Release Date:	09/04/2001
UPC:	0037429158920
Original Release:	1969
Rating:	NR
Source:	Criterion Collection
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[monaural, Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:31:00
Sales rank:	38,099

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Jamie Baker

Actor

Technical Credits

Charlotte Zwerin	Director,Producer,Director
David Maysles	Director,Director,Producer,Producer
Dick Vorisek	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Whether peddling vacuum cleaners or encyclopedias, the door-to-door salesman is a uniquely American archetype, and one that comes under fascinating scrutiny in David and Albert Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin's landmark 1969 documentary, Salesman. This exquisitely crafted film follows four Bible salesmen -- nicknamed "The Badger," "The Gipper," "The Rabbit," and "The Bull" -- as each makes his way to a national sales meeting in Chicago. The Maysles vividly capture their motel-room life on the road and their attempts to inveigle their way into living rooms to promote "the best seller in the world." Perhaps the most moving of the four hawkers is The Badger, who seems caught in the downward spiral of negative thinking that spells doom for a salesman's success. Splendidly photographed in black-and-white, Salesman epitomizes the cinema verité documentary style (also known as "direct cinema") that emerged in the 1960s. Scenes unfold as if the camera weren't present, making the subjects seem unnervingly candid and authentic. With no narrator, no musical score, no talking-head interviews, and no contrived plotline, Salesman feels remarkably intimate. Together with their legendary Rolling Stones documentary, Gimme Shelter, which followed the next year, Salesman solidified the Maysles' position among the great documentary filmmakers, such as D. A. Pennebaker and Richard Leacock.