Amazon.com
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart
Beyond Dreamgirls
Other Musicals on DVD |
More Motown on DVD |
The Soundtrack |
Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
Product Description
Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.
Customer Reviews:
I AM ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE.......2007-09-14
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot describe how much I love this movie and this soundtrack. My roommates and i have watched it like four times in the last two weeks and we listen to the cd daily. Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are fabulous. The story is great- and deeply moving.
outstanding, even for a guy.......2007-09-13
Originally, I had no interest in seeing this movie and now I have seen it three times and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. Powerful, extremely well written and well acted. Worth watching and owning.
It does have a story, sort of.......2007-09-10
Repetitious. I lasted one hour watching this before I left the room. My spouse was able to watch it to the end and enjoy the story underneath.
I gave Moulin Rouge one star, partly because of the shrill grating voices. At least Dream Girls has more natural voices. And it was fun to see how different performers of the era were represented by these fictional characters. And there was at least one educational piece of historical information: Elvis was not the original singer for Hound Dog. It was Big Mama Thornton, but her version was suppressed by mainstream white radio.
Fabulous movie.......2007-09-06
I loved seeing Dreamgirls in the movie theater and love having my own copy of the movie. I have watched it several times, lent it out to friends and everyone has enjoyed it. The music is great and the performances are terrific. Love, love, love.
I am tellin'you that DREAMGIRLS is a one hit wonder!.......2007-08-31
Sorry to report this, but this movie,which was one of the most over-hyped films in recent memory,was so far below the original Broadway production that it is a shame to mention it in the same breath.Now mind you, I saw the stage play twice hoping that each time I might like it better, but that did not happen. The original show has very little plot as you bounce from one song to the next. The film, on the other hand, adds so much unnecessary extra material that the film gets really draggy.The new songs added do nothing to push any plot forward, and apart from "I am Tellin' You" this show is a one hit wonder!Apart from that, this film or the show has little to recommend to anyone except those who want to hear screeching with unintelligible words!This film is all splash and no substance.
One note of praise: I thought that Eddie Murphy did a magnificent job with his role (and I do not personally care for him as a person,comedian or actor).
Hudson getting a Globe and an Oscar was ludicrous.
Average customer rating:
- I AM ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE
- outstanding, even for a guy
- It does have a story, sort of
- Fabulous movie
- I am tellin'you that DREAMGIRLS is a one hit wonder!
|
Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)
Starring:
Jamie Foxx ,
Eddie Murphy ,
Jennifer Hudson , and
Beyoncé Knowles
Director:
Bill Condon
Manufacturer: DreamWorks
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Musicals
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Foxx, Jamie
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Murphy, Eddie
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Condon, Bill
| ( C )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Paramount
| Paramount Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Drama
| Paramount Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DreamWorks
| Paramount Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $14.99
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
Special Editions
| Fully Loaded DVDs
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Two-Disc Special Editions
| Fully Loaded DVDs
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
The Queen
-
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)
-
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)
-
The Good Shepherd (Widescreen Edition)
-
![Blood Diamond [HD DVD]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000MZHW1S.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
Blood Diamond [HD DVD]
ASIN: B000O174CM
Release Date: 2007-05-01 |
Amazon.com
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart
On the DVD
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced storyboards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim
Beyond Dreamgirls
Other Musicals on DVD |
More Motown on DVD |
The Soundtrack |
Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
Product Description
Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.
Customer Reviews:
I AM ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE.......2007-09-14
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot describe how much I love this movie and this soundtrack. My roommates and i have watched it like four times in the last two weeks and we listen to the cd daily. Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are fabulous. The story is great- and deeply moving.
outstanding, even for a guy.......2007-09-13
Originally, I had no interest in seeing this movie and now I have seen it three times and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. Powerful, extremely well written and well acted. Worth watching and owning.
It does have a story, sort of.......2007-09-10
Repetitious. I lasted one hour watching this before I left the room. My spouse was able to watch it to the end and enjoy the story underneath.
I gave Moulin Rouge one star, partly because of the shrill grating voices. At least Dream Girls has more natural voices. And it was fun to see how different performers of the era were represented by these fictional characters. And there was at least one educational piece of historical information: Elvis was not the original singer for Hound Dog. It was Big Mama Thornton, but her version was suppressed by mainstream white radio.
Fabulous movie.......2007-09-06
I loved seeing Dreamgirls in the movie theater and love having my own copy of the movie. I have watched it several times, lent it out to friends and everyone has enjoyed it. The music is great and the performances are terrific. Love, love, love.
I am tellin'you that DREAMGIRLS is a one hit wonder!.......2007-08-31
Sorry to report this, but this movie,which was one of the most over-hyped films in recent memory,was so far below the original Broadway production that it is a shame to mention it in the same breath.Now mind you, I saw the stage play twice hoping that each time I might like it better, but that did not happen. The original show has very little plot as you bounce from one song to the next. The film, on the other hand, adds so much unnecessary extra material that the film gets really draggy.The new songs added do nothing to push any plot forward, and apart from "I am Tellin' You" this show is a one hit wonder!Apart from that, this film or the show has little to recommend to anyone except those who want to hear screeching with unintelligible words!This film is all splash and no substance.
One note of praise: I thought that Eddie Murphy did a magnificent job with his role (and I do not personally care for him as a person,comedian or actor).
Hudson getting a Globe and an Oscar was ludicrous.
Amazon.com
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart
Beyond Dreamgirls
Other Musicals on DVD |
More Motown on DVD |
The Soundtrack |
Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
Product Description
Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.
Customer Reviews:
I AM ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE.......2007-09-14
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot describe how much I love this movie and this soundtrack. My roommates and i have watched it like four times in the last two weeks and we listen to the cd daily. Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are fabulous. The story is great- and deeply moving.
outstanding, even for a guy.......2007-09-13
Originally, I had no interest in seeing this movie and now I have seen it three times and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. Powerful, extremely well written and well acted. Worth watching and owning.
It does have a story, sort of.......2007-09-10
Repetitious. I lasted one hour watching this before I left the room. My spouse was able to watch it to the end and enjoy the story underneath.
I gave Moulin Rouge one star, partly because of the shrill grating voices. At least Dream Girls has more natural voices. And it was fun to see how different performers of the era were represented by these fictional characters. And there was at least one educational piece of historical information: Elvis was not the original singer for Hound Dog. It was Big Mama Thornton, but her version was suppressed by mainstream white radio.
Fabulous movie.......2007-09-06
I loved seeing Dreamgirls in the movie theater and love having my own copy of the movie. I have watched it several times, lent it out to friends and everyone has enjoyed it. The music is great and the performances are terrific. Love, love, love.
I am tellin'you that DREAMGIRLS is a one hit wonder!.......2007-08-31
Sorry to report this, but this movie,which was one of the most over-hyped films in recent memory,was so far below the original Broadway production that it is a shame to mention it in the same breath.Now mind you, I saw the stage play twice hoping that each time I might like it better, but that did not happen. The original show has very little plot as you bounce from one song to the next. The film, on the other hand, adds so much unnecessary extra material that the film gets really draggy.The new songs added do nothing to push any plot forward, and apart from "I am Tellin' You" this show is a one hit wonder!Apart from that, this film or the show has little to recommend to anyone except those who want to hear screeching with unintelligible words!This film is all splash and no substance.
One note of praise: I thought that Eddie Murphy did a magnificent job with his role (and I do not personally care for him as a person,comedian or actor).
Hudson getting a Globe and an Oscar was ludicrous.
Amazon.com
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart
On the DVD
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced storyboards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim
Beyond Dreamgirls
Other Musicals on DVD |
More Motown on DVD |
The Soundtrack |
Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
Product Description
Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent and first rate blu ray movie .......2007-05-13
This Blu Ray DVD was excellent. I wasn't too sure on seeing this film when it came out at the cinema, so I thought I would wait till it came out on DVD. Here are my ratings.
Film 9/10
Music 10/10
Blu Ray Picture 10/10
Sound 10/10
The only minor flaw with this film and this is very minor, I thought the movie went a little too long.
Amazon.com
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Besides the Supremes comparison, one can't talk about Dreamgirls now without revisiting its notorious Oscar snub; though it received eight nominations, the most for any film from 2006, it was shut out of the Best Picture and Director races entirely. Was the oversight justified? While Dreamgirls is certainly a handsomely mounted, lovingly executed and often vibrant film adaptation, it inspires more respect than passion, only getting under your skin during the musical numbers, which become more sporadic as the film goes on. Writer-director Bill Condon is definitely focused on recreating the Motown milieu (down to uncanny photographs of Knowles in full Diana Ross mode), he often forgets to flesh out his characters, who even on the Broadway stage were underwritten and relied on powerhouse performances to sell them to audiences. (Stage fans will also note that numerous songs are either truncated or dropped entirely from the film.) Condon has assembled a game cast, as Knowles does a canny riff on the essence of Diana Ross' glamour (as opposed to an all-out impersonation) and Rose makes a peripheral character surprisingly vibrant; only Foxx, who never gets to pour on the charisma, is miscast. Still, there are two things even the most cranky viewers will warm to in Dreamgirls: the performances of veteran Eddie Murphy and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Murphy is all sly charm and dazzling energy as the devilish Early, who's part James Brown, part Little Richard, and all showman. And Hudson, an American Idol contestant who didn't even make the top three, makes an impressive debut as the larger-than-life Effie, whose voice matches her passions and stubbornness. Though she sometimes may seem too young for the role, Hudson nails the movie's signature song, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with a breathtaking power that must be seen and heard to believe. And for those five minutes, if not more, you will be in Dreamgirls' thrall. --Mark Englehart
On the DVD
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced storyboards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim
Beyond Dreamgirls
Other Musicals on DVD |
More Motown on DVD |
The Soundtrack |
Stills from Dreamgirls (click for larger image)
Product Description
Director Bill Condon brings Tom Eyen's Tony award-winning Broadway musical to the big screen in a tale of dreams, stardom, and the high cost of success in the cutthroat recording industry. The time is the 1960s, and singers Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose), and Deena (Beyoncé Knowles) are about to find out just what it's like to have their wildest dreams come true. Discovered at a local talent show by ambitious manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx), the trio known as "the Dreamettes" is soon offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of opening for popular singer James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). Subsequently molded into an unstoppable hit machine by Taylor and propelled into the spotlight as "the Dreams," the girls quickly find their bid for the big time taking priority over personal friendship as Taylor edges out the ultra-talented Effie so that the more beautiful Deena can become the face of the group. Now, as the crossover act continues to dominate the airwaves, the small-town girls with big-city dreams slowly begin to realize that the true cost of fame may be higher than any of them ever anticipated.
Customer Reviews:
I AM ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE.......2007-09-14
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot describe how much I love this movie and this soundtrack. My roommates and i have watched it like four times in the last two weeks and we listen to the cd daily. Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce are fabulous. The story is great- and deeply moving.
outstanding, even for a guy.......2007-09-13
Originally, I had no interest in seeing this movie and now I have seen it three times and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. Powerful, extremely well written and well acted. Worth watching and owning.
It does have a story, sort of.......2007-09-10
Repetitious. I lasted one hour watching this before I left the room. My spouse was able to watch it to the end and enjoy the story underneath.
I gave Moulin Rouge one star, partly because of the shrill grating voices. At least Dream Girls has more natural voices. And it was fun to see how different performers of the era were represented by these fictional characters. And there was at least one educational piece of historical information: Elvis was not the original singer for Hound Dog. It was Big Mama Thornton, but her version was suppressed by mainstream white radio.
Fabulous movie.......2007-09-06
I loved seeing Dreamgirls in the movie theater and love having my own copy of the movie. I have watched it several times, lent it out to friends and everyone has enjoyed it. The music is great and the performances are terrific. Love, love, love.
I am tellin'you that DREAMGIRLS is a one hit wonder!.......2007-08-31
Sorry to report this, but this movie,which was one of the most over-hyped films in recent memory,was so far below the original Broadway production that it is a shame to mention it in the same breath.Now mind you, I saw the stage play twice hoping that each time I might like it better, but that did not happen. The original show has very little plot as you bounce from one song to the next. The film, on the other hand, adds so much unnecessary extra material that the film gets really draggy.The new songs added do nothing to push any plot forward, and apart from "I am Tellin' You" this show is a one hit wonder!Apart from that, this film or the show has little to recommend to anyone except those who want to hear screeching with unintelligible words!This film is all splash and no substance.
One note of praise: I thought that Eddie Murphy did a magnificent job with his role (and I do not personally care for him as a person,comedian or actor).
Hudson getting a Globe and an Oscar was ludicrous.
Average customer rating:
- a great dvd
- What an awful imitation of the original!
- Some great stuff
- Hey Somebody, Don't You Want To Hear...
- Could have been better
|
Studs Terkel's Working (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Starring:
Studs Terkel ,
Barry Bostwick ,
Scatman Crothers ,
Barbara Browning , and
Vernee Watson-Johnson
Director:
Stephen Schwartz , and
Kirk Browning
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Music Video & Concerts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Musicals
| Broadway
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Broadway Theatre Archive
| Broadway
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Barrie, Barbara
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Bostwick, Barry
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Brennan, Eileen
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Conn, Didi
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Crothers, Scatman
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Garner, Jay
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Haid, Charles
| ( H )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Hershey, Barbara
| ( H )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
McClurg, Edie
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Moreno, Rita
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Taylor, James
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Thigpen, Lynne
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( S )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Working (Original 1978 Broadway Cast)
-
Pippin
-
Working: Vocal Selections
-
Sunday in the Park with George
-
A Little Night Music
ASIN: B00005TNFF
Release Date: 2002-01-05 |
Amazon.com
Steelworkers, waitresses, and parking garage attendants hardly make the stuff of the traditional Broadway musical. But their voices form the songs and monologues of this plotless paean to the American working stiff, inspired by the bestselling oral history by Studs Terkel. Adapted from the stage production by composer Stephen Schwartz, this 1982 American Playhouse production has a pleasingly fluid structure that includes Terkel himself as an onscreen narrator/host. It veers from sentimentalizing working folk to (at its best) questioning the conclusion drawn by a high-priced call girl played by Barbara Hershey: "What you do is what you are." James Taylor sings a truck-drivin' tune, Scatman Crothers and Charles Durning lend a rascally vigor, and Rita Moreno insists "It's an art to be a fine waitress." Strongest of all is Eileen Brennan, with her face out of a Walker Evans photograph, as a weary factory worker resigned to her punishing job. --Robert Horton
Description
This musical adaptation of the Studs Terkel book examines the average worker's viewpoint--showing that he or she is anything but average. Based on a series of interviews with real working people--construction workers, waitresses, firemen, secretaries and cleaning women--"Working" is both an exploration of the individuals' occupations and a lament for lost hopes and dreams. This musical adaptation was conceived by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin). A must for all musical theatre buffs.
Customer Reviews:
a great dvd .......2006-01-21
never say you "have it bad" until you have walked in someone elses shoes..everyone has troubles..
this play tells the story from the other side..and everybody has a story..you are not the only one..
this is the story of "working"
I love the dvd .. and it is the best for the year of 1982..the play was from the year 1978 and it was on a stage.. the only thing is ..the actor "david patrick kelly " sings a song called "the mason" which was from the play. but is not on this dvd ..it has been cut from this ..he has a great voice and is a fantastic actor even today..I am sorry to have missed seeing that part being I am such a big fan of his .
the play was shot for the tv station PBS and is in "play form"
the film was remastered and sound is great also.
there are so many good actors in it as well some are not with us anymore but good to see on this..
there are many scenes that tells the stories of how people deal with thier jobs and what they do for a living.. I will watch this dvd again and again . it hits close to home with me..
What an awful imitation of the original!.......2005-12-18
I assumed it would be with original cast members... I loved the CD soundtrack. But here they are, parading out different "stars" of the 70s/80s, butchering the beautiful tunes without a trace of feeling.
Rita Moreno does pretty well, but the "customers" never sing at the big finish. Looks like they've got a 17 year old playing the 11 year old newsboy. Even having James Taylor sing his song Brother Trucker has him looking like he's never acted in his life. The school teacher? Some concocted caracature of the woman, filmed in a Mr. Roger's stage set.
This DVD is just sad. I won't watch it again. It would only bring laughable images to my mind the next time I listen to the Broadway CD.
Some great stuff.......2004-11-30
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!
Hey Somebody, Don't You Want To Hear..........2002-10-16
The story of my life? So begins one of the most underratd musicals ever. With a simple message, "Everyone has a story." This is a TV adaptation of a musical based on a book by Sociologist and pundit Studs Terkel available by the grace of God for the first time on DVD. I knew the play from high school and was anxious to see it on film. It's a fairly reliable adaptation of the play, except that it omits two very fine songs and is kind of simply set up (it was PBS after all).
For those unfamiliar with the book or the musical, Working is based on a series of interviews Terkel performed with people from all walks of life. The book was subtitled "People Talking About What They Do All Day And How They Feel About What They Do." Composer and Lyricist Stephen Schwartz (with help from the likes of James Taylor and Craig Carnelia) adapted the interviews (which were verbatim from these peoples' mouths) into a musical.
Now let me adress a common concern right here. "I don't like musicals." Something like that is simply impossible to say. It's like saying "I don't like soup." You can't. There are too many different kinds of musicals (indeed soups) to say that you hate them all. Do you hate bright and sunny musicals like "Meet Me in St. Louis" or lavish dance numbers like "42nd Street" or quasi-historic grandeur like "Camelot?" In Working the musical performances are limited to singing at the camera, or singing off camera.
And the singing is performed by some wonderful people. "Rocky Horror's" Barry Bostwick as the Steelworker, Scatman Crothers as a Parking Lot Attendant called "Lovin' Al: The Wizard," "West Side Story's" Rita Moreno as a Waitress who feels like an artist, Charles Durning as a retiree, Patti LaBelle as a Cleaning Woman and James Taylor (mentioned above) as a Trucker. Highlights include Bostwick's stirring ballad "Fathers and Sons" Moreno's "It's an Art" and the highly affecting "Me and My Machine" performed by an unseen vocalist during the Millworker scene.
People who do these jobs, might be inspired by these completely true stories. And people who interact with these people might be inspired as well. Inspired to spend a few brain cells thinking about the guy who put his car together, talking to the telephone operator who's been having a hard day, showing respect for the cleaning woman, you even see hookers in a new light.
"Hey somebody, don't you want to hear the story of my life?"
Could have been better.......2002-08-24
...- the production is flat & lacking in energy (especially in the chorus numbers "See That Building" & "I Hear America Singing/All the Livelong Day") and sets look cheap. And some of the actors are miscast or can't sing very well. It would have been much better filmed in performance with an audience instead of an empty studio.
I happen to have done this musical & like it, but this is just an OK production. Fans of the show will want to buy it as it's the only "movie" version available.
There are standout performances - Barbara Hershey as a vulnerable hooker, Eileen Brennan as an exhausted millworker, Edie McClurg as a perky operator, Charles "Hill St Blues" Haid as the mischievous "gas man," Charles Durning as a retiree, and James Taylor adds a nice touch as he sings something he actually wrote for the show ("Brother Trucker").
But there are also annoying, jarring or boring performances, like Beth Howland as the housewife & Didi "Grease" Conn as a receptionist - both of them breathy & nasal.
Some actors push it too hard - seems like most were cast because they were the "hot A list" for the moment (i.e. the late 70s) which makes the show a little dated. It would have been better casting some unknowns (but great singers from Broadway). So "Where Are They Now?" - Eileen Brennan? Barbara Barrie? Beth Howland? Didi Conn? Matt Landers? Vernee Watson-Johnson?
Good thing they didn't make an album of this soundtrack - its thin singing & orchestrations pale in comparison to the original cast album of 1978, which has much better singers (like Bob Gunton & David Patrick Kelley) and there's more excitement, feeling & fullness in the songs.
Interesting note: Lynne Thigpen (cast as receptionist) & David Patrick Kelley (playing an activist Copyboy complaining about his capitalist newspaper) are the only ones from the original Broadway cast to make it into this broadcast, originally shown on PBS ~1982. On Broadway, Kelly sang the soaring ballad "The Mason," which very unfortunately was cut from this version. Pigpen sang "Cleaning Women."
Average customer rating:
- Everyone Should Try to Find and Watch This Adaptation
- Steambath - A Broadway Show
- This takes me back
- Steamy in many ways
- Bill Bixby at his best
|
Steambath (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Starring:
Neil J. Schwartz ,
Valerie Perrine ,
José Pérez (II) ,
Herb Edelman , and
Stephen Elliott
Director:
Burt Brinckerhoff
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Broadway Theatre Archive
| Broadway
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Bixby, Bill
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Edelman, Herb
| ( E )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Elliott, Stephen
| ( E )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Kastner, Peter
| ( K )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mars, Kenneth
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Metrano, Art
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Perrine, Valerie
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Brinckerhoff, Burt
| ( B )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $14.99
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( S )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Tartuffe (Broadway Theatre Archive)
-
Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh (Broadway Theatre Archive)
-
The Skin of Our Teeth (Broadway Theatre Archive)
-
Slaughterhouse Five
-
Death of a Salesman (Broadway Theatre Archive)
ASIN: B00006RCMV
Release Date: 2002-09-24 |
Amazon.com
This unique play presents the afterlife as a steam bath, in which dead souls continue to obsess about the same petty concerns that obsessed them in their lives, until they are cast into a dark void by God, the Puerto Rican attendant (José Pérez). But new arrival Tandy (Bill Bixby) at first refuses to accept what's happened, and when he finally does, he pleads to be allowed to return to his life. Steambath was controversial in its day for its obscene language (which was softened for this filmed version, originally presented on PBS), its satirical take on religion, and some brief nudity by bombshell Valerie Perrine. Today it's still very entertaining, but mostly as a core sampling of the surprisingly uncensored male attitudes from the dawn of the 1970s. Everyone gives a solid performance and Bixby's easy charm makes his self-centered character sympathetic. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews:
Everyone Should Try to Find and Watch This Adaptation.......2007-05-21
The intriguing and imaginative plot, the excellent acting, and the tragedy of this TV adaptation of Bruce Jay Friedman's play not being available for today's audiences have been repeated by several reviewers. They are, in my opinion, all correct in their views about this wonderful, thought-provoking "black" comedy.
I know that at least one reviewer lamented the fact that many reviewers seemed to talk more about the "nudity" than the merits of the play/movie. I have not found this to be so. And, of course, in the version shown in the United States, there is not really any frontal nudity. However, I was fortunate enough to see Ms. Perrine not only when she was performing in Las Vegas, but in the uncut version of "Steambath" that was shown in the UK and on Armed Forces Television throughout the European continent in 1973.
Quite some time ago, after months and months of searching, I finally found the censored American version of "Steambath" on VHS at kultur dot com. I could not find it at a site mentioned by another reviewer. Kultur now has this on DVD as of May 2007. I do not know whether it was in response to the requests here and elsewhere to re-release this fine film, but it is now available on such sites such as this one, Amazon dot com, and for rental on netflix dot com.
If ANYONE knows where I can obtain the uncut version shown outside the US, would you please contact me (see my review on imdb dot com)?
Maybe it's just because I'm a guy, but I think that the uncut version should be made available today because it adds to the impact of this insightful character study of the various personalities of the men (and one woman) who are "trapped" in the steam bath room. The uncut version is still very mild compared to what is available today, and it was all done very innocently. However, you knew that you were in for something unusual when Ms. Perrine suddenly appeared in what was apparently a men's shower/steam bath facility and dropped her towel! (You only see her from the waist up whenever she is turned toward you, of course. After all, this was 1973. Nevertheless, Ms. Perrine was facing the camera enough in the uncut version to make a lasting impression on this reviewer!)
Steambath - A Broadway Show.......2007-05-13
Bill Bixby proves to be a real talent in this truly funny play in which a steambath is a sort of waiting place between death and the afterlife, and God is a Puerto Rican towel boy. The only negative to this work is that it calls for some special effects that really are pretty limp technologically - but pretty fair for its day. Valerie Perrine is actually a pretty good actress in this one.
This takes me back.......2006-11-05
I remember the first time I saw this, back in 1973. It was cutting edge content for that era and Valerie Perrine's shower scene added to the controversy, but it was funny and entertaining. Now, if the PBS series that spun out from it would just be released, I would glady add that to my collection.
Steamy in many ways.......2006-08-04
The basic story has been told in many ways and also some variation. Much more popular when purgatory was a real place. This is a story of a hand full of characters that find them selves at a crossroads or a steambath in their afterlife. Seams that the deity (José Pérez) is the attendant who replaces towels and enjoys a good story.
The attraction on an esoteric level is how the people get along with each other. Then we have individuals contemplating past present. The steamy part of the play is Valerie Perrine; the first woman to show off her accoutrements on U.S. TV (4 May 1973) being in the altogether and filmed showering from the side.
The hinge point of this story is watching Tandy (Bill Bixby) who refuses to believe that the Attendant is the deity and is determent to get back to his former life. One can believe if he does not perturb the Attendant, Tandy just might pull it off.
Bill Bixby at his best.......2006-03-18
This rarely seen video was first aired in the 1970s. It discusses issues that we take for granted today, but were forming at that period of time.
The comedy throughout is satirical and delivers a strong message that crosses the boundaries of races and beliefs for everyone.
I enjoyed all the performances of the cast members and would see it again on stage if presented in a theater.
Average customer rating:
- Kline is famous but not the best
- I've Waited For This For Over 10 Years
- Mixed Matter
- From the Broadway theater archive
- A fine and personal (not political) Hamlet
|
Hamlet / Kline, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Starring:
Leo Burmester ,
Bill Camp ,
Reg E. Cathey ,
Joseph M. Costa , and
Michael Cumpsty
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Mothers & Sons
| Family Life
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Television
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Broadway Theatre Archive
| Broadway
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Prince
| Artists
| Music Video & Concerts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Burmester, Leo
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Cumpsty, Michael
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Dixon, Macintyre
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Murray, Brian Doyle
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Sommer, Josef
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Venora, Diane
| ( V )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Hamlet
| The Works
| Shakespeare on DVD Store
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
The Tragedies
| The Works
| Shakespeare on DVD Store
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Acting Troupes & Companies
| Playing Shakespeare
| Shakespeare on DVD Store
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $14.99
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( H )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Richard Burton's Hamlet
-
Hamlet
-
Hamlet
-
Hamlet
-
King Lear / Jones, New York Shakespeare Festival (Broadway Theatre Archive)
ASIN: B00005NG0C
Release Date: 2001-09-18 |
Amazon.com
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 Hamlet with close-ups. The design is beautiful, with sets full of dark, gloomy halls and characters in elegant modern dress. Kline's interpretation of Hamlet is an enjoyably accessible one; he never lets melancholy obscure Hamlet's wit. Veteran stage actress Dana Ivey is an excellent Gertrude, pliable without ever straying over into idiocy. This production is equally enjoyable as an introduction to Hamlet or as a fresh interpretation for those long familiar with the tale. --Ali Davis
Description
With a daring and depth few of his American contemporaries seem prepared to match, Kevin Kline stars in and directs Hamlet for the New York Shakespeare Festival. Now with the felicitous addition of Kirk Browning as co-director, he has brought his indelible Hamlet to television where, as The New York Times stated, "It is eloquent, moving and at times thrilling. The shrewdly edited version uses tight close-ups and captures small crowd scenes without a sense of confinement. The teleplay flows with commendable grace from beginning to end, all urged on by Kline's intelligent interpretation."
Customer Reviews:
Kline is famous but not the best.......2007-03-28
The production is well organized and well filmed and generally well acted, but I find Kline's Hamlet slow & indulgent, technically tearful but ultimately unconnected. Get your hands on Derek Jacobi's for some real excitement.
I've Waited For This For Over 10 Years.......2006-08-07
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.
Hamlet (Kevin Kline) Prince of Denmark, returns home when his father is killed. There he learns that his ambitious uncle has married the widdowed Queen & claimed Hamlet's throne for himself. Haunted by his father's ghost & his own need for revenge, Hamlet's torment leads to the most inspired poetry in all of Shakespeare.
I loved the modern dress & that there are some African-American cast members.
The only problem I find with the DVD is that there are no real special features. They give you a filmography of the cast, but that's it.
But the play is brilliant! Well worth the price!
Mixed Matter.......2005-09-23
I have mixed feelings about this Hamlet; there are some things about it I emphatically do not like, and others I emphatically do like.
I DO like the fashion in which is was cut. Rozencrantz & Guildenstern, for instance, were kept in, as well as Fortinbras. There are important scenes and stories with both so I was glad to see them there.
I also like Kevin Kline's Hamlet. At first I thought I wouldn't, because in his first scene ("little more than kin & less than kind"), he didn't seem bitter enough to my taste. I also though that, as an actor, Kline sometimes over did the crying. But as he eased into the role and I grew used to it, I began to like his interpretation. He was very good at personifying Hamlet's merry but oh so bitter madness.
Everyone else was, I thought, well cast, which the exception of Ophelia. How lamentable, especially when her brother was so well played! Apparently she was trying to give a new interpretation of an Ophelia more wayward and rebellious than usual...but Shakespeare wrote Ophelia, and he made her gentle,not wild (until that madness sets in and that's for contrast); timid, not self-assured. "I will the effect of this good lesson keep" was spoken with sarcasm! Sarcasm to Laertes from Ophelia? What is the point in life? Admirably, however, Laertes and Hamlet both played their scenes with her excellently in spite of her shortcomings. There was a LOT of physical action during Hamlet's scenes both with his mother & Ophelia; a bit more than I'm used to, but it seems to be Kline's strong point.
I have to admit that modern dress in Shakespeare always gets under my skin. Why are they in post-victorian dress and speaking in "thees & thous"? The grandeur of Elizabethan costume that so sweeps the audience in is not good enough for them? But this Hamlet was very well performed, and though the clothing still clashes with its historical context, I had forgotten about it fifteen minutes into the play.
Oh, dear, I'm giving this four stars. I'm just so in love with Hamlet I can't nitpick such a good production apart. This is excellent, maybe not for a first viewing (and I only say that because of Ophelia), but a definite should-see.
From the Broadway theater archive.......2004-05-13
William Shakespeare's Hamlet directed and starring Kevin Kline.
We have seen this play many times, sometimes abridged, and many adoptions by various artists and groups, such as Sir Laurence Oliver, Richard Burton, Dame Judith Anderson, Nicol Williamson, Richard Chamberlain, Derek Jacobi, Campbell Scott, Mel Gibson, even (icky poo) Ethan Hawke. Each brings a unique plus that makes it hard to say which is best. And threatened to be played by Shelley Long in "Outrageous Fortune"
That said Kevin Kline is top notch. One attribute is that this version seemingly uncut is spoken clear. Maybe because it is a stage version filmed close enough that they did not have to shout.
When Kevin builds up in the close-up you forget all the trivial things like Hamlets age. And you actually feel that you are there.
Prince Hamlet loses his father the king. It is unnerving to him that his mother should marry his uncle so soon that the funeral baked meat set the wedding table. Then comes the shocker. His father's ghost suggested that the uncle and wife did him in while asleep. How will hamlet handle this news and what consequence will it have on the people around him?
A fine and personal (not political) Hamlet.......2004-02-27
No filmed version of "Hamlet" is entirely satisfying. The play is too rich to be reduced to a single definitive interpretation. But Kevin Kline's production of the more accessible of Shakespeare's two greatest tragedies ("King Lear" is equally great but sparer and more difficult) is one of the better versions available. Hamlet may be the most intelligent and verbally-skilled character ever written, and sometimes the wit and depth of his lines can obscure the real tragedy of his situation. Kline plays the character as deeply sad as well as intelligent. His reading of the "To be or not to be" soliloquy, for example, is masterful: we witness someone who is not just considering suicide as an intellectual puzzle, but is despairing enough to be seriously considering it. This is a human and emotional Hamlet, in contrast to Branagh's (who even in the worst straits seems almost to be enjoying himself), Gibson's (alternately frightened and enraged), Williamson (existentially disgusted), or Olivier's (weak and indecisive, and in my opinion the only indefensible choice here).
Kline has some wonderful bits of "business," too: tearing the page out of the book and sticking it on Polonius's forehead, pointing to the book after Polonius hears him say "tedious old fools" as if he is merely reading, clasping Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's heads to his chest once he has decided he cannot trust them -- all very clever. (However, the scene where he dangles Ophelia like a puppet is a bit overdone.) Laertes cutting Hamlet on the hand during a break is a good choice too (Laertes should not be able to lay a glove on Hamlet without cheating). On the other hand, Kline's version of Hamlet's feigned madness seems quieter than the "antic disposition" the character claims he will "put on."
The rest of the cast is not as strong, unfortunately. Josef Summer captures Polonius's egotism and foolishness, but we get no sense of the cunning that has made him a power at court. Diana Venora plays Ophelia with a little too much self-awareness and resignation for her mad scene to be believable when it arrives. Dana Ivey is a fine Gertrude, but the role is not one of the play's strengths. Worst of all, Brian Murray hardly registers as Claudius, who can be played as purely evil, as tormented by guilt, as a decadent drunkard, or even as a reluctant murderer, but here is a puffed non-entity.
Most productions of "Hamlet" make cuts, and Kline's choice is to remove all the politics. An actor is listed playing Fortinbras, but I cannot remember him (though it has been a few months since I have watched this version). We neither see nor hear much about him, which robs the play of some of its power: Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes are three men in the same position; their differing responses -- respectively that of the Renaissance philosopher and poet, the modern military man, and the hothead -- provide one of the most basic themes of the play.
But "Hamlet" is not merely a personal or family play; it is also a play about nations, about the damage a ruler of bad character does to a country's reputation. As the gravedigger tells us, Hamlet was born the day his father slew the elder Fortinbras; Hamlet's life exactly spans the period of Denmark's ascendancy over Norway. In a sense, he is born to remedy a cosmic error. All of that is gone (as are other more minor but still missed elements such as the character of Reynaldo, and some of the comments on acting and the theatre). Fortunately, Kline rejects any facile Freudianism, such as we see in the Gibson/Zeffireli version.
The staging is simple. About the most you can say of it is that neither it nor the costumes distract us from the acting. The lighting, however, is quite elegant, and the camera work intimate without causing claustrophobia.
Overall and despite its flaws, Kline's "Hamlet" remains a skillful and moving effort, ennobled by the actor's sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of literature's first and greatest modern man.
Average customer rating:
- Welcome tonic for sorry times
- "The Antrobuses--your hope, your despair, yourselves."
- Wonderful!
|
The Skin of Our Teeth (Broadway Theatre Archive)
Starring:
Sean Sullivan ,
Larry Drake ,
John Houseman ,
James Coyle , and
Jonathan McMurtry
Director:
Jack O'Brien (III)
Manufacturer: Kultur Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Television
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Broadway Theatre Archive
| Broadway
| Musicals & Performing Arts
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Brown, Blair
| ( B )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Combs, Jeffrey
| ( C )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Drake, Larry
| ( D )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Gould, Harold
| ( G )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Houseman, John
| ( H )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Thompson, Sada
| ( T )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $14.99
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( S )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Six Characters in Search of an Author (Broadway Theatre Archive)
-
The Skin of Our Teeth: A Play (Perennial Classics)
-
The School for Scandal (Broadway Theatre Archive)
-
Alice at the Palace (Broadway Theatre Archive)
-
The Good Doctor (Broadway Theatre Archive)
ASIN: B00006G8HN
Release Date: 2002-07-30 |
Description
Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning play brings to life the fate and foibles of the celebrated Antrobus family--a bold and brassy embodiment of Wilder's vision of the American people. This eloquent comedy serves up an allegorical tale of one American family whose members must come to grips with their destinies. Having survived fire, flood, pestilence, seven-year locusts, the Ice Age, and a dozen wars, the Antrobuses are as durable as radiators, and remain as optimistic as a spring day. A genuine modern classic. "Wilder's masterwork - a love letter to the human spirit." --Nicky Silver. With Blair Brown, Harold Gould, Rue McClanahan, Sada Thompson, and John Houseman.
Customer Reviews:
Welcome tonic for sorry times.......2005-03-20
This play was originally produced on broadway in 1942, at a pretty anxious time in the world. Thorton Wilder certainly had a genius for heightening the effect his plays had by attacking the formality of structure. More than Our Town, his relentless unravelling of boundaries between audience and cast, production and chaos, seems to break down the resistance to the message he intends to get across. The best example of this is the hours of the night segment that ends this piece. After going through such contortions to make it appear that the cast assigned to perform it are gone, and the play certainly should end right there with the audience deserving to get their money back, this is, of course, the most magnificent, enlightening and heartening piece that ties everything before it together.
Good to great broadway cast, clever staging, and a book that has no equal in the history of theatre. A point of trivia, George Antrobus is listed as the author of the late sixties film about life after disaster, The Bedsitting Room.
"The Antrobuses--your hope, your despair, yourselves.".......2005-01-28
Ignoring the conventions of time, this playful "message play," directed by Jack O'Brien, studies one family from the days of the glaciers and dinosaurs to a post-apocalyptic, modern world. George Antrobus (Harold Gould), the inventor of the wheel, and Maggie (Sada Thompson), his wife, the inventor of the apron, have two children, Gladys and Henry (who was previously called Cain). Sabina (Blair Brown), the flirtatious maid, acts as the initial guide to the characters and action, commenting on their interactions. As the play progresses through the eras, author Thornton Wilder raises questions about civilization and values. George, by Act II, is convinced that the world is made for pleasure and power, but in the final act, after a modern world cataclysm, the family confronts what is truly important in their lives.
The principal actors have, among them, won twenty-two Emmy nominations and twelve Golden Globe nominations, and they certainly live up to their billing here in this 1983 production, as they present their over-the-top characterizations, accentuated by exaggerated gestures and often eye-catching costuming. Harold Gould, as George, is hilarious as the overwhelmed father of the family. Blair Brown is as seductive a housemaid as her abbreviated costumes suggest she would be, and Sada Thompson in dowdy dress is motherly and thoughtful. Academy Award winner John Houseman, in a cameo role as a buttoned-up newscaster, could not be more formal, and the satiric fortune-teller, Rue McLanahan, is full of droll humor.
Giving additional visual impact to the play are a pet dinosaur and a wooly mammoth, a beauty pageant on the Boardwalk of New Jersey, a convention of the fraternal Order of Mammals, and several attempted seductions by predatory women. The play takes liberties with the audience as the various actors step out of character to address them, as does the director. By including the audience in the action, the author remi
![Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition) [Blu-ray]](http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/31RVR2CroRL.jpg)
![The Queen [Blu-ray]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000NTPDK0.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Mel Gibson's Apocalypto [Blu-ray]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000NQQ4ME.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Casino Royale [Blu-ray]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000MRA5NS.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest [Blu-ray]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000N6UERU.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Deja Vu [Blu-ray]](http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B000N6UERK.01.THUMBZZZ.jpg)
![Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition) [HD DVD]](http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/31dbyuvqRKL.jpg)