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RobertSiegel · 01-21-2005, 05:49 PM

Thanks for this review Scott. Last night I watched The Matchmaker. First, I'll start by pointing out that I am one of the few huge fans of the film HELLO DOLLY. I have always felt that regardless of Streisand's age (which IS a problem, especially when she sings about coming back after all these years), I still think it's one beautifully produced musical. So after seeing Carol Channing live as Dolly twice and the movie about fifteen times (I am a huge fan of composer Jerry Herman's scores), plus a touring production with Sally Struthers, I was excited to see The Matchmaker.

I was very impressed with the video transfer. This was stunning black and white on my Sony VPL-11HT projector (at about 160") and may well be one of the best looking B&W widescreen movies I have yet seen on dvd. I was a little disappointed that it was mono, since it was widescreen and Vistavision, but aparently that's the way it was, or it is a lost track. Quality of the mono track was good, but stunning picture.

As for the movie itself, I guess HELLO DOLLY spoiled me. It was interesting to see what they had done with the screenplay, as this play later was changed in many places. Still, I found this enjoyable and enjoyed the performances. Anthony Perkins seems too layed back, and actually so did Dolly, though the interpretations later changed when it was re-written for Broadway. The thing that I liked better here was that Horris was able to show some affection at the end, which is really necessary to believe the story, and Walter Matthau wasn't, in my opinion, able to show any feelings for Dolly at the end of the musical, it doesn't click.

All in all, a good classic, the start of the Dolly legend, I thought it was a decent film with a great transfer. Would have need nice to include the trailer.

01-21-2005, 05:49 PM	#2 of 8
RobertSiegel Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Local Time: 08:32 AM Local Date: 11-22-2008 Posts: 785	Thanks for this review Scott. Last night I watched The Matchmaker. First, I'll start by pointing out that I am one of the few huge fans of the film HELLO DOLLY. I have always felt that regardless of Streisand's age (which IS a problem, especially when she sings about coming back after all these years), I still think it's one beautifully produced musical. So after seeing Carol Channing live as Dolly twice and the movie about fifteen times (I am a huge fan of composer Jerry Herman's scores), plus a touring production with Sally Struthers, I was excited to see The Matchmaker. I was very impressed with the video transfer. This was stunning black and white on my Sony VPL-11HT projector (at about 160") and may well be one of the best looking B&W widescreen movies I have yet seen on dvd. I was a little disappointed that it was mono, since it was widescreen and Vistavision, but aparently that's the way it was, or it is a lost track. Quality of the mono track was good, but stunning picture. As for the movie itself, I guess HELLO DOLLY spoiled me. It was interesting to see what they had done with the screenplay, as this play later was changed in many places. Still, I found this enjoyable and enjoyed the performances. Anthony Perkins seems too layed back, and actually so did Dolly, though the interpretations later changed when it was re-written for Broadway. The thing that I liked better here was that Horris was able to show some affection at the end, which is really necessary to believe the story, and Walter Matthau wasn't, in my opinion, able to show any feelings for Dolly at the end of the musical, it doesn't click. All in all, a good classic, the start of the Dolly legend, I thought it was a decent film with a great transfer. Would have need nice to include the trailer.