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Going Back (1983)

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Commentaries on this disc:

Commentary 1: Actor Bruce Campbell, screenwriter/director Ron Teachworth and director of photography John Prusak Rating:9.0/10 (1 vote) [graph]Login to vote or review
Reviewed by frankasu03 on June 22nd, 2016:Find all reviews by frankasu03
A very short and sweet film, that is given a short and sweet commentary. This really is for the Bruce Campbell "completists" out there. If you listened to Bruce on any number of his tracks for the "Evil Dead" series or his other works with fellow "Michiganders" like Josh Becker or Rob Tapert, you know the "chin" always delivers. Terrific stories, technical info, and gags aplenty await listeners, every time. In this case, Director Ron Teachworth and the DP John Prusak join co-star Bruce to transport the listener back to Michigan, circa 1982. Shot primarily in Cass City, Michigan, "Going Back" shot most of its' footage over "6 and a half" days, cost $75,000, and utilized actors and non-actors to create a "period-piece" that Bruce calls the "most fun experience I've ever had on a picture." Considering he made no money off the film, and has such an enormous tally of work behind him, that is an impressive statement. Teachworth and Bruce's relationship goes back to his teaching days, and the rapport between them is very warm and congenial. Campbell likes to repeat how much his wife loves seeing him in this early "innocent" portrayal. The trio walk you through the various locales, shot on Teachworth's family farm, and divulge many secrets that "low-budget" filmmakers can use themselves. A fascinating tale involves the film's history with Vestron, which unfortunately went out of business, burying the film in obscurity for nearly 15 years. Campbell loves to point out the anachronisms, especially the appearance of newer models of cars/trucks that appear in a film set in 1964 and 1968. "American Graffiti, eat your heart out!" The "tongue-in-cheek" attitude is delightful, especially when Bruce continues to harp on the central theme, that being "you can never go back." Additional stories pour out of Teachworth. For example, he was able to secure rights to "The Beatles" for a modest sum, since Michael Jackson had not purchased the rights at the time of filming. To feature "Beatles" song and lyrics after the fact would cost many times the films' budget. The best, and most hilarious, stuff comes in the last 20 minutes when Bruce highlights his marvelous mustache. How he has dealt with facial hair in his subsequent work is mentioned, and fans of Bruce will no doubt delight in the details. "Going Back" is a "passion project," no doubt. And this DVD is given a moving and fun commentary, one that Bruce Campbell fans, and those independent movie buffs, can equally delight in. 8.5/10