Bottled Up: The Battle Over Dublin Dr Pepper (2014)
My Review and Thoughts:
Interesting documentary on the aspects of big business and small business and one town holding their name and livelihood. A stunning brilliant biography type documentary on the birth of one of the greatest pop drinks ever Dr Pepper.
Danny Balis does a wonderful fantastic voiceover. He does a great narrative to the movie. The documentary is directed wonderfully and places the viewer there during the interviews and you become a part of the situation and you can't help but feel sorry for this local town who had prided themselves on the idea of being the bottling company and the true home of Pure Sugar Dr Pepper. When it was taken from them it seems very tragic and it showcases that struggle and ultimate anger and betrayal of what happened.
Directed by editor and cinematographer and director Drew Rist. Rist does a fantastic and stunning job and captures the basis in reality of a biography of the town and of the subject matter with the crystal clarity of understanding.
Dr Pepper debuted in Waco, Texas in 1885. The beginning of a soft drink legend. The town of Dublin Texas would become the true master of pure Sugar Cane Dr. Pepper after the Dr. Pepper and sodas in the 70's and 80's changed there formula but one small Franchise Company in Dublin Texas decided to stay the original. A franchise owned bought and created by Sam Houston Prim in 1920 still used the original recipe up until 2012, 120 years of a masterpiece. Sadly Dr. Pepper went to High Fructose Corn Syrup and the struggle with a copyright of the name began a legal battle that would destroy the independently owned Dr Pepper plant that became a legend and served Dublin Dr Pepper with Cane sugar.
The Dr Pepper organization did not like the idea that an independently owned franchise was using the name Dublin Dr Pepper and did not change the formula. Now the pure sugar cane Dublin Dr. Pepper got to the point that people were seeking out the sugarcane Dr Pepper instead of the high corn syrup Dr Pepper resulting in losses of money and also going against the company by using the title Dublin Dr Pepper. In reality this town Dublin Texas, Dublin Dr Pepper created tons of jobs, created a town, it was the Towns' livelihood and make up and Dr Pepper took that livelihood and legend and destroyed it even though it was their product. They couldn't stand that the product was not specifically they're doing and the horrible idea that Dublin, a simple name that was and should have been important to them because it being, one of the first franchises of Dr. Pepper.
In the 1970's and 1980's most soda companies switched to High fructose corn syrup because of the price of pure sugar went up, but basically it was politics. So instead of the real deal they decided to use the fake stuff. But Dublin Texas Dr Pepper company decided not to switch the product and use pure cane sugar. Bigwig company Dr Pepper decided to sue the company that they could not use the name Dublin Dr Pepper of course the bigwigs won and Dublin was stricken from the bottle and the franchise of Dublin Dr Pepper basically ceased to exist, the company folded there sales of Dublin Dr. Pepper. It still serves other soda drinks but the franchise and the legend that it was, was no longer.
The big wig Dr Pepper company still decided to sell pure sugar Dr Pepper locally in certain towns of Texas in small bottles, but the legend and the masterpiece that was Dublin Dr Pepper sadly no longer existed. You see the appeal of the legend is, it still used the original bottles. The point was you had to return a six pack bottle before you could buy more, creating a wonderful nostalgia.
It's sad that all the amazing wonderment's of the past are slowly fading away. Small towns, Ma and Pa stores, simple wonderful picnics and town get-together, small local companies, legends slowly fading away as big business takes over.
This is a must see, must own documentary. Its a true shining piece of Americana and the art and beauty and struggle of one local town and the legend they created and sadly the destruction of Dublin Dr. Pepper.
I highly recommend this doc. This is how you create a memorable piece of investigative and an informative documentary. I enjoyed the emotional reality and the love of this town and the ultimate tears and sadness of it's truth and wonderment. I loved it trying to hold on to the beauty and the freedom of true nostalgia and the glory days of young America. I loved it trying to hold the birthright of being one business shining and living through yesteryear's, when small towns counted.
This is a must see, must own documentary. Its a true shining piece of Americana and the art and beauty and struggle of one local town and the legend they created and sadly the destruction of Dublin Dr. Pepper.
I highly recommend this doc. This is how you create a memorable piece of investigative and an informative documentary. I enjoyed the emotional reality and the love of this town and the ultimate tears and sadness of it's truth and wonderment. I loved it trying to hold on to the beauty and the freedom of true nostalgia and the glory days of young America. I loved it trying to hold the birthright of being one business shining and living through yesteryear's, when small towns counted.