Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper - Live 1973 - Billion Dollar Babies Tour | 
| Director: Joe Gannon
Actors: Alice Cooper, Dennis Dunaway, Michael Bruce, Neal Smith, Glen Buxton
Studio: Shout! Factory
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $6.99
You Save: $7.99 (53%)
New (38) Used (21) from $5.48
Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 30210
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Live, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: SMVD38395D
ISBN: 0738933805
UPC: 826663839593
EAN: 9780738933801
ASIN: B000BCKXT0
Theatrical Release Date: November 8, 2005
Release Date: November 8, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 11/15/2005
Amazon.com
They billed it as "the film that outgrosses them all," but if some of the antics on display in Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper - Live 1973 seem fairly mild some thirty years after the fact, that's mainly because people like Marilyn Manson and some of the more lurid punk and metal acts copped many of their moves from Cooper in the first place. This movie, which combines footage from the band's Billion Dollar Babies concert tour with what might charitably be described as a storyline, had a brief theatrical run in the mid-'70s but has been mostly unseen until this DVD release, which features a high definition transfer and a new sound mix. The group (with its namesake singer joined by original members Michael Bruce and Glen Buxton on guitar, Dennis Dunaway on bass, and drummer Neal Smith) was in the midst of a nice run of hits at the time; "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Eighteen," and "School's Out" are all ably performed here, but it's the stage show in all its Grand Guignol glory that's the prime attraction. Clockwork Orange-style violence, necrophilia, decapitation via guillotine, humping mannequins, sticking baby dolls with swords: that and more is on display here, all in the name of what Cooper, whose commentary track is the major bonus feature, describes as "performance art." Well, maybe. Most of it comes off as little more than a hodgepodge of disconnected images--some vile and vulgar, some merely silly--designed to thrill the kids and piss off the parents, which it most certainly did… and ain't that what rock & roll is all about? As for the "story" (something about a crazed film director out for vengeance after Alice ruins his masterpiece) that's intercut with the concert numbers, the best that can be said about it is that viewers have the option of choosing the "play concert only" option. --Sam Graham
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| Customer Reviews: Read 50 more reviews...
 After all these years, it really is good to see this again! September 20, 2005
scotbot (the Negative Zone)
56 out of 59 found this review helpful
If Charles Manson killed the hippie's "Summer Of Love", Alice Cooper mocked and humped the corpse. There could have been no better time for Alice Cooper to appear than in the early 70s. I was just a child at the time, standing around shadowy corners of the schoolyard where second hand stories of Alice's gory live act were whispered and traded like gruesome little folklore tales. Our parents tried to protect us, but we would spend amazing amounts of effort sneaking albums and 8-track tapes of Alice around, secretly listening to the forbidden musical gems. Anybody who saw the band live at this time must have sensed that they were witness to a historical moment in time... a moment that represented American pop-culture's bogus innocence being deflowered. These lovely blood spattered memories are now ours to cherish forever with the DVD release of "Good to See You Again Alice Cooper", available for the first time ever on home video.
Two nights of Alice Cooper's notorious 1973 Billion Dollar Babies tour (April 28th in Dallas and April 29th in Houston) were filmed to create this rare 1974 midnight matinee film, and it's a great testament to the riotous live act that made the Alice Cooper Group a threat to concerned parents everywhere. This DVD contains the original cut of the film which includes the band starring in charming little skits scattered amongst the astonishing live footage (The more common version of the film shown in theaters included old film and newsreel footage instead of the skits). A highly amusing moment among these skits features the band playing "The Lady Is a Tramp". Shout! Factory lovingly provides this release with a new high-definition film transfer along with a new Surround Sound mix created from the 16-track master tapes.
What uncomfortable items will Alice shove down his pants? What celebrity will be pummeled to a pulp by the band? Will the snake get out of control? Where will all the blood and spittle drip to? Will security be able to hold Alice back from attacking and brawling with audience members? Will Alice lose his head? The answers to these questions and more are available in "Good to See You Again Alice Cooper - The film that out-grosses them all".
'Good To See You Again,Alice Cooper - Live 1973 - Billion Dollar Babies Tour' (Shout! Factory) July 28, 2006
Mike Reed (USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
So happy to see this film has FINALLY been put out as a legit release.I remember umteen years ago,I think I paid big buck$ for a so-so quality VHS video tape copy of 'Good To See...'.I was one of those true Cooper fans that simply couldn't wait ANY longer to land down a copy of this movie.Saw it in a theater when it first came out in summer,1974.Highly appreciate this DVD's 'Watch Concert Only' option,although those old B&W snippets of vintage movies are fun to check out WHEN you have time.Tracks that this fan will have edged in the back of his mind for a long time to come are "Hello Hooray","Billion Dollar Babies","Elected",the exclusive(hadn't been played out on tour since)"My Stars","Dead Babies","I Love The Dead" and "School's Out".Also sort of dug the DVD's opening scene where Alice and band mock the torch song "Lady Is A Tramp".Thirty-three years ago,when this tour took place,the entertainment world was in fact shocked by the show's antics of a scroungy-looking rock star sticking a baby doll at the tip of a sword,humping a store mannequin,necrophila and a beheading.This WAS excitement(and still is)for those who seek it.The extras are nice to have as well.It's amazing to think JUST how much the world has changed since the notorious 'Billion Dollar Babies' trek had infested the American youth.Prime Shock Rock here JUST waiting to be fully experienced.An absolute MUST-HAVE.
Vintage Alice!!! November 12, 2005
tws (Michigan)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
Great to see some vintage early Alice on DVD!!! There are 4 Hidden Easter Eggs total. Here is how to open them Song Selections/"Animal Road"- Left Click 2. Song Selections/"Sick Things"- Right Click 3. Bonus Features/Deleted Scene- Left Click 4.Audio Setup/Alice Cooper Commentary- Right Click I Highly Recommend this DVD!!!
Disappointed in one critical aspect February 10, 2007
Michael J. Price (Butler County, Ohio)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I understand this is an Alice Cooper concert. This Dvd is really a Vincent Furnier show. With Alice Cooper (the band) as his backup. Alice Cooper was originally the collective name of 5 guys in a band. Vince happened to be the lead vocalist.
Let me get to my point. There is practically no close-up footage of Glen Buxton or Michael Bruce(except for when Michael "attacks" Vince during a song). There is a little bit of Neil Smith on drums, very little. You get a little footage of Dennis Dunaway on bass because he is running around a bit and happens to get in frame with Vince. No I'm not a complaining little punk kid. I truly love the Alice Cooper albums with the original 5 guys! I own them all and have played them many, many times over the years. They rank in my top ten bands in my 650 plus cd collection. I really wished the director and camera people would have gotten close footage of the entire "band" here. Also, it is known that a very talented guitarist named Mick Mashbir did ALOT of guitar work on Billion Dollar Babies and Muscle of Love. He is also on this dvd and doing a fantastic job. Again, no close-ups of him. A keyboardist rounds out the ensemble.
As a guitar player I was hoping to see the fingerwork too.
But, having said all this, the audio quality is pretty good here. The separation of the guitarists is nice, and the old classics really do sound good! Get this dvd, lay back and close your eyes and enjoy a truly great BAND playing really good music!
Great commentary from the master himself finally makes this movie work! April 12, 2006
Richard Howard (Sydney, Australia)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
It has taken over 30 years for this movie, in its original version, to finally be officially released! and what a special gem this is, but...
WARNING - i must suggest that ANY new viewer of this movie should firstly watch this movie WITH Alice Cooper's commentary, otherwise you most likely will not fully enjoy it, may even hate it and may never give it another chance which would actually be a pity. why?...
firstly... hard-core Alice fans, who have endured many years of watching average quality versions of the 2nd version of this movie (which saw limited theatrical release in 1974 and had most of the 'comedy' story parts replaced by Alice press conference footage and clips from old Hollywood movies - overall, aside from the live footage, not a very enjoyable viewing experience) and dire quality versions of this original version, will certainly marvel at the quality of this release... and everyone else may complain about the at-times sketchy print, dull picture, or crackly sound. it's sharp and completely watchable, but be prepared for imperfections - this release is from movie prints that have sat unplayed and decaying in some vault for over 30 years! it may as well be antique...
secondly... the live footage, though too darkly filmed, is superb and effectively captures the meyhem of the Billion Dollar Babies show and Alice Cooper's character as a drunken socialist punk of the times. but the movie as a whole - with a 'comical' story line, weaved between the concert footage, of a mentally-deranged German film director (Herr Director) out to seek revenge on the 'Cooper gang' for trashing his film set and walking out on him leaving all hopes of him making a brilliant ground-breaking movie to trash - just doesn't work. it's not that funny, badly directed, badly edited (due to hardly any editing done so the story parts go for way too long), and for some can be rather painful viewing...
HOWEVER... what makes this movie an enjoyable watch is watching it with Alice Cooper commentating through it. he laughs at the absurdity of it (even the bad acting), points out the meanings of the scenes, the inside jokes, the cliches, the 'art' of his live act, is startled himself by the onstage grossness, and most interestingly, talks about the band members and characters including what 'Alice Cooper' meant in America at the time (completely different to Cooper's present onstage character). he managed to turn what seems like a tragic attempt of film-making (which it is) into a deep, dark, and crazy package capturing the essence of a truly decedant time for the band!...
Alice Cooper himself gives you the sense that this movie was made for the band's own pleasure - the band and friends making it 'got it', but no one else did - but now we get to be on the inside and can finally have the chance to understand it and laugh with it, and better understand Alice Cooper too...
2 stars for the story parts...
4 stars for the concert footage...
5 stars for Alice Cooper's commentary...
and 4 stars for the many extras which includes a 'Play Concert Only' option, outtakes and deleted scenes, excerpts of Alice Cooper's charming press conference interview, and the uncensored live version of Unfinished Sweet featuring the omitted footage of the frisky onstage shenanigans!
4 STARS ALL-UP! Good To See You Again, Alice Cooper (get it?)
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