DVD Corner

Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got Review

“Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got” offers up an insightful glimpse into the world of Artie Shaw.

Long unavailable, 1985’s “Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got” is at long last getting released with an exquisite brand new 4K restoration. The documentary film (which won an Oscar for Best Documentary) was directed, written, produced, and narrated by Brigitte Berman who had previously directed another documentary about jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke. With this feature, the focus was on the titular bandleader, jazz icon, and clarinetist Artie Shaw who is perhaps best known for his smash hit “Begin The Beguine.” The biographical documentary covers Shaw’s life from childhood to the present at the time of the film’s release in the 80’s. Shaw tells his own story through interviews alongside archival footage, stills, newly shot footage and interviews with band members, friends, loved ones, and musicians like Buddy Rich and Mel Torme. 

The documentary covers a lot of ground. Of course, his music career is heavily featured here whether it be with his various bands that came and went or his collaboration with Billie Holiday. There are even several music tracks spotlighted with Shaw putting on his own records. Outside of that, there’s all manner of stories about his numerous marriages (to the likes of Lana Turner and Ava Gardner), his passion for writing, his time in the Navy, and the circumstances that led him to leave America and move to Spain.

Biographical documentaries are certainly nothing new, but this one is more intimate than the usual fare. Perhaps it’s because it’s in Shaw’s own words. Having him reflect on his own life and detail his experiences really sheds more light into who this man is. He’s a very intelligent, complicated, and opinionated fellow who is perhaps honest to a fault (see the stories of him criticizing his own fans). He is also a musical genius who turns out to be self-taught! All of this attributes make Shaw nothing short of fascinating and the time really flies by as he regales Berman (and the audience) with his extraordinary life story. 

“Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got” is slated for a VOD/Digital release from Film Movement April 25, 2025. A Blu-ray release is also scheduled for May 27th.

April 21, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Movie Review | Artie Shaw, Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got Movie Review, Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got Review, documentary, Jazz, Oscars