Just when you think you've heard it all . . .

As a university music professor who teaches a class about the history of popular music, I was rather surprised and intrigued to come upon the story of Dean Reed. I must admit, I had never heard of him. When I travel I always try to visit local museums, grave sites, etc., that relate to popular music, and when recently planning to visit Denver, CO, Reed's name began to appear in my on-line searches. For those who like a good story with lots of twists, Reed's is one to explore. It's amazing (to me) the kind of career he had. Do the same conditions exist today to produce another person like Reed? In many ways, he predates artists like Bono, who realize life is not about taking, but about giving. Very interesting DVD. Get the books, as well!

Dean Reed deserves to be remembered

Being somebody who grew up in the GDR, experienced the reunification of Germany first hand, and who in 1996 moved to Canada I can tell you that this is a good documentary. Like Dean Reed I can fortunately draw comparisons between societies. Most of us socialists (yes - that's what we called ourselves) were very aware of the advantages AND disadvantages living in the GDR brought upon us. We were no brainwashed dummies. Neither was Dean Reed. And he really did make socialism a little bit better by singing his songs. Unlike Dean Reed I took my home country for granted and did not share his passion for our society to the same degree, but up to today I also don't put it down. I had a good life growing up, and getting "Peace, Friendship and Solidarity" hammered into my brain has not done me any harm either. Unfortunately the reality of our "socialism" did not quite live up to its own definition.
I highly respect Dean Reed's idealism and his willingness to fight for others. He had a case of "GDR nostalgia" when it was not cool like it is today. He deserves to be remembered, if only for his efforts to bridge cultures.
May Steven Spielberg do him justice.

American Rebel

The film reflects the story of an amazing American hero called Dean Reed who travelled the world singing and promoting world peace. The film is a documentary which talks about his life and his political journey. Unfortunately he was much more popular outside of the US than inside and he was often threaten by American reactionary elements who never accepted his left wing views.

A must see for progressive thinkers.

Accurate and Wonderful

This is an accurate picture of Dean Reed's life and life in general behind the "Iron Curtain". This documentary is kept plain and simple and to the point, no opinionated propaganda, just the life of an American socialist (not communist - that is two different things)who lived and stood for and fought for his ideas. Every-day life in (mostly) East Germany is shown through this film. This is a historical document, that perfectly captured the images of the past, a past that is also my own past.

The Best Introduction to Dean Reed

This documentary film, made in 1985 with its subject's input, is the best introduction to the life and work of Dean Reed (1938-1986). Reed was an American rock singer/actor who turned Communist in the early 1960s and found fame throughout the Iron Curtain world in the 1960s-1970s. He sang a wide range of material (rock, folk & country), acted in South American, Italian and East German films and TV (eventually directing a few films himself) and was a loyal Red political activist. A household name throughout the Communist world, he was all but unknown in his home country. He died under mysterious circumstances in East Berlin in 1986.

This well-made film features interviews with archival performance footage, clips from Reed's films and TV shows, interviews with Reed's parents, fans and friends (including Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers), as well as Dean Reed himself. And of course, plenty of Dean Reed music.

Reed deserves to be remembered. If you don't know who Dean Reed was, this is the place to start learning.