Camp (MGM)
How appropriate it was that this delightful original screen musical should be
released by MGM -- the ghosts of the Freed Unit must have smiled!
Broadway veteran Todd Graff wrote, produced and directed this
heartwarming look at life in a performing arts summer camp. The DVD
edition includes a fun selection of deleted and extended scenes, as well
as a better than usual "making of" featurette. Highly recommended!
Carol Channing & Pearl Bailey on Broadway
(Image)
A 1969 TV special brought together Broadway's most beloved Hello Dolly
stars, with mixed results that most musical theatre buffs are going to relish. Some
of the material choices are a tad strange, but we get to see both
Channing and Bailey at their peak in select solos and skits --
Channing's Dietrich imitation remains a classic, as does her Cecilia
Sisson routine. No special features, but great sound and picture
quality.
Chicago (Miramax)
The wonderful big screen version of this beloved stage musical makes for
exceptional entertainment, and there have been various DVD editions. Be
sure to get one that includes the full length commentary by director Rob
Marshall and screenwriter Bill Condon -- informative, and at times
surprising. Fans will delight in the cut number "Class," and
there is an enjoyable "making of" featurette.
A Christmas Carol (Hallmark)
Much as I loved Kelsey Grammer on Cheers and Frasier, I loathed his
self-indulgent performance here. Perhaps if the producer had been
someone other than his wife, somebody might have reigned the big boy in.
As it is, a very enjoyable stage musical becomes a tedious TV special.
such Broadway veterans as Jane Krakowski and Jason Alexander do their
damnedest, and the Lynn Ahrens-Alan Menken score is top notch. I can't
imagine too many people caring much about the director's commentary. A
nicely packaged DVD, but in my opinion this weak production never needed
to be released at all.
Chu Chin Chow (VCI)
If you think lousy long-running British musicals are a relatively recent
phenomenon, check out this extended yawn that held a West End stage for
more than two thousand performances during World War I. The plot is a
reworking of the Ali Baba legend, with the famous "open sesame" cave
and a climactic scene where thieves hidden in jars are killed by means
of boiling oil. The songs give no clue as to why this thing was once a
phenomenon. The ambitious two disc DVD edition gives a veritable ton of
extras, including a commentary track, galleries and bonus music tracks.
Filmed in 1934, the sound and picture have been restored as much as
technology allows; I fear it is all more than this film deserves. Tireless
students of the British musical -- and Anna May Wong fans -- may be fascinated,
but most everyone else can miss this one without regret.
Cinderella (TV 1957 - Image)
The 1957 broadcast of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was
long considered lost, but a full kinescope copy eventually turned up.
Now recovered and lovingly restored, it provides a magical
window into the golden age of musical theatre at its zenith. Julie
Andrews was in the midst of her run in My Fair Lady, and her
youthful glow animates every scene she is in. The R&H score is
packed with great songs, and the all-star cast of Broadway veterans
gives their all throughout. A charming documentary has interviews with
surviving cast members, and we also get an interesting appearance by the
songwriters on the Ed Sullivan Show. A magical taste of a lost era.
Cinderella (TV 1964 -
Columbia/Goldwyn)
The 1964 remake of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella is another
delight. The libretto is more traditional, the full color production
sometimes borders on the garish, but the performances are uniformly
excellent, and it is easy to see why this version became an annual
staple on network television for more than a decade. Leslie Ann Warren
is a winning Cinderella, Stuart Damon is the perfect Prince Charming,
and Celeste Holm is a wonderful Fairy Godmother. The leads share
memories of the production in a brief featurette. Great for kids or
adults.
Cinderella (TV 1997 - Disney)
An abortion from start to finish. High ratings and frequent rebroadcasts
cannot make a silk purse out of this sow's ear of a production, which
amounted to a desecration of Rodgers & Hammerstein's only original
TV musical. Stick to the earlier versions.
Damn Yankees (WB/Turner)
A decent widescreen remastering. No special features to speak of -- a
commentary track would have made sense here -- but we do get to see most
of the original Broadway cast strutting its stuff, with choreographer
Bob Fosse joining Gwen Verdon for the delightful "Who's Got the
Pain." However, the DVD edition offers nothing you wouldn't get by
catching a rerun on TV.
De-Lovely (MGM)
Although this Cole Porter bio pic tries to be more frank about his
private life that Night and Day, the results are far from
accurate and infinitely less entertaining. Kevin Kline is great in the
lead, but most of the musical numbers are very badly handled. Putting
these songs in the mouths of clueless pop contemporary singers was a
stupid idea. Two commentary tracks, deleted scenes and a "making
of" featurette are not enough to make a DVD of this embarrassment
worth owning.
Easter Parade (WB/Turner)
It took a long time for this one to get to DVD, but it was worth the
wait. Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, a score by Irving Berlin -- pure
musical comedy heaven! Along with the handsomely restored film, we get
excellent commentary by Astaire's daughter Ava and Garland biographer
John Fricke, a "making of" featurette, and the sensational PBS
American Masters profile of Judy Garland. There is also an audio of a
radio version with the original stars, and Garland's famed outtake of
Berlin's "Mr. Monotony." A super film and a super package --
highly recommended!
Evita (Hollywood Pictures)
The DVD has no added features, so you may as well catch this on a TV
rerun. The film itself is a handsome and entertaining adaptation of the
long-running stage hit. Madonna has shortcomings as an actress, but this
production plays to her strong points and keeps her eye-poppingly
costumed and moving at top speed. The real surprise is Antonio Banderas,
who proved to be that big screen rarity, a sex symbol who can actually
sing. The score is reasonably served; as a fan of the stage version, I
was not disappointed.
Fiddler On the Roof (MGM)
A tad too long, but other than that this was a fine film adaptation of a
great stage musical. The DVD release (a single two sided disc) includes
some nifty extras, including a very informative commentary by director
Norman Jewison and star Chaim Topol, a deleted number ("Any Day
Now"), as well as a featurette on the director and a rare look at
how scenes in the film moved from storyboard to final product. Well
worth the reasonable sticker price, and a great way to revisit Anatevka.
Follies in Concert (Image)
A memorable behind the scenes look at the historic all-star 1985 concert
staging of Stephen Sondheim's Follies, with a generous selection of
performance clips. Highlights include Elaine Stritch's "Broadway
Baby, Met diva Licia Albanese singing "One More Kiss," and
several ravishing numbers by Barbara Cook -- but its all beyond good. No
special features, but worth owning, if only so one does not have to fast
forward through the PBS fundraising breaks that plagued every broadcast
of this classic.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum (MGM)
There are no special features (sorry MGM, but calling one folded page a
"collectible booklet" is just plain silly), so you'll do just
as well seeing this one on TV. It is the only time Zero Mostel got to
recreate one of his musical stage roles on film, and for that alone it
is well worth watching -- but we also get Jack Gilford and Phil Silvers
showing what great mid-20th Century comedy was all about. Michael
Crawford plays one of the dippy ingénue roles that he specialized in
before he donned the Phantom's mask, and director Richard Lester keeps
the comedy flowing.
Funny Face (Paramount)
Great Gershwin songs, Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, a knockout
performance by behind-the-scenes legend Kay Thompson, direction by
Stanley Donen -- I'm there! Unfortunately, the DVD release has no
worthwhile special features (A "Paramount in the 1950s"
featurette? Oy!), so you can save your money and catch this delicious
film on a TV rerun.
Funny Girl (Columbia)
One of the best screen adaptations of a Broadway musical, this film
marked Barbra Streisand's ascent to mega-stardom. As entertainment, it
cannot be beat. The DVD restoration looks and sounds
"gorgeous," but aside from
two featurettes about Streisand, the special features are nothing
to talk about. I have just as much fun seeing this one on TCM.
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