Pippin
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Movie Reviews of Pippin
Movie Review: Despite the quality a MUST have
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been reading the many good and bad reviews and thought I should add something. I am an expert on Bob Fosse and his work. This particular production was pulled together by Kathryn Doby (Bobby's assistant for years). It was rather hasty in putting together as it was meant for a television broadcast. In the process of setting the time format for television many cuts were made to the original script, which unfortunetly are now not available. What is important about this version is it allows the closest view of Bobby's original work that we may ever have. Bob worked on this show while at great odds of the composer (Schwartz), to the point of having him barred from rehersals. It is amazing the show ever made it to where it got. The fact that we can still see the original art that was the choreography of Bobby, is the ONLY reason that this video should be in your collection. He won the Tony award for his work on this show (he also won the oscar for Cabaret and the Emmy for Liza with a Z this same year, the ONLY director to EVER do that) Enjoy!Movie Review: Admittedly, there are issues... BUT
Summary: 4 Stars
Could the editing have been better? Definitely. Is the soundtrack a little muddy? For sure. Was there a lot of film left on the cutting room floor that should have been restored for the DVD release? Undoubtedly.
HOWEVER, and this is a really big however, do NOT let any of these petty concerns and considerations prevent you from adding this DVD to your library. This show is wonderful and it is worth the price if only for the performance of Ben Vereen. There may never be another performer like him and this show captures him at his finest. I saw the original production 11 times on Broadway - yes, I said eleven times. Hey, I made a lot of money babysitting. This version does not have the original cast I saw and loved: no John Rubinstein, Jill Clayburgh or Irene Ryan, which is a damn shame. However, the re-casting is still good and you have Ben which makes up for pretty much any other shortcomings.
See this and reminisce with me.
Movie Review: Good record of 1981 made for television performance...
Summary: 4 Stars
I had never seen Pippin before, so I don't have a stage comparison. Most of the complaints are about the video quality and the sound. First, this was filmed as a television production, not for screen or home video. Some of the reviewers have forgot that fact when complaining about the video and sound. VHS was just beginning to take off and very few cinemas had multi-channel sound. I have a VHS tape of a concert film made at that time, "The Last Waltz" and the sound from those live performances aren't too good either. If they ever release the video TV special "Liza with a Z", it will probably be of this quality too. But, it's the performances that are worth watching. Just seeing Ben Vereen's dancing in "Glory" makes this DVD worthwhile.Movie Review: PIPPIN, HIS LIFE AND TIMES
Summary: 4 Stars
Pippin is the court jester of Broadway musicals. The story of a 9th Century son of a Roman king who seeks to find the meaning in his life is as casual as a troupe of travelling medieval entertainers, yet as entertaining as it's Broadway rock contemporaries; Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, and even Rent. Great early '70's rock music with a heap of soul, (The Jackson 5 had a hit with Corner Of The Sky in 1972), and outstanding musical comedy performances by Tony winner Ben Vereen as the godlike omnipresent lead player, Chita Rivera as Pippin's scheming sex-brained mother, and Benjamin Rayson as the warring king. The late Bob Fosse coneived this musical based on a college project by composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz.Movie Review: PURE MAGIC
Summary: 4 Stars
One minor grumble- the recording was obviously done on video tape,so the picture quality is not so good.Having said that, this is a magical recording of a magical show.Brilliant sets and costumes,wonderful music,funny,sometimes touching,sometimes a little dark,but always fascinating.Superb direction,no matter how many times I watch it I always see something new.Ben Vereen in paricular works his talented butt off but it is unfair to pick one name out of a brilliant ensemble.Such a shame that it had to be shortened to fit TV schedules,nevertheless I love it! As a theatre buff I just wish we could have more permanent records of great shows like this.