Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender

Although Freddie Mercury's (1946-1991) career with Queen has been well documented, this BBC profile also covers his activities outside of the group. Band members and associates, including guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and manager Jim Beach, offer present-day reflections, while archival footage allows the ever-witty Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara in Tanzania) to speak for himself. Rhys Thomas's documentary begins with a look at Mercury's mutual admiration society with Michael Jackson (Mercury signed a whopping deal with Jackson's CBS label, which caused some friction with his colleagues). Mercury recorded his 1985 solo debut, Mr. Bad Guy, in Munich, where he lived more openly gay than he ever did in London. Mercury also felt more comfortable being himself in Manhattan, where he plunged into the club scene, eventually bringing his passion for disco to Queen with mixed results. If the Chic-inspired "Another One Bites the Dust" became a hit, Mercury's solo album was a flop, although it didn't deter him from releasing the 1988 follow-up Barcelona, a collaboration with opera singer Montserrat Caballé and lyricist Tim Rice. Other speakers here include producer Reinhold Mack and comedian Matt Lucas, who attended the 1991 vigil for Mercury. The Great Pretender covers some of the same ground as the BBC special Queen: Days of Our Lives (VL-5/12), but still offers a fascinating portrait of a complex and often misunderstood figure. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)