The Donny and Marie 1978 Christmas Show
by Art Fisher
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Donny Osmond, Jay Osmond, Jim Connell, Johnny Dark, Marie OsmondDirector: Art Fisher
Brand: RESPOND2 ENTERTAINMENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 47 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-07
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: RESPOND2 ENTERTAINMENT
Movie Reviews of The Donny and Marie 1978 Christmas Show
Movie Review: Fabulous. Mostly music and mostly great. No live performance.
Summary: 5 Stars
Overall: Fabulous.
This is Donny & Marie's third Christmas special. This is not the one that features the outdoor concert, that's 1977.
It's almost wall to wall music. There are no non-musical comedy segments, no guest stars, and a minimum of talking, impressive. Sadly it does not feature any live performance.
Only one segment falls a little flat - the rooftop segment. The dancing and production is good, but the song isn't very good. Marie over acts in a style of performance that's really gone out of style now. As Donny relates in some interviews, he had to unlearn much of his performing style since it now seems passé. The constant smiling and overt playing to the audience. It's interesting to see Marie performing this way and inasmuch as it seems old fashioned that gives you some insight into your own evolution of taste.
The final two songs are sensational. An arrangement of "Silent Night" set against another tune and a final climax number with the entire family. Several other songs in the show are great.
Donny & wife Debbie sing "Three Times a Lady" to each other to very good results. Debbie sings in a slight Osmond style and way better than I expected, actually very good. Donny is electrifying in this piece and the saccharine level may move you, it did me.
The Osmond brothers appear throughout but do not get prominently featured. Jimmy gets a solo song and featured in a few other segments, he comes off well.
The concert segment is a relative disappointment, it isn't as ambitious as other concert productions from Donny & Marie had been. It doesn't feature any live performance at all and does not feature any instrumental sections. It's not that long. That said, it still delivers an electrifying Donny & Marie duet up front and when the duet adds in Jimmy for a third voice the voltage is just that much higher.
Even at this early stage (1978) the size of the Osmond clan is impressive with 2 parents, 9 children (most with associated wives), and a gaggle of grandkids.
The Osmond wives sing a number in the talent show segment and it's ok. It ups the saccharin content but for historical purposes it would have been better to see an ambitious Osmonds production.
The Osmond men sing through a comedy cooking segment production number. It's ok.
George & Olive sing a duet by themselves - yet another saccharine over music moment. It's not great singing but it's a nice moment.
There is an Osmond band segment during the talent show segment that comes off a little weak. It's painfully obvious that none of the instruments are actually being played. Merrill repeats yet again his banjo playing. Dad Osmond gets a bass solo which is just throwing it in our faces that we're watching air guitar. I don't know how good Donny is at piano but I'm pretty sure he's nowhere near as good as what we hear him play - we don't get to see his hands. Even so, it's good.
The religious content is not in your face - just standard Christmas fare from people that actually believe in it.
The overall effect, outside of the musical content, is pretty much as intended. The Osmonds come across as a tight, happy extended family with wholesome values and fun. There's some extra saccharin there but it's not so overdone that it's distracting.
Overall: A, but I was hoping for A++++
Summary of The Donny and Marie 1978 Christmas Show
America's Favorite siblings celebrate Christmas with the whole Osmond Family. Enjoy a white Christmas at the Osmond cabin complete with horseback riding snowmobiling skiing singing cooking entertaining and more! Share the memories and laughs with the whole Osmond family including a time ever performance by the Osmond wives meet Donny's new bride Debbie and enjoy performances by the Osmond brothers.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 823753780193 Manufacturer No: 7801Similar DVD Movies
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