Amazon.com: Largely moribund since the mid-'60s, the Hollywood film musical has only occasionally piqued the interest of an ambitious filmmaker in the decades since. Nineteen eighty-two's transgender-themed, depression-era romp once again teamed director Blake Edwards with longtime musical collaborator Henry Mancini (whose work here alongside lyricist Leslie Bricusse netted him a Best Song Score Oscar®). But the real news was Edwards's casting of screen musical legend Julie Andrews--his wife--in the typecasting-be-damned lead role of the down-on-her-luck singer who eventually triumphs by passing herself off as both sides of a female impersonator cabaret act. Mancini's score is as playful as the premise, lampooning everything from stuffy operatic clichés to the "hot jazz" of '30s Parisian cabaret with his deft melodic touch, while he and Bricusse serve up a spare, if nigh-perfect slate of songs to match. Highlighted by Andrews's diva-mocking "Cherry Ripe," sultry takes of "Le Jazz Hot" and "The Shady Dame from Seville," and the show-stopping "Crazy World," the soundtrack also gets masterful turns from fellow musical-comedy legend Robert Preston on the campy "Gay Paree" and an outtake of "You and Me"(a duet with Andrews) as well as Lesley Ann Warren's ditzy delight, "Chicago, Illinois." This remastered 20th-anniversary edition is also fleshed out by 10 previously unreleased cues from Mancini's evocative orchestral score and a rehearsal take of "Shady Lady from Seville." --Jerry McCulley
Disc 1:
Main Title (Crazy World)
Cherry Ripe - Julie Andrews
Alone In Paris
Gay Paree - Robert Preston
You And Me
You And Me/The Idea
Enter Leclou
A Sub For Lover
King's Can Can
Le Jazz Hot - Julie Andrews
Medley: Le Jazz Hot (Bows)/The Unveiling
You And Me
I'm Horny
Chicago, Illinois
The Shady Dame From Seville - Julie Andrews
Cat And Mouse
Chicago, Illinois - Lesley Ann
The Big Lift
Elegant
Drag Blues
You And Me - Julie Andrews
Bedroom Radio
Carzy World (Le Matelot Club)
You And Me
Crazy World - Julie Andrews
Medley: Crazy World/Sad Victoria
King's Can Can (Reprise)
The Shady Dame From Seville - Robert Preston
Finale (Shady Dame/Le Jazz Hot/Crazy World/You And Me)
You And Me (Original Soundtrack Album Version) - Julie Andrews
The Shady Dame From Seville (Rehearsal) - Robert Preston
LE JAZZ HOT, BABY!: THE BEST "VICTOR/VICTORIA" SOUNDTRACK "VICTOR/VICTORIA" is one of my all-time favorite films. I can't believe this Soundtrack Reissue from Rhino Movie Music and Turner Classic Movies has been available since 2002. I only discovered this a few days ago on Amazon. You bet I bought it immediately! I've purchased the two previous versions of the Soundtrack (1982 MGM LP Record and 1994 Cresendo Expanded CD reissue) and this is the best version-- and not only because it is the complete Academy-Award winning score with 31 song/instrumental tracks. The "Echo Chamber" sound that is so evident on the previous editions is now completely gone. Kudos to George Feltenstein and the technical wizards at Rhino Movie Music/TCM for producing a soundtrack that is so crisp and clear I'd swear this is a live album/CD. It was as if I was hearing these songs and Mancini music for the very first time! Feltenstein and Company have worked similar remastering magic on the CD Soundtracks for "THE WIZARD OF OZ", "THE PIRATE", "IN THE GOOD OLD SUMMERTIME/SUMMER STOCK", etc. etc. etc. Leslie Bricusse and Henry Mancini's score perfectly captures the wit and warmth of the film. You'll hear Robert Preston sing "Gay Paree," the campy delight "The Shady Dame From Seville," and two versions of the charming Robert Preston-Julie Andrews duet "You And Me." The most delightful instrumental Tracks are "The Big Lift" and "Drag Blues," both of which have not appeared on CD before. Lesley Ann Warren rips through a boisterous rendition of "Chicago, Illinois." There is also the divine Julie Andrews, of course! This CD includes her complete version of "Cherry Ripe," an old British song that a starving Victoria sings as an audition early in the film. As she finishes the song, she says, "As you can tell, Mosieur Labiesse, I have a legitimate voice." The unimpressed club owner responds, "Yes, well. I'm looking for something a little more illegitimate." Robert Preston's Toddy quickly comes up with the idea that she will be a smash in gay clubs. Julie's big showstopper is "Le Jazz Hot", (Oh god! That final high note!) but her voice has never sounded more intimate than on the unforgettably poignant ballad "Crazy World." This CD is the perfect way to savor the outstanding, incomparable talents of Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, and Henry Mancini. The CD booklet photographs and detailed production history liner notes are superb as well.
Great movie, great soundtrack! This is one of my favorite movies, and I'm not sure why it took me so long to think to look for the soundtrack! I've had it for about a month now, and I love it.
Julie Andrews and Robert Preston are flawless (as usual), and it's just a lot of fun~particularly the rehearsal of Preston doing "The Shady Dame From Seville". I'm also a big fan of their duet "You and Me". All of the songs are wonderful showcases for Andrews' voice, showing her range and also various styles~from Cherry Ripe to Le Jazz Hot. What an amazing singer!
This would be a wonderful addition to to your CD collection for the musical prowess of Julie Andrews alone, but the soundtrack is a must for any fan of the movie.
A good score by the great Mancini This musical presents some of the best songs by Henry Mancini, sung by the fabulous Julie Andrews. The song "Crazy World" is featured two times, one vocal, and the other, excellent, by the orchestra. A great purchase.
Only Bright Spot: Henry Mancini Henry Mancini gave us so much of our consciousness of the 1960s and 1970s, and yet was "out" almost as soon as he was "in."
His work became synonymous with much-despised "elevator music" in the later 1960s. This stereotype (or monotype, for his earliest works) can mislead.
For example, "Lujon" [not in this collection] was used in a movie just last year to exemplify mystery and an exotic atmosphere.
Mancini died way too young. While some would argue that he'd become a self-parody, his innate gifts compromised by relentless commercialization, you cannot take away his lasting gift to our culture. He was an original, and he captured an essence of our collective experience.
By 1982, Mancini was in very late career and doing a lot more TV material. In this soundtrack, you can discern his contribution most strongly in "Chicago."
He;s still 'got it,' for sure, but his time is running out by 1982...
LOVE IT I really only got this for one song but I love this whole thing. So for once I was pleasantly surprised. Everyone should have it.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
