Rating: 
Summary: Just as much fun as seeing it live.
Review: Even though I never got to see Ben perform it live, this made up for it. It is a video of the original production, not a movie of the story. Incredible, and worth watching.
Rating: 
Summary: Video to remember Ben Vereen on Broadway
Review: In 1973, I was able to see the almost orginal cast(missing Irene Ryan, our dear Granny, who passed away while production was on Broadway.) Ben Vereen was unbelievable as was John Rubenstein. Now, we can't go back to 1973 and we can't all fit in a live theatre. This video records a live performace, so that we can remember how Ben Vereen was in the show, with all his energy, wit and power of dance. Having seen other videoed shows, however, the values are not as good on this one. It serves as a record of what was. Perhaps, Pippin will live on Broadway again. Otherwise, here is a taste, from Canada, of what the show was like, with Bill Katt as Pippin and Ben Vereen as the Leading Player. All the songs are here, including the smashing finale, but some of the more intimate moments (a severed head in conversation) is missing. This is a Bob Fosse show, so the dancing is definately Fosse. The sound is good, though upstage sounds are not as good as could have been recorded. If you're looking for a sense of what Pippin was, this is it!
Rating:
Summary: It was like being there!!! I love this show!!!
Review: Once upon a time, I joined a summer acting workshop and got to perform Pippin! I fell in love with the show because it was funny and original. Anyway, my friend had a copy of this video and I watched it. The show was taped live, and it was really cool! The dancing was sharp, and of course the singing was great! Ben Vereen has so much stamina... you've got to see him in the role of the leading player. The only other cast member I can remember is Chita Rivera, who played Fastrada. But if I'm not mistaken, another famous person played Berthe. If you love Pippin, you'll love this tape! END
Rating:
Summary: The cast is better than the CD
Review: That's right! I said it! John Rubinstein's voice is not strong enough to play Pippin. He sounds like Henry Gibson singing...anyone? Henry Gibson? "Laugh-In"? He was the voice of Wilbur in "Charlotte's Web?" No one? Okay, moving on...William Katt however not only sings "Corner of the Sky" he relishes it. He savors every note, and that's the way it must be sung. You wouldn't sing "Do You Hear the People Sing" unless you can handle it and you shouldn't sing "Corner" without some serious chops....or props...or snaps, or whatever the hell else it is that means "talent, abilities." I also think that Ben Vereen does better live than in the studio. That's right, I think Ben Vereen gave a better performance than Ben Vereen! Not even Ben Vereen could've matched Ben Vereen as a...no, this is silly. Look, the CD's fine, but the movie's better. The arrangements, the performances, and the fact that they cut my least favorite song "I Guess I'll Miss the Man."
Rating: 
Summary: More PIPPIN
Review: Having owned the VHS tape of PIPPIN for quite a few years, I was excited to see that this DVD version included eight more minutes than was on my videotape. Parts of "War Is a Science" were put back in, totally missing from the tape version. The song (as well as the show) is still incomplete on this version, but it's likely the most complete issue of this ground-breaking show we'll ever see.Performance wise, you couldn't ask for more from Ben Vareen, William Katt, and Chita Rivera, all of whom give exciting performances captured here for all-time. Christopher Chadman, who plays the egotistical Lewis, brother of Pippin, went on to have a successful career as a Broadway choreographer before his untimely death. And it's great to see Martha Raye playing a role on stage since most of our memories of her are from dated 1940's movies that emphasize her brashness and not her humanity. The most disappointing aspect of this DVD was its sound quality. The "surround" sound as digitized through my receiver muffled the singing and emphasized the orchestra. I found that sending the sound through the side speakers made the singing much clearer and less problematic. The interview with Bob Fosse by critic/video producer David Sheehan isn't long on substance, but it's great to see this theater and film icon again in interviews not seen before. All-in-all, PIPPIN is a sound DVD investment.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible edit
Review: Unfortunately, and as usual, idiotic directors and editors have ruined a great show! Panning, zooming, cutting...God it's awful. I remember hearing that Bob was upset by it and apologized to the cast. The really sad thing is that the show, staged by Kathy Dobie, Bob's long time assistant, was beautifully recreated and then ruined by those fools filming it.. During the big "Sex Ballet", the shoot from behind with glaring lights so that you really have no sense of what the dance is. The sound it bad, the cutting is bad and Kat stinks. All that said, it will be your only chance to see what Broadway dancers used to look like. Get it for the history. By the way, if you want to see another show that was totally ruined by bad cutting, see Sunday in the Park with George. This beautiful show was destroyed by idiotic editors!
Rating:
Summary: The cast is better than the CD
Review: That's right! I said it! John Rubinstein's voice is not strong enough to play Pippin. He sounds like Henry Gibson singing...anyone? Henry Gibson? "Laugh-In"? He was the voice of Wilbur in "Charlotte's Web?" No one? Okay, moving on...William Katt however not only sings "Corner of the Sky" he relishes it. He savors every note, and that's the way it must be sung. You wouldn't sing "Do You Hear the People Sing" unless you can handle it and you shouldn't sing "Corner" without some serious chops....or props...or snaps, or whatever the hell else it is that means "talent, abilities." I also think that Ben Vereen does better live than in the studio. That's right, I think Ben Vereen gave a better performance than Ben Vereen! Not even Ben Vereen could've matched Ben Vereen as a...no, this is silly. Look, the CD's fine, but the movie's better. The arrangements, the performances, and the fact that they cut my least favorite song "I Guess I'll Miss the Man."
Rating:
Summary: Despite the quality a MUST have
Review: I have been reading the many good and bad reviews and thought I should add something. I am an expert on Bob Fosse and his work. This particular production was pulled together by Kathryn Doby (Bobby's assistant for years). It was rather hasty in putting together as it was meant for a television broadcast. In the process of setting the time format for television many cuts were made to the original script, which unfortunetly are now not available. What is important about this version is it allows the closest view of Bobby's original work that we may ever have. Bob worked on this show while at great odds of the composer (Schwartz), to the point of having him barred from rehersals. It is amazing the show ever made it to where it got. The fact that we can still see the original art that was the choreography of Bobby, is the ONLY reason that this video should be in your collection. He won the Tony award for his work on this show (he also won the oscar for Cabaret and the Emmy for Liza with a Z this same year, the ONLY director to EVER do that) Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Hit and miss.
Review: The cast was a hit and a miss. Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen are wonderful. William Katt was wrong for the role, but he has the stage presence and personality to pull it off. I would like to see Pippin revived because the music is wonderful. It is still a joy to watch and I recommend it for musical fans.
Rating:
Summary: Fosse show marred by a lackluster Stephen Schwartz score
Review: "Pippin" is a musical that has something to say. This musical is a celebration of the individual going through life and having to see what is your calling or what you are meant to be. Pippin is a young man on this quest. Fresh out of college, Pippin is very unsure of what to do with his life, or where to go with it. Through the course of this musical, he dabbles in war, sex, politics, love, and domesticity. This journey leads up to the eerie "grand finale" goaded by the Leading Player. So there you have it, a commendable story. Unfortunately, the Stephen Schwartz musical score does a horrible disservice to a show that Bob Fosse directed so masterfully. To me, a musical is NOTHING without a solid score. I'm not just saying a musical has to have a million catchy tunes that you can whistle afterwards, but it wouldn't have hurt to have more than just two. "Magic to Do" offers an enticing opening for the audience. Everything falls FLAT after that, the only exception being "No Time At All"--a funny heartwarming anthem about "seizing the day." Not even Bob Fosse's visionary direction and choreography can make up for such a bland, uninteresting score. Some performances do rise above this problematic production. Ben Vereen and Chita Rivera, veteran Fosse disciples, really shine respectively as the Leading Player and Fastrada (Pippin's sex-pot stepmother). Leslie Denniston gives an underrated performance as the "ordinary" Catherine. The rest of the performances are so-so. You just want to boot Christopher Chadman off the stage for his cheeky, unbelievably effeminate portrayal of Lewis--Pippin's stepbrother. William Katt offers a "teeny-bopper" quality to his portrayal of the title role, but not much more. Martha Raye was nice as Berthe, Pippin's granny, but I would have rather seen Irene Ryan (may she rest in peace). The DVD suffers from the lack of sound quality and seems hastily produced. On a decent sound system, there is no consistency in the sound balance. Intensity of sound fades in and out, and at the worst times. The video is decent, for the early eighties, but with the technology we have today, I expect a lot better. If you really want to know the real spirit of "Pippin," I wouldn't look here. Try the original cast recording, or see an actual live production if you can.
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