Born in Dyess, Arkansas, February 26, 1932 to a mother who was a singer and a father who was a farmer, Johnny Cash grew to become one of Country music's biggest icon's. In fact, he was bigger than just Country music alone, he crossed over into many other forms of music, gaining an eclectic legion of fans in his long and illustrious career!

Focusing as much on the bad side of Johnny Cash, as much as it does the good, (Johnny himself admitted that there were two sides to Johnny Cash, Johnny was the nice one and Cash caused all the trouble) this documentary, narrated by John Ross, is made up of old film clips and re-enactments of his life, interspersed with comments from former drummer, W.S. Holland and his brother Tommy Cash. Tommy tells of Jimmie Rogers being John's favourite singer, and how much he loved the old singing cowboys, which is where he found the name, 'The Man In Black'.

From his first band “The Landsburg Barbarions”, we are told about his early experience's with the music business, when, along with Luther Perkins and Grant Marshall, they tried to get an audition at the Sun Records studio in Memphis. He tried a few times to get owner/producer Sam Phillips to hear his music, but he was only successful after camping out on his doorstep one morning waiting for him to arrive. Sam was impressed and with the release of their first single, "Cry, Cry, Cry," Johnny Cash And The Tennessee Two were born.

Johnny's early taste of fame reads more like that expected of a rock star, with him smashing up hotel rooms, not turning up for shows, constantly in trouble with the police and subsequent incarceration, along with, and mainly because of, his addiction to drugs. Kris Kristofferson sums him up well with a line in the song, "He's A Pilgrim", (He's a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction.)

There are re-enactments of how he....along with the other members of the band...would saw through chair and table legs to play pranks on the hotel cleaning staff who would come into the room's after them. In one episode, he even picked up the TV and threw it out of the window of his room, which was a few stories high! Much of this was down to his drug addiction and alcohol and would get him into plenty of trouble with the law.

This time in the Air Force is also well documented and tells of his prowess as a 'Radio Intercept Operator', picking up information, broadcast from Russia. It is said that he was the first to hear about the death of Stalin. His marriage and subsequent divorce from Vivian Laberto is well documented along with his later marriage to June Carter, after she divorced husband Carl Smith. There is also coverage of John's friendship with Elvis Presley, whom, he also came to share the stage with on occasion. He later incorporated impersonation's of 'The King' in his act and there is old film footage of this.

In 1993, when Nashville was more interested in the new, younger acts, and the major labels no longer wanted him, the unlikely alliance with Pop producer Rick Rubin, introduced him to a new and younger audience, with a completely new style. One that would allow him to end his life, where he had been for the most part of his career, right at the top!!

A very enjoyable 2 hours entertainment, that can be picked up for a bargain price if you look around!!