A Little Night Music
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Movie Reviews of A Little Night Music
Movie Review: A Little dull Taylor
Summary: 4 Stars
Elizabeth Taylor is an extraordinary actor, however this time she seems a bit too breathy for the songs that she sings. The opening where she is looking out into the audience is a bit comical in the fact that Ms. Taylor is obviously not juggling.
Over all a good movie if you've never seen the original on stage.
Movie Review: Sondheim is magic
Summary: 4 Stars
This was my favorite play. The movie has enough to make it wonderful, for me. Any Sondheim material is a treasure. The language, the interplay of words, the depth of character. ahhhhMovie Review: How about the PBS version
Summary: 3 Stars
Well, there isn't a lot to say about this film that isn't covered elsewhere. So I'll ask if someone will issue instead the PBS film of the City Opera production with Sally Ann Howes, which is superior even if it's a taped stage production (the production values and talent were high). George Lee Andrews (who understudied Cariou and did the national tour) had grown old enough and into the part by then and Howes was very good. Too bad there isn't film of the best Desirees from many productions, Sian Phillips, Judi Dench and Glynis Johns (who someone mistook Howes for in another review). There is a clip of Johns and Cariou doing a scene for a Broadway benefit on an issued video and it's stunning. Taylor isn't all bad but Rigg would have been better in the lead, she's somewhat wasted. Taylor looks bored in some sections and over-directed in others.
Prince's other film, the unissued on DVD "Something for Everyone", is in a similar state or worse apparently, but within the vessel are a great comic performance by Angela Lansbury, supported by Michael York and a wonderful cast and a very dark comic story, as if Charles Addams and Brecht collaborated on an operetta and cut the music. If Hen's Tooth is the only label that will put that out as well, so be it.
You want Sondheim on film? Get "The Last of Sheila".
Movie Review: A little less night music
Summary: 3 Stars
If I saw this film when it was first released, I don't remember doing so which is not a good omen. You know your in trouble when the credits roll and the screen says; ELIZABETH TAYLO. This looks as though it was transferred from VHS. I liked the cast, especially Elizabeth. She's perfectly cast and does a nice job singing "Send in the Clowns" which is undoubtedly Sondheim's best known song. Why did Hal Prince feel that he had to play an intense key light on her face every time she had a close-up. We all know how old she is and how old she was when she made this movie. She was still beautiful here. Of all the music that was dropped, I miss Hermione Gingold's LIAISONS most of all. The sets, costumes and locations are breathtakingly beautiful but Hal Prince's direction is clumsy. What a shame the transfer is so poor. I too would prefer to have the PBS version with Sally Ann Howes but the version we have here would still be a must have collector's item for all the Sondheim fans. However, this is for die-hard Sondheim Fans only. Caveat Emptor! Three Stars for Liz, Diana and the source material. Hal Prince and the manufacturers of this inferior DVD get nothing.Movie Review: Sound Issues with Surround Sound Systems
Summary: 3 Stars
The musical is great, although the editing leaves much to be desired. The problem I have with the DVD is that the sound, which played through two different systems that have multiple speaker surround sounds with Dolby Decoding is that there are several scenes that have very annoying background bass that detracts from the scenes. However, when played through two systems that do not have surround sound systems, the terrible bass sound is not present. Both these systems use Dolby decoders as well, but have not separate bass spreaker, so that the bass is not enhanced. I sent back the original DVD thining it was a flaw in the disc; however, the second disc had the identical problem. Otherwise I enjoy this musical and am willing to put up the the minor irritation. Playing it without the surround system is best, if possible on your system.