Rating: 
Summary: Best of Broadway?
Review: I bought this DVD with great delight as I love Broadway Musicals. I was quite disapointed in the performances of the songs. The performers for the most part were wooden and uninspired. Carol Channing singing "Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend" was a notable exception, though. She conveyed the fun and humor of the song and gave a great performance. There was close to no staging, just the artist standing there singing. The interviews with the composers while interesting, would have been better as part of the extras. They seem to simply be there to fill out the DVD. The space could have been better filled by more performances.
I expected so much more than what this DVD delivered. Buy "Broadway's Lost Treasures, instead. The money is better spent and the DVD is much more entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: A treasure
Review: I grew up in a backwater town in California, so all I knew of Bway musicals came from OBC albums which I reveled in (until 1970 when I moved to NYC and saw some Bway shows and was bored out of my mind by them). Since my childhood, Bway has been replaced in my affections by Bach. But this DVD is a treasure, pure gold, a sheer delight. It is a rare and miraculous chance to go back 50 years and see these people do what they did the way they did it then. I loved it almost completely and have ordered a copy of the DVD (the one I watched was rented). A few quibbles. Merman only sang a few lines of "No Business," but that was okay with me because I've seen and heard lots of her and am tired of both her voice and that song (though she did have the ear to go to her grave baffled by the success of Stephen Sondheim). Pearl Bailey's number was I thought both colorless and flat, as was that dreadful choreography which for some reason followed a knock-out dance by Bob Fosse, which I thought was one of the highlights of the disc. Channing also was kind of dull, her number abbreviated, and the gimmick she did with the audience just a bit too. Finally the touted interviews with the two sets of songwriters amounted to no more than a minute apiece, I don't recall Lowe saying anything at all, and I know Rodgers wasn't even in it. But. Rodgers himself conducted his own "Oklahoma!" and then smiled and shook hands with John Raitt which was wonderful. Enough quibbles. Everything else else shone like a newly minted coin. Newley sang his own "Who Can I Turn To?" and (like all the others) it was a jolt and a pleasure to see HOW he sang it, gestures, facial expressions. (Incidentally, that song, commonly thought to be a love song, is actually a prayer, Cocky is singing to god, which explains some of Newley's gestures.) Everyone has his favorites on this disc I'm sure, I loved pretty much all of it. I couldn't get over the fact that I was actually looking into the past and seeing these performers as they were then, doing what made them "great." Also, it was only about 53 minutes long, so I didn't have time to get too bored, it was a treasure I will cherish and no doubt watch again, now back to Bach.
Rating:
Summary: A treasure
Review: I grew up in a backwater town in California, so my only exposure to Bway shows (until 1970 when I got to NYC and was bored out of my mind by them) was OBC albums, and I reveled in them. They have since been replaced by Bach. This DVD is almost pure gold, it is a rare miraculous chance to travel back 50 years and see these performers doing what they did at the time and in the way that they did it. Ethel Merman sang only a few lines of "No Business," but I didn't mind, she was over exposed and I'm tired both of her voice and that song (though she did have the ear to go to her grave baffled by the success of Stephen Sondheim). I thought Pearl Bailey's number was colorless and dull, likewise its choreography which for some reason followed a Bob Fosse dance which was a knock-out! Channing was kind of dull too, her number much abbreviated, and the bit she did with the audience was a bit too. Finally (one last quibble), the touted interviews with the two pairs of songwriters amounted to no more than a minute apiece, and Rodgers was in neither of them. That was a rip-off. But. Rodgers himself conducted "Oklahoma!" and smiled and shook hands with John Raitt which was wonderful. Everything else was a sheer delight, pure diamonds and gold, a chance to see these performers in their own shows doing what made them "great." The DVD is only about 53 minutes long, but that was long enough, the grown-up boredom didn't overcome me, the thing kept its interest, now back to Bach.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful performances from classic shows
Review: I must respectfully disagree with the reviewer who felt that most of the performances on this DVD were "wooden." My reaction was quite the opposite! I felt that the actors and actresses were really performing the parts, just as they would have done them in the actual shows. I often forgot that I was, in fact, watching a clip from a variety show, and felt as though I were watching the show itself on Broadway (and I have been to many Broadway shows, so I certainly know what that experience is like!)
I especially enjoyed seeing the clips of Julie Andrews in "My Fair Lady," Carole Lawrence and Richard Beymer in "West Side Story," and Celeste Holm in "Oklahoma!" Of course, there were a few actors and/or shows which I just don't personally like very much (Anthony Newley, "Man of La Mancha," Gwen Verdon), but that's not to say that their performances weren't well done.
I also enjoyed the narration by John Raitt, and hoped to see more of him (he is just shown singing the title song from "Oklahoma!") There is supposed to be a "Part 2" DVD coming out with more of Raitt included, as well as performances from many other shows. I hope it is released soon!
My only reason for not giving this DVD 5 stars is that the quality of some of the clips isn't very good, but that is understandable considering how old they are.
I would definitely recommend this DVD over "Broadway's Lost Treasures," which I found very disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: Great Broadway performances
Review: I owned this on VHS and am pleased that it has made it to DVD. I hope it is the first of many releases of original Broadway performances of the 1950's and 1960's on DVD. Some performances are direct from their Broadway productions, while some are performed several years later. It runs about 56 minutes total and has extra features that provide background information on the musicals presented including creative credits, synospis, original cast, songs, Broadway production dates (including revivals), and when the film version was produced. The performances are: ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1966)
"There's No Business Like Show Business" - Ethel Merman OKLAHOMA! (1955)
"Oklahoma!" - John Raitt, Celeste Holm, Florence Henderson & Barbara Cook
"I Cain't Say No" - Celeste Holm FLOWER DRUM SONG (1958)
"I Enjoy Being a Girl" - Pat Suzuki GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1959)
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" - Carol Channing MY FAIR LADY (1961) "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" - Julie Andrews WEST SIDE STORY ( 1961)
"Tonight" - Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert CAMELOT ( 1961)
"What Do the Simple Folk Do?" - Julie Andrews and Richard Burton THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD (1965)
"Who Can I Turn To?" - Anthony Newley MAN OF LA MANCHA ( 1966)
"The Impossible Dream" - Richard Kiley SWEET CHARITY (1966)
"I'm A Brass Band" - Gwen Verdon HELLO, DOLLY! ( 1967)
"Before the Parade Passes By" - Pearl Bailey This is a must-have for any fan of Broadway musicals. I must say that my favorites are Gwen Verdon's "I'm a Brass Band" and Pearl Bailey's "Before the Parade Passes By", both performed while they were still in the Broadway show and with the respective choreography of Bob Fosse and Gower Champion. Seeing Bailey & cast, one can see how "Dolly" was revitalized with an all-black cast taking the show back to sold-out status. These preserved performances give us a mere glimpse into what true Broadway stars were like. The end of the DVD promises that a Volume 2 is in the works. Let's hope there are more to come.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Trip Down Memory Lane
Review: If you have a real love for the history of musical theatre, this DVD is a must for your collection. There are several highlights that are simply joyous. The Larry Kert, Carol Lawrence "Tonight" duet is heart rendering and a treat for the ears! This alone is worth the price of this DVD. But, add to that the young and beautiful Julie Andrews in her prime as she delivers the quintessential version of "Lovely". And, you will understand why so many raved about Pearl Bailey in "Hello Dolly". When she sings "Before the Parade Passes By", she does not merely sing the music, she also sings the lyrics and this is something Carol Channing never really did. The great Gwen Verdon singing and dancing as only she could from "Sweet Charity", the magnificent voice of Richard Kiley delivering the ultimate version of "The Impossible Dream" and vibrant Pat Suzuki belting out "I Enjoy Being A Girl" make this a special treat. Add to that Celeste Holm's "I Can't Say No" (nobody does it better) and the sight of the legendary Barbara Cook as part of the group (John Raitt, Florence Henderson, Celeste Holm) singing a rousing version of "Oklahoma" and you have one great DVD. The only song that does not come across well is Carol Channing singing a rather forced version of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend". But why quibble. Buy this infectious delight!
Rating:
Summary: Just Great!
Review: Like the rest, I loved this and my only complaint was also the incomplete Merman "There's No Business Like Show Biz." I want Vol. 2 -- where is it? This DVD promised it and even gave you the lineup. Btw, it was great fun to see Richard Burton dance and Barbara Cook VERY petite.
Rating:
Summary: Just Great!
Review: Like the rest, I loved this and my only complaint was also the incomplete Merman "There's No Business Like Show Biz." I want Vol. 2 -- where is it? This DVD promised it and even gave you the lineup. Btw, it was great fun to see Richard Burton dance and Barbara Cook VERY petite.
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable
Review: Pretty much without exception, the original cast performances in Broadway musicals are matchless. However, the ephemeral nature of theatre makes it impossible to relive these performances over and over as we do with film, and often Hollywood translations missed out by hiring "bankable" Hollywood names. How lucky that Ed Sullivan led the way in featuring many of the original Broadway greats on his show. Of course, there are MANY more of these segments which I'd like to see make their way to DVD, but the segments presented here are superlative. The running list follows... Almost every one presents a Broadway star who was replaced with an inferior (and dubbed) Hollywood name in the film adaptation.
1.ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1966)
"There's No Business Like Show Business" - Ethel Merman
2.OKLAHOMA! (1955)
"Oklahoma!" - John Raitt, Celeste Holm, Florence Henderson & Barbara Cook
"I Cain't Say No" - Celeste Holm
3.FLOWER DRUM SONG (1958)
"I Enjoy Being a Girl" - Pat Suzuki
4.GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES (1959)
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" - Carol Channing
5.MY FAIR LADY (1961)
"Wouldn't It Be Loverly" - Julie Andrews
5.WEST SIDE STORY ( 1961)
"Tonight" - Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert
6.CAMELOT ( 1961)
"What Do the Simple Folk Do?" - Julie Andrews and Richard Burton
7.THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD (1965)
"Who Can I Turn To?" - Anthony Newley
8.MAN OF LA MANCHA ( 1966)
"The Impossible Dream" - Richard Kiley
9.SWEET CHARITY (1966)
"I'm A Brass Band" - Gwen Verdon
10.HELLO, DOLLY! ( 1967)
"Before the Parade Passes By" - Pearl Bailey
Rating:
Summary: They don't make them like that anymore....
Review: This DVD is an absolute joy to watch in that it captures what I have only ever read about: the "magic" of the Broadway Musical. Here all the performers sing without radio mikes, studio mixers and god knows what other electronic devices used these days to get a performer's voice in tune and past the footlights. Being born in the wrong country and at the wrong time (in relation to the Golden Age of Broadway) I have never had the opportunity to see and feel the "magic" of a Broadway show - yes I have seen Australian productions and as good as they are they do not create the magic that is suggested to me by the Broadway cast recordings. To all those lovers of the Broadway Musical please buy this DVD so the studio will release Volume 2. Volume 1 is well worth the money. Bring on Volume 2!
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