Product Description: Featuring the london symphony orchestra and a host of international stars including vincent price joel gray peter marshall keith mitchell frankie howerd and peter allen. Filmed in england and created especially for tv they have delighted fans on pbs and the bbc. Studio: Acorn Media Release Date: 01/20/2004 Run time: 96 minutes
Amazon.com: This video is one of the Opera World series of 12 Gilbert and Sullivan operettas produced for television in 1982. Aiming for a broad public, the series' producers assembled crossover casts of Savoyards, comedians, song-and-dance types, and Americans affecting British accents. The results are erratic, and H.M.S. Pinafore is as mixed as they come. Musically, it is of generally high quality (the opera singer Della Jones as Buttercup, for instance). It is full of energetic dance numbers, and there's a hefty dose of music-hall comedy. It just doesn't add up.
Peter Marshall, best known as the host of Hollywood Squares, turns out to be a credible singer and dancer. But his performance is bizarre. With his prancing movements and incessant grin, he's a Victorian cartoon that scarcely resembles the genial but upright Captain Corcoran. It's similar with the British TV comedian Frankie Howerd, who, in the role of Sir Joseph, plays himself. Expertly drawing on a large stock of mannerisms, he hoists his eyebrows, purses his lips, levitates his voice an octave in surprise. Howerd's speak-singing is more effective than you might think; he tramples on Gilbert's dialogue, however. Adlibbing many of his lines, he is sometimes visibly at a loss for what to say next.
The number of such wobbly moments suggests that the production was taped in a hurry. Things are further constrained by the shipboard set, which is too cramped for all those sailors, sisters, cousins, and aunts. During the dance segments, you can observe them bumping into the scenery and each other. --David Olivenbaum
A little disappointing Perfectly fine performances, BUT... this version was filmed on a sound stage for a PBS television production (rather than a live performance.) The result is a rather sterile feel. I much prefer the Opera Australia version with Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, and Colette Mann (which was filmed during a live stage performance.) The applause, laughter and audience reactions make it far more enjoyable than this PBS version.
No plot to the course It looks like Frankie Howerd wasn't really interested in the job. He rarely engaged the other cast members but at the same time did not want to pull a watchable performance from himself that might have made up for his disinterest. If you can overlook the unengaged ham for the entre, you can find some interesting morsels. Peter Marshall seemed worried his hat might fall off. There are too many moments in which the characters do not connect with each other. The character and camera blocking was also underachieving and apparently designed in haste. There are either dancing actors or static actors, but no one really moves to the music or the dialogue. The orchestra performed superbly. Please do not judge the show itself by this production. You will find community theater presentations of Pinafore with more heart and commitment than what was invested here.
Dancing Across the Ocean Blue I have friends who will kill me for saying this, but this is probably the best Pinafore available on DVD. It has just the right balance of everything. It is a romantic comedy that never takes itself seriously, it emphasizes the humor (Dick Deadeye really is "rather triangular"), well sung for the most part, and well performed. The reason some people may kill me is because some I know were upset by Frankie Howerd's singing, which admittedly was not of true G&S quality, but the overall effect was so good that who can truly find fault. If you want to see good "Pinafore", this is good a place to start as any, then you be the judge.
great condition I was very satisfied with both the product, and the prompt service. thank you for everything
Camp, Camp, Camp and we love it! My boys (including my husband) are diehard Simpsons fans. In the famous Sidewhow Bob episode where he tries to kill Bart, Bart requests that Bob first sing the entire HMS Pinafore from Gilbert and Sullivan. My 10 year old began to sing along often enough so that I thought it would be a good idea to buy the soundtrack.
When I came across this DVD version including Hollywood Squares presenter Peter Marshall (a blast from my past) and the legendary british comic Frankie Howard for such a respectable price, the choice was made.
Since the purchase, my boys have become much more interested in music and instead of Bob the Bouwer, we've moved on the Gilbert and Sullivan and even Tchaikovsky.
The production is obviously very thrown together but that just adds to the fun. Peter Marshall's dancing and singing abilities are called in doubt many many times, but it's so camp, it's just great. Frankie Howard is outstanding, comedic and just a pleasure. For real singing, the daughter and her love, the true captain are quite good and undoubtely professionals.
I need to break out my old college books and start looking for more satirical operetta's because this one is just great!!
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