Editorial Review

If your favorite part of a football game is when the marching band takes the field, then you're going to love Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Compilation
• Original recording reissued
• NTSC

Reviews (86)

You thought this was good...
You should see it live.One reviewer earlier mentioned that the DVD is a teaser, it may be to those who have seen the show, but to the uninformed, the DVD makes a great prepper.

Energy and Precision
This is simply the best DVD I have ever seen.I have seen the stage production, and the only thing missing from the DVD is the trumpet slide malfunction I witnessed (the tuning slide for the third valve flew off and landed on the side of the stage during some of the high speed movements.As a former trumpet player and drum major I may be slightly biased, but think about what they did...
BLAST-THE MUSICAL
WHAT A SHOW. I'M AN OLD BRASS PLAYER FROM THE 70'S WHEN THE DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS WERE IN THEIR INFANCY. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS, BUT NONE COMPARE TO THIS. THESE GUYS AND GALS START WITH ONE INSTRUMENT, CHANGE TO ANOTHER, PICK UP A FLAG OR RIFLE-LIKE OBJECT (WHAT WAS THAT?) AND SO ON. THERE WAS NO LACK OF TALENT HERE. IF I HADN'T SEEN MAYNARD FERGUSON, I WOULD HAVE SWORN HE DIED AND WAS RE-INCARNATED IN ONE OF THE TRUMPETS. AND THE ENERGY...IT WAS NON STOP FROM ONE FORMATION TO ANOTHER. THEN THE DRUMS-THE DRUMS-ACTUALLY THE SNARE DRUMMER-HE ALONE WOULD DESTROY THE ENTIRE ENSEMBLE OF THE PERCUSSIONISTS IN THE MOVIE "DRUM LINE". I'M TALKING FROM ALL OF THE SCHOOLS REPRESENTED IN THAT FILM! THEN THEY SANG. IS THERE NO END TO THEIR TALENT? I FELT LIKE I WAS WATCHING RIVERDANCE, ONLY REPLACE THE DANCERS WITH DRUM CORPS MEMBERS. ACTUALLY, COMPARATIVELY RIVERDANCE IS A CADILLAC, BUT BLAST! IS THE BENTLEY. IT TAKES ALOT TO IMPRESS THIS OLD BAND GUY. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Jazz    2. Performing Arts - Theater    3. Pop    4. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

Before Andrew Lloyd Webber took over Broadway with his operatic productions and Tim Rice tossed in his lot with Disney's animated musicals, they were the young turks of musical theater and their rock opera Read more

Features

• Closed-captioned
• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (218)

Disappoints
The problems with the DVD production are the lead actors. Jerome Pradon is totally unsuited to the role. He might be a good actor, but when he squeaks and whines through rock numbers, it physically hurts my ears. He's best watched when he's silent. Glenn Carter made an brilliant Simon Zealotes on the 1996 recording, and I was very interested in seeing what else he had done, but he disappointed here. Not only his acting range limited, he was only moderately better than Pradon. Renee Castle sounded beautiful, but was brought down by the decision to cry at the end of 'I Don't Know How To Love Him', appearing very tacky.
Plenty of good, plenty of bad
Firstly let me say I was having sound troubles with my player, so had to listen to the whole thing on soft. From what I could hear, the vocals and music were great - plenty of quality voices - but who knows what I've missed from if I'd been able to play it louder!
Glenn is Jesus!
this man is brilliant as Jesus. I love him. I have this soundtrack and now i'm trying to find this copy in my house so i can watch him.They say on the making of this film that he does look a little bit like Jesus, with the curly hair and bright blue eyes.Glenn, what more can i say about him. This is the most brilliant and beloved stories of all time. I love this movie. I don't think i want to the show though live. My favorite songs that he sings, i think is: The Last Supper, Hosanna, trial before Pilate and that's it (that's not a song.) Glenn is wonderful by this dvd. Bye ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Movie    2. Musicals    3. Musicals & Cast Recordings   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

Brilliant portrayal of medieval politics...
Here's another fine installment from the Broadway Theatre Archive. As usual, there are no extras on the disc, but in this case, the feature more than makes up for it.Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie    3. Performing Arts - Theater   

Editorial Review

Blythe Danner gives a luminous performance in this Tennessee Williams classic. Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (5)

"I may be eccentric but not so eccentric I do not have the need for ordinary human love."
Written in 1964, Eccentricities of a Nightingale, like several other Tennessee Williams plays, focuses on a neurasthenic young woman for whom time has stood still.Unmarried, Alma Winemiller fails to belong to the local society of Glorious Hill.Though she is a singer and teaches music, her exaggerated gestures and her personal tics make her an object of pity and even mockery within the town, and her minister father often reprimands her for her peculiarities, which he believes reflect badly upon his position.Her mother, mentally ill, is hidden upstairs, and Alma and her father fear Alma may have inherited her mother's illness.
Excellent production of a rare Williams play
Outstanding performance by a luminous Blythe Danner and a wonderfully underplayed Frank Langella. We enjoyed this much more than "Summer and Smoke".

A Fabulous Peice of Acting
I saw this work many years ago and it has stayed with me all this time. It stands out as masterful acting by Miss Danner; her work is touching and delicate. The play is a work of genus. It is too bad that is it not known as well as some of Tennessee Williams other works. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Drama    2. Movie    3. Performing Arts - Theater    4. TV Shows   

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (1)

"I never could make out what duty was, meself."
Frank O'Connor's famous short story becomes a stage play by Neil McKenzie in this Broadway Theatre Archives production, directed by John Desmond.Set in Ireland in 1921, the waning days of the fight for Irish independence, the play, like the short story, emphasizes the futility of war as two Irishmen capture two British soldiers while the British soldiers are bird-watching.Assigned to guard them in an Irish cottage for three weeks, the Irish soon discover that the British, like them, are country people who have been doing what they are expected to do by those in charge of their "side." None of them are really committed to the bloodshed which has marked this horrific war for independence.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Filmed Stage Plays    2. Movie    3. Performing Arts - Theater   

Editorial Review

The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra's 2001 concert production of Stephen Sondheim's witty shocker is musically superb and (even without scenery) theatrically effective. The performers are in costume and use a few essential props such as Todd's razor, but more than these details the quality of their singing and acting makes this production stand out. It looks like a final seal of approval at the end when Sondheim comes out, smiling, to take a bow. Read more

Features

• Color
• NTSC

Reviews (37)

An excellent rendition
This is a really great concert version of Sweeny Todd. I saw the DVD with George Hearn and Angela Lansbury and I think nobody could top those two together, but Patti Lu Pone does Mrs. Lovett in her own way and it DEFINITELY works. I also think George Hearn needs to be congratulated on not loosing his touch in over 20 years.
The Definitive Version
To me, a great Sweeney fan, musically this concert version is the definitive version.I have one major criticism and that is the inability of Patti Lupone to come even close to a Cockney accent.Being English myself, this was a major irritant.Sheclips many of our counties to come up with the hybrid dialect she seems satisifed with.I can find no excuse for this given that there are plenty of first class musical actresses who could have produced a more authentic character.I am surprised at the Director for cutting corners in this way.It was interesting to note that many of the cast didn't even try an English accent!Sweeney Todd is essentially English.Can you imagine the criticisms if a DVD of a concert version of Oklahoma was released done in a Cockney accent?However, in all other areas this concert version achieves a quality that many stage productions have lacked.You are forced to 'attend' this tale and pay close attention to the brilliance of the harmonies, the cleverness of the lyrics and the glorious ensemble voices.George Hearn emits the kind of disturbing evil which lingers longer than most.His presence is electric.All other members of this fine cast are superb. If you love Sondheim then buy this DVD without hesitation.You will play it over and over again.Just try to ignore the mish-mash of accents!
Exceptional
I highly recommend this version of the show.I saw it live in SF and was delighted to catch it on PBS and now on DVD.The singing and performances are excellent.I have the DVD of the original as well and have heard Angela Lansbury is legendary.While I really loved Angela Lansbury I felt Patti LuPone brought a realness to the role that was funny and entertaining and much more preferrable.George Hearn is exceptional as well as Neil Patrick Harris.The orechestra is fantastic and this show is as close to perfect a production as I have seen. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Movie    2. Music Video    3. Musicals    4. Musicals & Cast Recordings    5. Musicals (Theatrical)    6. Performance    7. V/a Compilations   

Editorial Review

Elegantly written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, Read more

Features

• Color
• Original recording remastered
• Restored
• NTSC

Reviews (4)

Dame Rosemary Harris Please!
When will Rosemary Harris get her damehood in real life? After watching her act as Julie Cavendish in the Royal Family, I have to admit that she is one of England's finest actresses. I like seeing her with Eva La Gallienne and Mary Louise Wilson. I didn't care for the daughter. The play itself is outdated but the cast is worth watching. In researching Eva La Gallienne, I couldn't believe such an actress existed to create and work in the theater for love. Eva's performance is a reminder of such a great American dame of the theater not to be forgotten. I have read the biographies of this woman's life, difficult and passionate. She was truly an example of greatness in theater.

Le Gallienne treasure
This is a must video to see. A disappointment.....
I am afraid this play is not of great interest. The plot is rather bland (nothing much "happens" here). The action is static. But worst, much of the acting is not believable. Worst here is the son "Tony" (portrayed by Ellis Rabb), who comes across as a dime store Kevin Kline. Rosemary Harris, portraying Julie Cavendish, is the only particularly likeable character in this drama. Read more

Subjects:  1. Comedy    2. General   

Editorial Review

Kevin Kline directs and stars in this first-rate production of Shakespeare's most famous play. Originally produced by Joseph Papp for the New York Shakespeare Festival, this version was adapted by Kline and television director Kirk Browning for PBS. While one occasionally longs for the live audience reaction, the television production does offer the advantage of seeing Read more

Features

• NTSC

Reviews (8)

I've Waited For This For Over 10 Years
As it says in my profile, I love almost everything Shakespearian.I saw this production on PBS's Great Performances, back in 1990, & I've been looking for it in some form ever since.So when I found it on DVD at Amazon.com I leaped at it.
Mixed Matter
I have mixed feelings about this Hamlet; there are some things about it I emphatically do not like, and others I emphatically do like.
From the Broadway theater archive
William Shakespeare's Hamlet directed and starring Kevin Kline.Read more

Editorial Review

Brilliant performances from an amazing cast highlight this piece of modern theater history. James Earl Jones stars as Lear in this digitally remastered recording of a live performance in the park. (If you've ever wished you could see one of Joseph Papp's legendary New York Shakespeare Festival productions, this is your chance.) The crowd reactions add a layer to the play by helping to bring the excellent production to life. The direction is vibrant, keeping both a reverence for Shakespeare's work and the importance of entertaining a crowd in mind. The astonishing supporting cast includes Rosalind Cash, Paul Sorvino, Rene Auberjonois, and Raul Julia, and a remarkable performance by Douglass Watson as Kent. Read more

Features

• Color
• Original recording remastered
• Restored
• NTSC

Reviews (7)

OF ALL THE KING LEAR'S THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST RECORDED
and that includes Ran.
The Best I've Seen
"Lear" is not an easy play to watch by any standard, or in any medium.Anyone who has ever wished that he or she had more money or property to leave to his or her children would do well to watch this one.Poor families get along better, believe me.
Superb
This Movie gave me an actual reason to like shakespears writing and plays.There was superb acting by all the actor and actresses and mainly Mr. James Earl Jones.Just watching his anger and how it progressed through the play just gave a new meaning to acting, the way he used his facial expressions and when his saliva came pouring out of his mouth just showed how hard he worked to perfect his perfromance. As for the Director he could not have got a better cast. This is why i gave this mvie FOUR STARS ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Drama    3. Television   

Editorial Review

Jason Robards burst onto the Broadway scene in 1956 with his performancein Eugene O'Neill's devastating Read more

Features

• Black & White
• Original recording remastered
• Restored
• NTSC

Reviews (12)

Robards was incredible!!!!
I can't get enough of Hickey. O'Neill's "The Iceman Cometh" captures what all of us pipe dreamers know:'My pipe dream helps me face my reality. Please don't take it away. I might go nuts.' Poor Hickey didn't realize that getting rid of his pipe dream made him totally "bughouse".Jason Robards' manic portrayal was wrenching. His final scene gives me chills.
A Great Version of a Great Play
Many people, including me, believe The Iceman Cometh is Eugene O'Neil's best play, even better than Long Day's Journey into Night.Iceman is one of the deepest dives into the American psyche ever put on stage.The bad news about the Broadway Theater Archive DVD (originally released as a teleplay by CBS in 1960) is that its production values are primitive.The good news is that this Sidney Lumet television version is based on Jose Quintero's definitive 1956 Broadway production.The best news is that Jason Robards reprises his Broadway role as Hickey.
Robards is amazing
Totally absorbing play.Saw it on Play of the Week in the early 60s and never forgot it.Robard's portrayal of Hickey is probably the best acting I have ever witnessed.The weakest acting in the play is from a very young Robert Redford who had not yet sufficiently developed his skills. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Classics    2. Drama    3. Television