Rating: 
Summary: Seriously Underrated
Review: There isn't another modern musical like it, with songs that linger and characters about whom one feels strongly. Getting Terkel's work on TV was a public service, and the cast is excellent.
Rating: 
Summary: Mediocre at best.
Review: This PBS production for American Playhouse is basically just a filmed version of the songs and monologues that make up the Broadway musical WORKING. Unfortunately, the film lacks most of the energy or the excitement of the live version. There are still some wonderful performances, most notably Rita Moreno as the Waitress singing "It's An Art", Eileen Brennan as the tired factory worker, Barbara Hershey as the prostitute, Patti Labelle as the cleaning woman and Barry Bostwick as the steelworker singing "Fathers & Sons". Overall, the acting is stronger than the singing (except for in Labelle's case,where the opposite is true) and the actors, while well cast, are not helped by awkward transitions and poor directing.The big cast musical numbers that open and close the show are totally lacking in energy, mostly due to the fact that they are stagnant (no musical staging), probably because the director didn't know how to film movement. This is only interesting for those who want to have a record of the material (songs and monologues) that comprise the show. It would be nice if someone were to film a stage production of this show and edit it properly. That would make for a much more interesting viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre at best.
Review: This PBS production for American Playhouse is basically just a filmed version of the songs and monologues that make up the Broadway musical WORKING. Unfortunately, the film lacks most of the energy or the excitement of the live version. There are still some wonderful performances, most notably Rita Moreno as the Waitress singing "It's An Art", Eileen Brennan as the tired factory worker, Barbara Hershey as the prostitute, Patti Labelle as the cleaning woman and Barry Bostwick as the steelworker singing "Fathers & Sons". Overall, the acting is stronger than the singing (except for in Labelle's case,where the opposite is true) and the actors, while well cast, are not helped by awkward transitions and poor directing. The big cast musical numbers that open and close the show are totally lacking in energy, mostly due to the fact that they are stagnant (no musical staging), probably because the director didn't know how to film movement. This is only interesting for those who want to have a record of the material (songs and monologues) that comprise the show. It would be nice if someone were to film a stage production of this show and edit it properly. That would make for a much more interesting viewing.
Rating: 
Summary: Some great stuff
Review: This production moved me when it first aired, and I was not disappointed when I bought the DVD. I remember thinking back in 1982 that some performances/songs were fantastic, others less so. This holds true today: Eileen Brennan is heart-wrenching as the millworker, as is her song; Rita Moreno is perfection as the waitress, with another great song; Beth Howland may not have been the perfect choice for the housewife, but the song is so good it doesn't matter; and who can resist Edie McClurg as the hotel switchboard operator?
Overall, this production has much to commend it - the closing number chokes me up every time I see it. It may not be perfect, but let's be glad it was done!
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST OVERLOOKED BROADWAY MUSICALS
Review: This video is an American Playhouse production first presented on PBS in the early eighties. It was adapted from the 1978 Broadway musical, which in turn was adapted from Studs Turkel's book of interviews with the American worker. I actually saw the original stage production while it was in previews on Broadway -- a Saturday afternoon matinee. My seat was in the balcony almost at the end of the row on the right side. A couple of empty seats away there was a gentleman wearing a wrinkled trench coat; halfway through the show I finally realized he was actually Studs Turkel. I worked up the nerve to ask him to sign my program, and was waiting for a break in the action to ask him to do so. Unfortunately, he used that break to get up and go backstage. Never did get his autograph Stephen Schwartz adapted his original Broadway script for this video production and added Studs Turkel as a narrator. The premise of the show is simple -- it's about real people telling Mr. Turkel and us what they do for a living and what they like or dislike about their work. Their stories are told here both in words and songs. And since the songs were created by six very talented people the music and lyrics cover a wide variety of styles while developing and explaining each the character singing them. That's a lesson most of today's new Broadway composers could learn. While the original Broadway production used a very creative unit set with the characters and their career props moving on and off stage; the video opts for more realistic job sites and locations for each character. This is an acceptible alternative, but not nearly as creative or exciting. But then this is a show about people, and that is where it stands out! The entire cast is outstanding and it would be unfair to single out just one performance. Just look at the cast list and remember they were at the peak of their careers when this show was recorded. Expect the best, because that is what you'll get -- Broadway at its best! One final note, I was a young man in the prime of my working career when I first saw this show. Today I am an early retiree. This time around I can emotionally relate and identify with the story of JOE. Order this video now, it will be worth the wait to get it!
Rating:
Summary: Buy This Right NOW!
Review: Wow, this movie has it all! Patti Labelle, James Taylor, Rita Moreno, Barbara Barrie, Barry Bostwick and many more familiar faces appear in this wonderful 1982 musical which aired on PBS. With Book by Studs Terkel and Music by a list of artists including James Taylor (Millwork) you can't go wrong with a story about the working persons struggle through everyday hardships. In this filmed musical, Studs Terkel acts as a narrator who interviews people with different jobs, a construction worker, paper boy, housewife, hooker, secretary, boss, etc. This movie is for anyone who has ever punched a time clock, a co-worker, or a cow...or anyone who would like to. The section with Patti Labelle singing about cleaning ladies is worth the $ alone. Just to mention a great add on to this is the "Working" soundtrack available on CD here, it's not the same production but its worth it. The company who released this video, Broadway Theatre Archives has a list of other PBS plays and musicals, also try the video of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide when the rainbow was enuf."
| 
