All Movie Guide

In the early '60s, David Grisman and Jerry Garcia were two bluegrass enthusiasts in their early twenties who met after they had seen each other perform. Garcia went on to lead the legendary psychedelic band the Grateful Dead, while Grisman became a world-class mandolin player who blended jazz and bluegrass into a unique style he liked to call "Dawg Music." David and Jerry never lost their enthusiasm for roots music, and in 1973 they formed a progressive bluegrass group called Old and in the Way with Peter Rowan and Vassar Clements. The group quickly gained a large following and sparked a new interest in acoustic music among rock fans, but a falling out led to their breakup after less than a year, and Grisman and Garcia didn't talk for nearly 20 years. In 1991, the pair began working together again, and resumed a fruitful collaboration that resulted in a number of new albums until Garcia's death in 1995. Grateful Dawg, directed by David's daughter Gillian Grisman, is a documentary that looks at the friendship and musical partnership between Grisman and Garcia, and includes live footage of the pair in performance, as well as interviews with a number of their friends, associates, and collaborators. Mark Deming

New York Times

Sure, it is a tribute to Jerry Garcia...but this documentary film, which sketches his long friendship and fruitful music-making collaboration with the mandolin and banjo player David Grisman, is quite simply a treat for the ear. Lawrence van Gelder

Washington Post

Think of this movie as a glorified home video rather than a bitingly insightful documentary. But for Garcia and Grisman, this soft-shoe approach couldn't be more appropriate. Desson Howe

Los Angeles Times

It's to be expected that the music is going to be wonderful, and it is. But there is more to this film, a surprising amount more. Kenneth Turan

San Francisco Chronicle

For music fans, there's great pleasure in hearing new audio tracks to "Sitting Here in Limbo," "Friend of the Devil" and more songs -- each one complete and unedited. Edward Guthmann

Product Details

• UPC: 043396071681
• Source: SONY PICTURES
• Region Code: 1
• Presentation: Letterbox
• Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, Français, Español
• Time: 1:21:00
• Sales Rank: 27,013

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Dogtown & Z Boys / Grateful Dawg

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