Off the Menu:Last Day at Chase

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Product Details

Director : Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
Format : NTSC
Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 9780767020510
Product Group : Video
Release Date : 2002-06-01
Studio : Sma Distribution
UPC : 733961551730

ASIN : 0767020510

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

It has been said that when you are sick, nobody calls you, but when you die, everyone wants to come to the funeral. So it was with Chasen's, the legendary Hollywood restaurant that opened its doors in 1936. In its heyday, every night was like a premiere and every table was filled with stars. In more recent years, however, Chasen's was shunned by contemporary Hollywood who preferred trendier and hipper eateries. Finally, after more than six decades, it was sold to a strip-mall developer and, in April 1995, was slated to close. Suddenly, Chasen's was the hottest reservation in town.

A feast for film buffs, Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's chronicles in glorious archival footage and with interviews the glamorous history and bittersweet demise of one of the last bastions of a bygone era. The restaurant's frantic and tumultuous final weeks play out against the backdrop of poignant reminiscences of loyal patrons and the venerable staff. What Sam and Sasha were to Rick's in Casablanca, bartender Pepe Ruiz (creator of a drink called the Flame of Love), kitchen supervisor Raymond Bilbool, and irrepressible waiter Tommy Gallagher were to Chasen's. Pardon the pun, but they can really dish.

In Chasen's final days, Hollywood's elite tried to crash the party. Sylvester Stallone was turned away. One waiter remarks that Ed McMahon phoned him at home, called him by name, and asked if he could get McMahon a table. "It was the first time he ever called me 'Steve,'" the waiter laughs. "Usually he just called me 'waiter.'" From the star-studded film clips to such Tums-inducing sights as Rod Steiger eating lunch, memories--as Dean Martin croons on the soundtrack--are made of this. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Great documentary! (2004-03-11)

"Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's" is the best documentary I've seen in a long time. The documentary catches the audience and in a fascinating and human way describes the atmosphere, the staff who dedicated their lives serving the stars, but also deals with the evolution in the restaurant business that played a role in the closing of this famous Hollywood restaurant. It's a great documentary! Buy it!

** "IT'S OVER 20 YEARS OLD...TEAR IT DOWN !" *** (2003-12-09)

THAT'S HOW JAY LENO JOKES WHEN INTERVIEWED IN THIS DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A LOS ANGELES LEGEND CALLED CHASEN'S. THE HEARSE IN THE OPENING SEQUENCE MAY AS WELL BE CARRYING THE SOUL OF ALL THE FAMOUS PATRONS WHO EVER VISITED THE FAMED RESTUARANT. TORN DOWN TO MAKE WAY FOR A MORE PROFITABLE MALL, CHASEN'S NOW LIVES ON ONLY IN THIS DOCUMENTARY. OVER THE YEARS, THE CLIENTELLE INCLUDED THE BIGGEST STARS IN HOLLYWOOD, BUT THE REAL STAR OF THIS FILM IS CHASEN'S.****RENT OR BUY IT ! *******

Tasty Stuff (2003-03-04)

I celebrated my 30th birthday at Chasens as well as a few others years later. I've also attended partys there, one before the place closed and later, when the location was used as a 'rent-out'. The film really captured the flavor of the establishment and has a great deal of heart.

Some viewers may not be able to relate to the material, especially if they never dined at Chasens. However I found it fascinating. My uncle knew Dave Chasen and ate there every week, it was his favorite place and he's eaten all over the world. At any rate, I thought the movie was great.

Most boring documentary ever! (2002-09-22)

This must be the WORST documentary I have ever watched. I love Hollywood legends & I love old LA restaurants. Musso & Franks and Cantors on Fairfax were favorites when I was working out there. I never got to Chasens & would have loved to know more about it, but all I saw in this awful thing were a bunch of unhappy soon-to-be-ex-employees grousing repeatedly about their sad lot & the "good old days" but no evidence at all of the latter. 60 years of history, yet nothing at all about the menu, the decor, no details about the clientele other than that they were "stars". Well, maybe the medium is the message here & it was nothing but fame walking in & out the door & people sneeking a peek, but the food was really mediocre along with the decor. Lucky they lasted as long as they did I guess. Certainly the owners & employees I saw kvetching up on the screen didn't make me regret never going there.

Fabulous! (2000-03-10)

More than a documentary on a Hollywood hot-spot, "Off the Menu" speaks about a rare crew of people who have dedicated their lives to serving the stars. This eclectic and engaging group arrests the audience with their dedication, sorrow, and, in some cases, flamboyance. The most human film I've seen in a long time.

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