A Little Night Music
by Harold Prince
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Diana Rigg, Elizabeth Taylor, Hermione Gingold, Len Cariou, Lesley-Anne DownDirector: Harold Prince
Brand: Henstooth Video
Cinematographer: Arthur Ibbetson
Editor: John Jympson
Producer: Denis Holt
Producer: Elliott Kastner
Producer: Otto Plaschkes
Writer: Hugh Wheeler
Writer: Ingmar Bergman
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 124 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-06-05
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Henstooth Video
Movie Reviews of A Little Night Music
Movie Review: The BEST it has ever looked in ANY home video format!
Summary: 5 Stars
Don't be fooled by all the outcry on the quality of this wonderful DVD. Anyone who has seen A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in its previous video releases knows that this DVD release is magnificent in almost EVERY way.
The original Embassy VHS release was fuzzy and washed out - but at least there was some hint of color. The later Nelson VHS and Laser Disc release was fuzzy, washed out and drained the color out of the film completely. In both cases it was in full screen, the picture was compressed so that the actors faces were thin and angular and the sound was merely adequate.
Now Henstooth presents this long-lost film in the best version we have ever seen since its original theatrical release. The colors are bright and warm. The picture is restored to its original size and the sound is crisp and clear. (All of this is rather remarkable considering that the word is that the original negatives for this film have all but been destoyed and is in need of a major restoration.) I didn't have much hope for this release when announced but having seen it, it took my breath away.
Now the film --
Based on Ingmar Bergman's film SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, this musical film adapted by its Broadway creators Hugh Wheeler (screenplay), Stephen Sondheim (Music and Lyrics) and Harold Prince (director), concerns three mismatched couples.
Actress Desiree Armfeldt (Elizabeth Taylor), is seeing Count Mittelheim (Laurence Guittard) who is married to Charlotte Mittelheim (a delicious scene stealing performance from Diana Rigg). Frederick Egerman (Len Cariou), Deseiree's past lover, is married to the still-virginal Anne (Lesley-Anne Down), who is half his age. Frederick's son Erick (Christopher Guard) is hopelessly in love with his stepmother Anne (who is actually only a year younger than he.)
Petra (Lesley Dunlop); Frederick and Anne's maid, Madame Armfeldt (Hermione Gingold); Desiree's mother, and Frederika (Chloe Franks); Desiree's daughter - round out the action which occurs in town and culminates during a hectic "Weekend in the Country" at Madame Armfeldt's sprawling manor.
Forget what you've heard or read about the film. Yes, it is flawed in context to the Broadway original, but considering it was made when film musicals were all but dead in Hollywood, it is amazing that it even exists. The score is still just as witty and romantic and features a wonderful new version of THE GLAMOROUS LIFE written specifically for the film. The cast, many of them reprising their original stage roles, is uniformly superb! And despite all the nasty comments, Elizabeth Taylor is quite charming as Desiree (especially in the duet YOU MUST MEET MY WIFE with Cariou.) Sondheim even added a new verse or two for the marvelous song EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH.
If you get a chance - see this film in its new DVD transfer (The best it has ever looked or sounded on home video!) It just may steal your heart.
Summary of A Little Night Music
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