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DVD
Image Entertainment
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Blake Edwards
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Actors: Julie Andrews, Tony Roberts, Michael Nouri, Rachel York, Gregory Jbara
One of the world's most talented and best-loved performers, Julie Andrews reaches new heights in the most challenging role of her career as a woman pretending to be a man impersonating a woman! Filmed on the Broadway stage in 1995 (and based on the 1982 film), the immensely popular Victor/Victoria is a warm, funny, wildly energetic look at the nature of love, gender perceptions and the battle of the sexes. Written and directed by Blake Edwards, with an unforgettable score by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse, Victor/Victoria tells the story of an out-of-work singer whose life changes when she meets the flamboyant Toddy (Tony Roberts). With his help, she becomes "Victor," an overnight singing sensation in the nightclubs of Paris. But success becomes hilariously complicated when she meets the love of her life, King Marchan, a macho Chicago gangster (Michael Nouri). Adding her two cents to the couple's troubles is Marchan's ex-girlfriend, the ditzy Norma Cassidy (Rachel York). From the electrifying excitement of "Le Jazz Hot" to the contemplative "Crazy World," from the humor of "Chicago, Illinois" to the touching "Almost a Love Song," this truly classic musical has it all. 146 minutes. Filmed in High-Definition video. 16x9 anamorphic widescreen transfer.
Fans of Julie Andrews will delight in this 1995 videotaping of the stage musical Victor/Victoria, based on the 1982 movie of the same name. The plot has been kept intact: an out-of-work British soprano (Julie Andrews) in Paris falls in with a down-on-his-luck gay man (Tony Roberts), who gets the idea to present Victoria as the world's greatest female impersonator, Victor. The plan is a phenomenal success until a Chicago mobster on vacation (Michael Nouri) sees Victor in a nightclub and falls in love--and refuses to believe that Victor is a man. Due to the needs of the stage, the musical doesn't have the snap, crackle, and propulsive drive of the movie, which is a sprightly romp; to make up for this, the story has been expanded (some might say padded) with extensive dance numbers and new songs by Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse, with additional musical material by Frank Wildhorn. While Roberts and Nouri don't quite have the charisma of Robert Preston and James Garner, who played their roles in the movie, they're seasoned stage performers and make the most of things--Nouri in particular has a strong singing voice, which may surprise people who only know him from his movie career. And Julie Andrews is Julie Andrews; at this point in her career, you either love her or you don't. Victor/Victoria isn't going to change anyone's mind, but Andrews knows her audience and knows how to give them what they want. --Bret Fetzer
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| Disappointing |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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I love the movie and was thrilled to be able to buy the Broadway musical adaptation, but it is terribly disappointing.
The new material doesn't add much to the story. The pacing is very slow and even, leaving me with a dull, flat feeling. The new songs are uninspired. Julie Andrews's voice is adequate but far from her prime. Everyone else is thoroughly upstaged by Norma Cassidy (Rachel York); Blake Edwards was smart enough to limit the exposure of this most vivid character in the movie or she'd have dominated there, too.
The musical suffers terribly in comparison to the movie.
Stage productions just don't do well on film, in my opinion. The broader gestures and facial expressions, the vocal projecting and the need to face one direction all the time make it look physically stiff and ... well ... staged. This was filmed to video, too, so it loses depth of perspective and really butchers the lighting. There is an attempt to provide the live theatre experience by showing the audience arriving and during the interval, but of course it cannot capture the real thing.
The scenes and scene changes are lovely. The DVD is a good record of translating a movie to the stage. But I won't be watching it again.
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| Right on time |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I needed this DVD right away and it was at my door when they said it would be. very prompt
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| Julie Andrews is the best. |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I saw Julie Andrews live on stage in Victor/Victoria. When I saw it was on DVD I had to have it. Pefection at its best.
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| Standing Ovation! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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Julie Andrews delivers, as usual, but to actually see her deliver on the stage is incredible! Being a theater buff, to have a video of her in this stage version of the original Blake Edwards movie is the find of a life-time. And, of course, the supporting cast is great too! I miss "The Shady Dame of Seville" number, and I think its replacement is not quite so exciting. This DVD is a great addition to any broadway afficionado's collection!
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| Absolutely Fun Movie |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I remember this movie from my salad days. We bought it for the great lines and memories! The cockroach scene in the restaurant is the funnies. It's a fun movie with a lot of meaning. Julia is as always her best
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