Janis Little Girl Blue * * * *

Do you miss me Honey?
We sure do Janis, we sure do.

 So on Wednesday I saw a documentary on a legendary American Lady (Jackie), and today I saw a documentary on another legendary American Lady.

    I don’t know how many docos there have been on Janis Joplin but I’m guessing this would be the fourth I have seen. Nevertheless it remains welcome.

    Letters and correspondence from her past have been uncovered and her siblings have been generous in sharing their memories.  Genuine childhood friends have stepped forward, and all surviving members of Big Brother And The Holding Company are interviewed (all looking surprisingly healthy and unscathed).

     There is also a collection of photos and some footage I don’t recall having seen before.

     But I guess the thing is, how well is all this material put together.

    Amy J. Berg is an experienced film maker, especially in documentaries and her professionalism and surety is clear in the making of this film.

    In the main it remains a chronological biography.  The unkindness and bullying that Janis endured as a teenager is discussed once again as being a driving force behind her determination to make it.

    One of the things that come across in this documentary is her intelligence. Even in her most casual letters she is witty, perceptive and creative.

    A lot of this footage you will have seen before, but it does bare a re-showing, especially Monterey of course.  Interestingly that legendary piece of film nearly didn’t happen thanks to Big Brothers Manager trying to play hard ball with the film crew on that day.

    Overall it’s a strong re-telling of the life of one of rocks greatest singers. If there is any weakness  it seems to wrap up the Full Tilt Boogie band era in a few minutes  We could have also done without the gormless opinion of some some lesser contemporary singers tagged on to the end.