Customer Reviews

"While not perfect, I Bid You Peace is a relavatory journey inside the life of Jeff Smith and the aftermath of his crimes. As a person growing up in that era there were almost no instructional cooking shows available and the few that were, came courtesy of Public Television. I enjoyed Jeff’s enthusiasm, his entertaining banter and his thirst for knowledge. He didn’t always get it right but it was an entirely different time and I appreciate that he tried to introduce his audience to different cultures and cuisines. Imagine my disappointment and disgust on learning about the crimes he had committed and the myriad of people in his life who actively participated in covering it up. The priest who appears in the last few segments is a prime example. Either through complete and utter naivety or willful ignorance (probably a combination), he claims no knowledge of Jeff’s behavior, and when informed, proceeds to brush it aside as a “misunderstanding”. Its victim-blaming and the bully’s excuse in"

"A terrific movie. Well produced, well written, great editing, a very interesting story and engaging interviews with the people who knew the frugal gourmet. All around very well worth the 5 hours of watching and the $20 price. Please make more documentaries about other interesting people!!"

"Great!!!!"

"For a documentary that was almost exclusively made up of interviews , it was excellent. Held my interest and presented a realistic portrayal of a textured and flawed man"

"A good documentary but very repetitive in parts. It could have easily been 3 episodes. It also leaves you with a lot of questions about his marriage and kids after the news broke."

"Very well done, and a pretty even handed treatment of a formerly beloved TV star who turned out to be the very vilest of creatures imaginable, a predatory pedophile. As did so many others, my wife and I adored Jeff Smith, and his weekly shows and special were must see TV for us. The documentary exposes not only the awful and unpleasant side of the TV "character", The Frugal Gourmet and also explores criminal side of the man. Although it's obvious after viewing that like so many I succumbed to and was taken in by the character created for TV by Jeff Smith, the interviews with friends, colleagues and his victims are a useful roadmap for all to see that's what behind the camera is often overlooked when dealing with a very popular and very financially profitable enterprise. On a technical note, the editing and organization of the story, interviews and substance are superb, an excellent telling of a story too long overlooked."

"This is a well done documentary on a story many of us grew up around in the PNW. Maybe “open secret” is the wrong word but it kind of was and it was never unpacked due to the way the legal system viewed these crimes back then. This documentary answers many questions we had but many still remain. Support our independent filmmakers by watching this documentary."

"Very well done but probably could have been done in 4 episodes. A lot of redundancy regarding interviews. Still, Very interesting and quiet disturbing. I don't think I could now watch his cooking show and enjoy it like I once did. It was also very disturbing to hear the priest giving him excuses and the benefit of the doubt through the whole series. He didn't do much to help the priesthood and all the sexual misconduct that occurs in his field if he is willing to accept Smiths behaviors."

"I was fascinated by the documentary. I recall watching the Frugal Gourmet and vaguely recalled his downfall. I found the story presented in the show to be captivating. I binge-watched the episodes."

"Many unaddressed questions. NOTHING about his personal life after he moved to Seattle in the Pike Market double condos away from his family in Tacoma. Was he in relationships gay or straight? Did he have a partner gay or straight? Did he have workplace abuse issues? Huge holes. Why?! One photo was shown with him with a young man at his 60th birthday. The friend interviewed didn’t say much. He should have been pressed or been relegated to the cutting room floor. Too many people interviewed were self-serving and duplicitous."

"It was a tragic and sad documentary. Needs a bit of editing for sections which seem repetitive, but over all, an interesting story about a tragic man. I live in Chicago and remember his show on WTTW."

"I thought it was well-balanced and well-done. It didn’t whitewash the Frugal Gourmet’s less-admirable traits (a temper, alcohol abuse and — most disturbingly — a predilection for teenage boys) but it balances that with positive reflections on his work ethic, his natural, dynamic presence on camera and the degree to which he helped Americans expand their palates. He emerges as a very flawed, complex and ultimately broken human being. I felt the editing was a little self-indulgent: A few too many long, lingering looks at people staring pensively and Seattle/Tacoma skylines. (at one point, I thought, “The director obviously loves architecture.) Overall, however, a very thorough examination of a life that seemed gilded — until the FG’s own self-indulgence, entitlement and lust forever tarnished it."