简介：Thisexciting,86-minutevideoofEllaFitzgerald'slifeandcareer,directedbyCharlotteZwerin,highlightsaspectsofherprivatelifeandcombinesthatpersonalstorywithextensivefootageofsomeofherearlyperformances.NarratedbyTonyBennett,andcontainingexcerptsfromherlonginterviewwithAndrePrevin,thebiorangeswidelyintimeandplace,fillinginimportantbiographicalinformation,atthesametimethatitfocusesonherdevelopmentasasinger. Fromherearliestdayswhenshewasanaspiringdancer,welearnofherdifficultiesathome,andfollowingthedeathofhermother,herpossibleabusebyherstepfather.Afterescapingfromagirls'reformatory,shegoesontheroadwithChickWebb,whomentorsher,andfollowinghisdeathshegetsthe"greatesteducationI'veeverhad"--singingbebop.Playingtheroleofahorn(vocally),shelearnstoimitateitssoundexactly,withherperfectpitch,anditisthroughthisimitationofthetrumpetthatshecreatesandbecomesanexpertonscat. NormanGranz,whobecamehermanagerfrom1953throughherdeathin1997,makesjazz"classy,"refusingtoallowracialdiscriminationinthehallswhereEllaperforms,arrangingperformancesofjazzatthePhilharmonic,andmakinghismusiciansfeelimportant.ThroughtheGreatAmericanSongbookserieswhichhearrangesforher,Ellagainsmanynewfans,andhernumerousTVperformancesmakehernameahouseholdword. WonderfulclipsofEllasingingwithNatKingCole,LouisArmstrong(whocracksherup),FrankSinatra,JimmyDurante,aMelTormesoyounghisvoiceisstillalmostsoprano,andeveninatriowithJoanSutherlandandDinahShore,showEllaasatrouper,havingfun,enjoyingthecompanyoftheseotherfamousstars,andalwayshittingeverynote. Thoughshehadadifficultpersonallife,Ella,asseenhere,isoftenplayful,singingwildcountryandwesternanda"soul"pieceataLondonconcert,aterrificmedleyofchildren'ssongswithBingCrosby,inwhichshesingsscatwhilehewhistles,andevenanamazingtuneinwhichshesingsvirtuallyeveryinstrumentintheband. Manyofhermostfamoussongsarefeatured:"SweetGeorgiaBrown,""Misty,"1968's"Summertime,""LadyisaTramp"withFrankSinatra,and"Azure(InAnAzureMood)."ShowingEllaontheroadduringherentire58-yearcareer,thisvideobringshertolifeonceagainandinspiresourevengreaterappreciation.…