Musicals: From Stage & Film to Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Ejanss]

As to the One Showing Only of musicals on PBS:
Some have come from Broadway or Lincoln Center (LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, the latest SOUTH PACIFIC). Some have come from The
Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey (CRAZY FOR YOU, a SHOWBOAT revival, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC). But, with rare exceptions, PBS
only had the rights for One Showing.

Except, of course, for the 90's "American Playhouse" series getting the rights to the later Stephen Sondheim musicals, resulting in the original Bernadette Peters INTO THE WOODS, the Mandy Patinkin SUNDAY/GEORGE and PASSION going to DVD. (Unfortunately, DVD only, as video.)
Sadly, I remember Showtime in the 80's being one of the meccas for getting current Broadway onto cable (eg. the original "Pirates of Penzance", "Sweeney Todd" and "Master Harold & the Boys"), until they tried that stunt of a live as-it-happens airing of "Sophisticated Ladies", and the Unions hadn't stopped picketing since.
Pay-Per-View seems to have only recently revived the practice years later, even if we only got (yeesh!) MEMPHIS. Still, it's better than getting a movie version.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Here's another bit of good news.

The 1999 London production of Oklahoma starring Hugh Jackman is due out on Blu December 4th.

I've had this DVD for a long time and highly recommend the production. it is a huge departure from the traditional treatment given the musical.

And Jackman as Curly and the actress who plays Aunt Eller are both excellent.

http://www.amazon.com/Oklahoma-Blu-ray-Hugh-Jackman/dp/B00960EHTK/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1352828523&sr=1-1&keywords=blu+oklahoma

 

[Matt Hough]

It's a fine production even if the filming is a little wonky (audience applause at odd intervals) and Josafina Gabrielle, even if she is the first stage Laurey to dance her own part in the dream ballet, is only a mediocre singer who doesn't always do those rapturous ballads justice..

 

[Mike Frezon]

I sampled sections of the NPH Company tonight and it looks awesome...and sounds even better. The DTS-HD MA track is really terrific.

One strange thing: the packaging describes the AR as 2.35:1. It's 16:9. I'm pretty sure 16:9 is correct.

One other thing--not crucial--is that they broke the disc into chapters based on individual songs...and yet they left off "Getting Married Today" from the list of songs. The song is on the disc (its sandwiched between "Another Hundred People" and "Marry Me a Little."

I'm looking forward to taking the entire thing in...and getting a chance to experience the ending as it was meant to be seen. Watching this on my new 55" Plasma will make for a much better viewing experience than what I had in the theater. For sure.

 

[David Weicker]

I sampled sections of the NPH Company tonight and it looks awesome...and sounds even better.  The DTS-HD MA track is really terrific.
One strange thing:  the packaging describes the AR as 2.35:1.  It's 16:9.  I'm pretty sure 16:9 is correct. 
One other thing--not crucial--is that they broke the disc into chapters based on individual songs...and yet they left off "Getting Married Today" from the list of songs.  The song is on the disc (its sandwiched between "Another Hundred People" and "Marry Me a Little."
I'm looking forward to taking the entire thing in...and getting a chance to experience the ending as it was meant to be seen.  Watching this on my new 55" Plasma will make for a much better viewing experience than what I had in the theater.  For sure. 

I am anxiously awaiting for mine to arrive. It was shipped out yesterday
David

 

[Mike Frezon]

Amazon has just posted a price of $14.99 on the Blu-ray of the PBS Broadway: The American Musical.

 

[Matt Hough]

Wow! That's a super price on one of the greatest documentary series ever produced about Broadway. My only complaint about it is that even in six parts, it's too short. To cover the topic thoroughly (especially the Golden Age musicals), it would need to be twice as long as it is now.

 

[Charles Smith]

Okay, I'm in for that!

While I totally agree, about doing the subject true justice in terms of complete coverage.

 

[Ethan Riley]

I think I did this list on another thread, but I can't find it! Here is a list of stage musicals from 1950 onward, and obviously the ones in blue are on blu-ray! In some cases, the stage musical in question was inspired many years later by the movie version, such as Gigi or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang:

1950: Annie Get Your Gun
1951: Show Boat
1952: Singin' in the Rain
1953: The Band Wagon
1953: Calamity Jane
1953: Call Me Madam
1953: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
1953: Kiss Me Kate
1954: Brigadoon
1954: Carmen Jones
1954: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
1954: The Student Prince
1954: White Christmas
1955: Guys and Dolls
1955: Hit the Deck
1955: Kismet
1955: Oklahoma!
1956: Anything Goes
1956: Carousel
1956: The King and I
1957: Funny Face
1957: The Pajama Game
1957: Pal Joey
1957: Silk Stockings
1958: Damn Yankees
1958: Gigi
1958: South Pacific
1959: Lil' Abner
1959: Porgy and Bess
1960: Bells Are Ringing
1961: Babes in Toyland
1961: Flower Drum Song
1961: West Side Story
1962: Jumbo
1962: Gypsy
1962: The Music Man
1962: State Fair
1963: Bye Bye Birdie
1964: Mary Poppins
1964: My Fair Lady
1964: The Unsinkable Molly Brown
1965: The Sound of Music
1966: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1967: Camelot
1967: Dr. Dolittle
1967: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
1967: Thoroughly Modern Millie
1968: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
1968: Finian's Rainbow
1968: Funny Girl
1968: Oliver! (coming later this year)
1969: Hello, Dolly!
1969: Paint Your Wagon
1969: Sweet Charity
1970: On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
1970: Song of Norway
1970: Scrooge
1971: The Boy Friend
1971: Fiddler on the Roof
1971: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
1972: Cabaret
1972: Man of La Mancha
1972: 1776
1973: Godspell
1973: Jesus Christ Superstar
1974: Mame
1975: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
1977: A Little Night Music
1978: Grease
1978: The Wiz
1979: Hair
1980: Xanadu
1982: Annie
1982: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
1982: Victor/Victoria
1986: Little Shop of Horrors
1992: Newsies
2002: Chicago
2004: The Phantom of the Opera
2005: The Producers
2005: Rent
2006: Dreamgirls
2007: Hairspray
2007: Sweeney Todd
2008: Mamma Mia!
2009: Nine
2012: Les Miserables
2012: Rock of Ages

So what have we learned? 1) If a musical was filmed after the advent of blu-ray, it's likelier to be out on blu-ray. 2) The powers-that-be at Warner Brothers have barely begun to exploit their vast MGM catalog! 3) Cole Porter has YET to be represented in the blu-ray format!! 4) The films from the prolific mid-50s era are still popular and would probably sell well on blu. 5) All of these movies are on dvd; they all deserve to be restored and offered on blu. Even Mame...

 

[Matt Hough]

Great list, but at least two shows jumped out at me that are missing: A Little Night Music and Dreamgirls, and latter is, of course, on Blu-ray.

 

[Ethan Riley]

Added; thank you Matt!

 

[ahollis]

Hair was released in Blu-ray about three years ago.

 

[lukejosephchung]

Funny Face is available from Paramount France in a region-free blu-ray...Oliver! is being released this week in region free blu by Sony in Europe as well...

 

[Matt Hough]

Hair was released in Blu-ray about three years ago.

You're right! I even reviewed it for HTF! Can't believe my eyes skimmed right over that!

 

[Matt Hough]

Caught another omission: Song of Norway.

 

[ahollis]

Caught another omission: Song of Norway.

Even though, your list is very inclusive and shows a lot of work. Great list.

 

[Matt Hough]

No doubt about it. I complimented him about the list in an earlier post. But we do want it to be as close to accurate as possible.

 

[bujaki]

Has The Fantasticks ever been mentioned on this thread? It was released on DVD a few years ago.

 

[Matt Hough]

Has The Fantasticks ever been mentioned on this thread? It was released on DVD a few years ago.

It certainly should be in this list. And would that Neal Patrick Harris version of Company that was broadcast in theaters apply? Maybe not.

And a couple more crossed my mind while thinking of this, two entries in the American Film Theater series:

Lost in the Stars

Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.

 

[JPCinema]

Funny Lady