The Fantasticks

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Having opened off-Broadway in 1960 and still going strong, The Fantasticks would seem a natural for the movies. Or would it? The musical's charm hangs on a particular kind of intimate magic incubated exclusively in live theater. This didn't stop the chiefs of rudderless United Artists from bankrolling a film version in 1995, closely scripted from the play by original authors Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. With the movie finished, the studio deduced there was no mass audience for the old-fashioned, stage-struck musical, and promptly set it on the shelf for five years.

A slimmer version of the film was briefly released to theaters in 2000, after being cut by Francis Coppola (with the approval of director Michael Ritchie). The cutting, sometimes within songs, seems capricious--if the movie was destined to be a flop either way, why not let it play out at full length? All of this ought to set off alarm bells... and yet, it turns out there's a bit of theatrical pixie dust left in the old thing after all. Ritchie and topnotch cinematographer Fred Murphy shoot many of the songs beautifully, setting them in the film's postcard-Midwest magic hour (best seen on the widescreen DVD). The genial tone, though admittedly precious, makes for a pleasant ride. It's a movie preadolescent girls can watch with their grandmothers without embarrassment on either side. Playing the archetypal boy and girl are former New Kid on the Block Joe McIntyre and Mr. Holland's Opus songbird Jean Louisa Kelly; he fits the part of an amiable doofus very well, while Kelly has the breathless dreaminess of youth and an intriguing undercurrent of restlessness. Their feuding fathers are the able Joel Grey and Brad Sullivan, and Jonathan Morris looks every inch the carnival maestro who gives these simple folk a glimpse at their dreams. Curiously, the show's signature song ("Try to Remember") is given only an abbreviated airing at the end. And how dare they cut "Plant a Radish"? --Robert Horton

Description

Set in America's heartland, this timeless musical tells the story of two young teens who find true love with the help of their fathers, a traveling carnival road show... and, of course, a little magic. This 1995 film was directed by Michael Ritchie and stars Joel Grey, Barnard Hughes, Jean Louisa Kelly, and Joe McIntyre. Based on the long-running off-off-Broadway musical by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt.

Customer Reviews:

Not terrible as some say, but a disappointment.......2007-08-13

I've seen Sullivan Street and Snapple Center stage versions and consider myself a knowledgeable fan--I can't be as harsh as others, but there are some disappointments for sure.

It's a movie, so they're going to "open it out" and the traveling carnival concept is not bad and worked sometimes ("You are Love") and even "Soon It's Gonna Rain" but the "carnies" often distract: during the abduction song and especially the abduction scene--more Henry and Mortimer and fewer extras, please.

Also, what's with the bawdy sight gags during what on stage is the "On the Road to an Episode" scene--did someone's junior high-age son sneak onto the computer--so out of sync with the entire show! Plus side, the expanded dancing scenes added a lot.

A big problem is the literal script, I'm surprised to see Schmidt and Jones wrote it. Too many things are explained (though it enhanced the "Let's Just Dance" sequence). Trust the material, people get it!

Casting was mostly strong--I LIKED El Gallo--less effected than most--Luisa was fantastic! Joel Grey, always a joy. But Joe McIntyre at best ordinary and at worst looked amateur. Barnard Hughes was great but his part criminally cut, and the great talents of Teller absolutely wasted! Overall, a disappointment but I wouldn't blame the "carnival" concept, but rather some choices made within that idea.

I do think any fan should view it at some point--if only for the (strong, methinks) interpretation of El Gallo, Joel Grey, Jean Louisa Kelly as Luisa, some great photography and the informed arguments one can make with fellow "Fantasticks" fans!

Fantasticks butchered.......2007-07-20

Other reviewers give essential information on the editing of this film. Here's my review: Coppola butchered the thing. The narrative has been stripped of any sub plots, any minor characters, any scenes that would flesh out these few characters and their story. The two lovers acquire the needed hardship to make their love meaningful in so few minutes it's difficult to see before and after differences. After seeing the thing straight through, I went to the deleted scenes and watched each one; many were very short; all were needed. Deleted and shortened songs: unforgivable. Yes, the cinematography is beautiful, casting works, etc. Someone needs to get control of the original of this film and restore its guts.

Bad editing.......2007-04-11

Release the movie the way the director originally filmed it in 1995, instead of the chopped up version finally released on dvd.

The Fantastics.......2007-03-08

I think the movie lost some of the essential intemacy so critical to the plot - but still it is a good place holder for people who did not have the chance to see the show

A Fantastic Transition from Stage to Film.......2007-01-26

The film version of this Broadway chestnut was a long time coming, and even when it did come it sat on a shelf for several years after being filmed. It took Francis Ford Coppola's interest in it to help usher it in to theatres after some strategic editing. But it was all worth it, because this version of "Fantasticks" doesn't disappoint in the least.

As one who is very familiar with the off-Broadway show (and saw the original production at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village...of course, who didn't...it ran for over 40 years and became the longest running musical in the world), this version pushes all the right buttons present in the stage version while adding some new surprises as well. Thanks to the watchful eyes of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (the original creators of the show) who wrote the screenplay, this filmed version is spared the fate so many Broadway musicals suffer in the transition from stage to celluloid, often losing their original magic in favor of adding marketable box office stars (who don't always fit, let alone sing), new songs that don't quite work, etc.

Former Backstreet Boy Joey McIntyre turns in a fine performance as The Boy; Jean Louisa Kelly is delightful at The Girl and the late Barnard Hughes couldn't be more wonderfully befuddled as The Old Actor. Joel Grey adds some Broadway star power to the proceedings as one of the fathers. And they all sing with their own voices (quite successfully, too).

If you've never seen this classic tale of lost innocence and true love, you owe it to yourself to see this movie (or stop in at the Snapple Theatre in Times Square/NYC where a well-received revival of the show is currently playing).

Average customer rating:

Great memento of a great show...
For the true fan
Lovely reminiscence
Quite a disappointment
Marvelous film/documentary filled with heart & creativity

Try to Remember - The Fantasticks
Starring: Bill Weeden , Rita Gardner , William Tost , Tom Jones (II) , and F. Murray Abraham
Director: Eli Kabillio
Manufacturer: Zeitgeist Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0006SSREC
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Description

From 1960 to 2002, eight times a week, the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York City's Greenwich Village played midwife to a musical theater ritual that attracted theatergoers from across the globe. That show was the legendary and beloved FANTASTICKS, and for 42 years and 17,162 performances, a legion of casts—including such esteemed actors as F. Murray Abraham, Ricardo Montalban, Elliott Gould, Liza Minnelli, Glenn Close, Richard Chamberlain and John Carradine—played out its sweetly timeless boy-meets-girl tale. On the eve of THE FANTASTICKS' final Off-Broadway performance, documentary filmmaker Eli Kabillio takes a wistful look back at the show's genesis, its creators and its continued worldwide popularity through regional and school theater. Features interviews with composer Harvey Schmidt, author Tom Jones, original cast member Jerry Orbach, columnist Liz Smith, talk show host Joe Franklin, and many others.

Customer Reviews:

Great memento of a great show..........2006-12-01

This documentary commemorating the closing of this musical after 42 years in NYC is only an hour long, so it may seem pricey unless you are a Fantasticks Fanatic. However, if you have a special fondness for the work, as I have, you must at least rent this. My relationship with the show began in 1962, when my college was one of the very first to get the rights to stage a production away from New York. Joining our drama department's cast of talented students and faculty members was an actor who had just finished playing the boy, Matt, at Sullivan Street. I think his name was Jack Black (no, not the current Jack Black.) I was the drama and film critic for my college paper at the time. The show just stunned me, and I have been a sucker for it ever since. I never got to Manhattan to see it in its original setting, but I have watched half-a-dozen productions in the past 40 years in four states. This DVD is a very nice tribute, featuring the people responsible for the music, the lyrics, the script and the staging. I was sorry when it ended, and wish they had expanded the film to at least two hours...any show lasting 42 years in the same theater deserves a good historical record.

For the true fan.......2006-08-30

This is a wonderful documentary on one of the best musicals ever written. Granted that after running for 42 years there are many more stories, but the DVD would have to have a length of 42 years.

Any DVD that shows even small portions of the original staging is to be enthusiastically welcomed.

To clear up one point in a previous review, it is clearly stated that Liza Minelli appeared in another production of the show NOT the New York version. That is why she is not interviewed.

Lovely reminiscence.......2006-05-13

Very nice documentary on this legendary show
Dont know what that other reviewer is talking about; Liza Minnelli was never in The Fantasticks - is he confusing the show with Flora the Red Menace

Quite a disappointment.......2005-09-20

There was so much more to The Fantasticks, but this video didn't show it. The passing of the legendary Jerry Orbach leaves many of his inside stories untold. Liza Minnelli wasn't even interviewed. The story told by the composer and lyricist was interesting, but I still felt there was so much more to be said. It's on a par with the disappointing film version of The Fantasticks.

Marvelous film/documentary filled with heart & creativity.......2005-01-28

This is the first review I have written for anything I have purchased from Amazon...and I have purchased many items!
This is a wonderful documentary capturing the magic of The Fastasticks from the creators' early collaborations through today. Learning the story of the original producer, who stayed through the end of the all the performances AND also played one of the fathers for 16 years was one of the many things I learned from viewing this film.
I have many films I've purchased and not even watched yet. This I watched within an hour of receiving it today.
Don't miss it whether you ever saw The Fantasticks at The Sullivan Street Playhouse or not....
I'm fortunate that Hurricane Gloria did not hit New York City in the way it was predicted because that was the weekend of my first wedding anniversary and I had tickets to see The Fantasticks at The Sullivan Street Playhouse. That was September 23, 1985 the first and only time I saw The Fantasticks. I will never forget it. Because of Jerry Orbach's death I discovered the existence of this DVD and am thrilled to have it. I never saw Jerry Orbach on Broadway or The Fantasticks, but I always think of him as El Gallo and a great stage actor.

Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Not terrible as some say, but a disappointment
Fantasticks butchered
Bad editing
The Fantastics
A Fantastic Transition from Stage to Film

The Fantasticks
Starring: Joel Grey , Barnard Hughes , Jean Louisa Kelly , Joseph McIntyre , and Jonathon Morris
Director: Michael Ritchie
Manufacturer: MGM/Ua Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000059MP7

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Not terrible as some say, but a disappointment.......2007-08-13

Fantasticks butchered.......2007-07-20

Bad editing.......2007-04-11

Release the movie the way the director originally filmed it in 1995, instead of the chopped up version finally released on dvd.

The Fantastics.......2007-03-08

I think the movie lost some of the essential intemacy so critical to the plot - but still it is a good place holder for people who did not have the chance to see the show

A Fantastic Transition from Stage to Film.......2007-01-26

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