Six Wives of Henry VIII / Elizabeth R (1972) Review

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(More customer reviews)THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII *****
This is a series of six individual plays that focuses upon each of the six wives of King Henry VIII of England. Written by six different playwrights, they are uniformly excellent. While the production values are not high, that is because these plays were part of a televised series for which there were budgetary constraints. Although the makeup is noticable, the sets are uninspired, and the lighting is harsh, the costumes, however, are gorgeous. More important, the acting is superb.
King Henry VIII is played to perfection by Keith Mitchell. He has set the standard by which all others in the part will be judged, and he is the linchpin around whom the entire series revolves. He plays the young, athletic, erudite, golden king in the first tape, and the viewer watches him age and deteriorate throughout the entire series, until he finally becomes the sore riddled, morbidly obese, self absorbed, tyrannical hulk of his later years.
Each one of the six wives has her own unique story. The plays tell that story, each a first rate drama unto itself that segues into the next one seamlessly. All the queens are portrayed by very talented thespians, and the supporting cast is superlative. All in all, this series provides a fully absorbing historical drama that should not be missed. It is through the story of each of the wives that one is able to see England transform itself from a catholic country to a protestant one. It also provides a birdseye view of the political intrigues that fueled the Reformation.
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ELIZABETH R *****
This Masterpiece Theatre, six play series of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England is magnificent. Written by six different playwrights, they are uniformly excellent. Glenda Jackson reigns supreme in the role of Elizabeth I.
While the production values are not high, that is because these plays were part of a televised series for which there were budgetary constraints. The shift from indoor sets to outdoor scenes is awkward, as it entails a switch from tape to film. The stage makeup is noticeable, as the lighting is harsh and glaring. Although the sets are a stark and dreary backdrop, the costumes are sumptuous and gorgeous. More important, the acting is, at all times, superlative.
Elizabeth I is played to perfection by Glenda Jackson. She has set the standard by which all others who seek to reprise this role will be judged, and she is the linchpin around which the entire six play series revolves. She begins the series playing Elizabeth as the young woman who would be queen, waiting upon the whims of her sister, the Queen Mary, and trying to survive the political intrigues and plots which surround her and threaten her very existence. The threat dissipates upon Mary's death, though it never disappears, and she becomes Queen of her beloved England.
As the series progresses, one sees her mature and resist the overtures and attentions of would be husbands, preferring, instead, to be married to England. One sees the development of her political and diplomatic acumen, as she sublimates her personal desires to become the greatest monarch, male or female, England has ever known, The Virgin Queen.
Each one of the plays has its own unique story to tell about Elizabeth and is a first rate drama that segues seamlessly into the next. The supporting cast is superb. All in all, this series provides a fully absorbing, historically accurate drama. It is through Ms. Jackson's insightful and commanding performance that one is able to understand why Elizabeth I was responsible for ushering in England's golden age.

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SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII: Over the course of six plays the life of Henry VIII and his six wives is told. Keith Michell plays the former monarch.ELIZABETH R: A masterful dramatization of the 45-year reign of Elizabeth I produced by the BBC. Nine hour-long episodes chronicle the British monarch\'s affairs of state and affairs of the heart. Beginning with her ascendance to the throne Elizabeth I challenged the status quo not least by her refusal to marry. Heavily researched and gloriously designed ELIZABETH R is considered by many to be the most factual representation of the life of this truly unique queen.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:DRAMA Rating:NR UPC:794051256423 Manufacturer No:E2564

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By the Sword Divided: Series One (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw this production years ago on Masterpiece Theatre and I was fascinated by it then. I thought that the telling of the story of the Engish Civil war through the eyes of a divided family was an extremely effective way of making the history of a complex time come to life. Like our own Civil War the tale seems one of romantic glory at first but becomes ever more grim and real as the war is prosecuted. The story is historically accurate with everything that I have read on the ECW. I have been checking over the months to see when the American format DVD will come out and hope we see it soon.

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The Firesign Theatre's All-Day Matinee: Martian Space Party and The Yolks of Oxnard (1972) Review

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(More customer reviews)So, I exaggerated. I have not seen the All Day Matinee as a DVD, but don't shoot me just yet, because I HAVE seen both of these video productions, Martian Space Party and The Case of the Missing Yolks, on VHS. They are extremely humorous and differ from the video Everything You Know Is Wrong, because these are more than lip synced videos dubbed to the album soundtrack. Not that the alien invasion epic aforementioned is ruined because of it, it is just that here, in Martian Space Party, the video version of Not Insane Not Responsible, we get a real sense of live performance right before our very eyes and pointy ears. Nick Danger and the Yolks of Oxnard, the Case of the Missing Yolks, IS an actual Firesign Theatre situation comedy movie, not feature length, but album length, with in drag performances by Proctor as the matronly yet out of this world Ma Yolk who gets a dream home of the future as a reward in a sweepstakes and finds out that being a simple American may be the life for her after all because well to do people always have evil villains like Rocky Rococo, also Proctor, in a Fez and goatee, trying to steal their hoity toity lives from them. And most of it, except for a few artsy craftsy visits to Nick Danger and his world of detective story telling is in technicolor. Martian Space Party may seem amateurish at first especially after years of listening to the audio version Not Insane, but that is because of the use of shoulder mounted camera work and the filming of the album as a live experience as if you are attending a beatnik happening that was the result of hiding out in a fail safe bomb shelter after world war three and just as you are about to go totally nuts with claustrophobia and radiation poisoning someone yells, "Hey you freaks, let's put on a show until the all clear lets us out of here". No one ever escapes from Monster Island or the wrath of Glutamoto except for President George Pappoon who blasts off for Mars with the ugly lizard, portrayed as a Craker Jack toy in a sandbox filled with doll houses and train set filling stations, clinging tightly to the President's rocket as he escapes the world of the doomed, the Spider Caucus, the Pets For Pappoon, the Friends of the Martian Space Party and all who entered the hole in the ever widening pyramid to the center of the earth in later albums dug by the big comet. Here's what happened, The Firesign Theatre gathered for a recording one day and found that their producer, who had scheduled open auditions for a cast of hundreds to take part in the album, couldn't be there due to Hurricane Camille or some storm delaying his air travel to the gig, but he did say over the phone, "This is Cyrus, your friend, nothing has happened to my nose, but I do have some dandy grapes. If you record anything out there today or night, you better have some video of the event, the recording, to prove it is you, and your writer, Walter, where ever he is. I'll be there in a couple of days, or I'll see you in Woodstock New York, at the usual studio. Bring proof of your comedy effort there. Keep the crowd of auditioners entertained. I'm sorry I can't be there, but just inform them that I am not responsible for the postponement and not insane enough to fly through a hurricane to get there." So they did. The Firesign Theatre quickly set up cameras and the National Surrealist Party Convention became a beatnik happening. Good thing they had teleprompters, because it is a difficult show to memorise, almost a cult show, rather than an occult show, although a Martian might recognise the magic that was hullabalooing along the San Andreas fault line. You will too. The album was vinyl and finally released in 1972. The videos had to wait until VCRs were perfected, but there could be a rare laser disc, out there, or down there in the hole big whole the comet dug some where on a later album, if you know maybe you don't, but, until you search, Everything You Know Is Wrong. I guess that album will be available on DVD some day too. What ever happened to eight track, Walter? The lizard is licking for that tooo darlin.

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A double-barreled comedy film festival featuring guest greats from Hollywood. Hosted by the Dean of Film Fluff, Ben Bland. A double feature showing of two of the rarest Firesign Theatre video pieces: "Martian Space Party" and "Nick Danger: The Yokes of Oxnard" (formally released as "The Case of the Missing Yoke"). Originally filmed in 1972, "Martian Space Party" is a live performance by the FST's Phil Austin, Phil Proctor, David Ossman, and Peter Bergman, plus family and friends, breaking news coverage of presidential candidate George Papoon and his trip to Monster Island plus Richard Nixon meeting Glutomoto, the cheese monster. A video precursor to the Firesign's 1973 Columbia album "Not Insane," this was live, prime Firesign Theatre at its zenith and most hilarious. The second half of this double bill is the brilliant "Yokes of Oxnard," originally released in 1983. Multiple story lines plus soap opera and commercial parodies abound. Follow private investigator Nick Danger: Third Eye, the Yoke family and that sleazy weasel Rocky Rococo as they come together to solve the mystery. As an audio bonus, Whirlwind has included taped interviews with the four Firesign members, each giving their recollection of how they all came together and have functioned as a group over the decades. DVD features: audio commentary by Ben Bland (David Ossman); audio interviews.

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The Old Man and the Sea (Animated IMAX) Review

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(More customer reviews)"The Old Man and the Sea" (1999) directed by Aleksandr Petrov is a 20 minutes long animation based on Ernest Hemingway's 1952 novella of the same name. Petrov's film was awarded Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2000. More than two years of painting on glass sheets, using brushes but mostly his own fingers, resulted in over 29,000 paintings that enabled Petrov to produce this absolutely awesome, one of the kind feast of colors, images, and emotions that celebrate the famous work of literature and its creator. I have watched it perhaps ten times during the last weekend. I am still overwhelmed by its beauty and depth, and the admiration for what human imagination, creativity, and talent are capable of producing. The extremely rare technique made the film both incredibly realistic and magically dream-like. The director himself gave us the key to understanding his work when he explained that painting with his fingers instead of brushes, "is the closest way from the heart to the cartoon". He put his own heart in every scene of the film, and that's probably why every image is alive, breathing, and shining.

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All-Star Bluegrass Celebration Review

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(More customer reviews)The high octane of bluegrass music in a live show has been captured in the "All Star Bluegrass Celebration" produced by legendary Austin City Limits architect Terry Lickona. Available on CD or DVD, the intensity of this genre is seized in this documentation of a show featuring some of the greatest performers in the business. The many moods of bluegrass range from the hard-core traditional to quick-paced contemporary, enchanting gospel to powerful mountain sounds.
Recorded on January 16, 2002 at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium for a PBS broadcast, the All-Star Bluegrass Celebration was a very popular fund-raising special. There is one primary tradeoff to the energy of a live show, and that is the audience applause which can be downright noisy and annoying, especially when it's rendered over a hot break or vocals.
The DVD version contains three bonus tracks. The show was hosted by Ricky Skaggs, and the CD begins with Kentucky Thunder's fiery rendition of the traditional "Shady Grove." A project like this always offers some interesting pairings that bring illustrious guests onto the bluegrass stage. More often associated with country music but clearly having strong bluegrass foundations, stars like Vince Gill , Travis Tritt, Patty Loveless,
and Bruce Hornsby also make appearances. Unfortunately, the set's flow has some problems. For example, following the Del McCoury Band's "Get Down on Your Knees and Pray" with a drum-heavy rendition of Earl Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is like jumping from a warm bed into a freezing cold lake. While the crowd appreciates the sheer energy of the breakdown with electric guitar, electric bass, and drums, it seems rather odd to transition right back to Patty Loveless' more acoustic rendition of "Daniel Prayed." Later in the set, after Ralph Stanley and Ricky Skaggs play straight-ahead bluegrass, Bruce Hornsby builds his compelling case for bluegrass piano on "Darlin' Corey." Of course, Nickel Creek's "Seven Wonders" pushes the bluegrass envelope even further. The all star finale jam it up on Earl Scruggs' "Lonesome Reuben" and a fitting tribute to the father of bluegrass with Bill Monroe's "Rawhide."
There are no liner notes that try to define bluegrass. It's obvious that producer Terry Likona has chosen to let the music do that for us, and the sideboards are large. With its strongly mainstream commercial sound, the All-Star Bluegrass Celebration raised a great amount of funding for PBS. Projects like this also give us a broad sampling of bluegrass for all tastes. From the sounds of the noisy audience, they clearly loved it. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)


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Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado / English National Opera Review

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(More customer reviews)This is it. The classic 1966-67 D'Oyly Carte Opera production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado. No other production holds a candle next to the superior performance of this movie. Back in the 60's, a talented cast of singers were performing all the classics of the Gilbert and Sullivan light operas under the direction of Bridget D'Oyly Carte and conductor Isodore Godfrey. They were John Reed, who performed all the comedic, fast-voiced baritone roles (Ko-Ko on here) Major General Stanley in Pirates of Penzance and Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore, lyric tenor Phillip Potter, who was charming and romantic in a matinee idol sort of way (Nanki Poo on here, also sang Frederick in Pirates Of Penzance), Valerie Masterson, the coloratura and lyric soprano who played all the leading ladies (Yum Yum, Josephine in H.M.S. Pinafore, and Mabel in Pirates Of Penzance)
Donald Adams (The Mikado, The Pirate King) and Christene Palmer, who played all the mezzo soprano roles (Katisha, Buttercup and Ruth). These singers are at the top of their game on this film,
their voices are fresh and the performance is to die for. Phillip Potter is romantic as the minstrel son of the Mikado, Donald Adams is regial, Christene Palmer is an imperious and vengeful dragon lady, Valerie Masterson is sweet, youthful and charming as Yum-Yum. John Reed is as comical as ever.The Mikado is delivered here in the manner of Kabuki Japanese theatre. It really works. The authentic kimono wardrobe, music and poses from the actors gives the whole thing an artsy Japanese look. In addition, the camera does'nt move much, giving this a very staged and museum-style feel. Even if some say its campy, it does'nt diminish its value. It's a classic film that all Gilbert and Sullivan fans have to watch.

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Hey Cinderella (1970) Review

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(More customer reviews)The one and only Jim Henson filters the iconic tale of Cinderella through his decidedly unique vision in this charming family film. Besides the traditional poor-girl snags a charming prince plot we also have talking frogs, purple monsters, dishwashing dogs and a fairy godmother whose spells make things completely disappear more often than not.
The familar plot has sweet, pretty Cinderella meeting her Prince in the Royal Garden for the first time while she is tramping through the mud (her stepmother has ordered her to get the kitchen floor dirty before she scrubs it) and promptly falls for him, even though she thinks he's a gardener ( she doesn't recognize him from his picture on the money). The gently loopy plot roughly follows its predictable path to the end , with the highlight being the masked ball where a huge, radish-loving monster waltzes by the startled King ( who observes that next time the invitations will have to be more specific). The King, who is a Muppet, gets the best lines in the film (such as when his distressed son asks if he will get any say in his marriage and the King retorts "sure you do, just not the final say") and is a truly inspired creation, and the movie is a fine addition to the Muppet canon.
If you enjoy "Hey Cinderella" you should also check out the terrific Muppet take on "The Frog Princess", which makes a delightful companion to this cute family film.

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