Original Cast Album

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While a proposed series of original cast recording sessions for documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Don't Look Back) never materialized, Original Cast Album: Company survives as the first and only entry, and it was fortuitous that its subject was the 1970 musical Company. Groundbreaking in its use of a series of vignettes rather than a conventional plot, it was also one of the earliest major works for composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, the most important figure in musical theater over the last quarter-century. Unlike films, theater productions rarely have a permanent record, so a musical is preserved for posterity by the cast recording. This puts all the pressure on the recording session, as cast member Susan Browning explains during the recording of "You Could Drive a Person Crazy": a live performance can be imperfect, but "this is different. This is the definitive, it's the end-all and the be-all of this song, and... God, that could drive a person crazy!"

For this film, Pennebaker and his crew took three hand-held cameras into the studio and filmed the singers, the orchestra, and the control booth, then condensed the 18.5-hour recording session into a fast-moving 60 minutes. You can see the intensity and sheer enjoyment on the faces of the cast, and record producer Thomas Z. Shepard, show producer-director Harold Prince (both frequent Sondheim collaborators), and Sondheim (a notorious perfectionist) become alternately exhilarated and exasperated as they listen and try to solve various problems. Other interesting moments include an emphasis on the orchestra rather than the lead vocal in "Another Hundred People," and Elaine Stritch's exhausting take after take of "The Ladies Who Lunch." This is a rare look at an important moment in Broadway history, and obviously, it's highly recommended for Broadway fans. --David Horiuchi

Description

Called a "monumental achievement" by the Los Angeles Times, Company is the extraordinary documentary capturing the explosive recording session for Stephen Sondheim's landmark musical. On May 3, 1970, just a few days after its triumphant Broadway opening,

Customer Reviews:

how can I tell you what I think about it ?.......2007-07-19

I do not have the title.....it has't arrived
I still hope it was sent to me!!!

Great Almost Forgotten Cast Album.......2007-02-16

I never saw Company on stage, but was introduced to snippets of it on a DVD about Broadway and realized I would probably like the whole album. So, I ordered it, and I did.
Then I rented the DVD that shows how the cast album was made. .and that was even better! So, I hope that someday Company will tour. . I think it may be doing a Revival on Broadway, but I'd have to check that out. . but whatever the case, it's an interesting and well done cast recording and if you are a Sonheim fan, a must for your collection.

Part Rip-off, Part Astounding!.......2007-01-04

What I expected from this album did not happen and for that I am sorry. You see, I am so old that back in the old, old sixties, I saw this show on the Broadway stage along with Dean Stockwell and broke out in goosebumps when Elaine Stritch sung her classic "Here's to the Ladies Who Lunch!" What's on this DVD is NOT the show, but merely sketches of the rehearsals, much like the beginning of "Follies in Concert." In "Follies" they went on to do the whole programme and went away satisfied. In "Company" that did not happen and when the rehearsal was over they all went home and that was the end of it! I was so shocked that they (the producers of the DVD) would do that, that I didn't believe it and went back to the scene selections looking for a show--there was none. It's not a question of space on the DVD as I stated, they followed that format in "Follies." So, in sum, I adore Stephen Sondheim and I liked the real show "Company"--but the DVD leaves me there wishing for the whole show. This DVD album is a ripoff!
Kris Kleeberg
[...]

Brilliant rare documentary sneak-peek into cast-album making..........2007-01-03

This rare treat from documentary filmmaker Pennebaker is a must-have for any Sondheim lover like me. Elaine Stritch's "hung-over" initial rendition of the classic song The Ladies Who Lunch is unbelievable. The late Pamela Browning sings Another Hundred People beautifully and we get to see most of Beth Howland's (Vera on the TV sit-com Alice) seminal rendition of the Sondheim gem Getting Married Today. I only wished that Pennebaker had released extra footage of more songs, more takes, more banter. The show is currently back on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in a wonderful redux revival starring Raul Esparza and Barbara Walsh directed by John Doyle. In this revival (cast album out soon I am sure) one gets to enjoy the music and lyrics in ways never before enjoyed because of the lack of focus on the visual aspects of the show. This DVD is a worthy testament to a brilliant classic multi-Tony-winning piece of marvellous musical theatre history.

A great documentary by a great filmmaker.......2006-02-28

I can't stop watching this documentary about the recording of the cast ablum of a wonderful musical Broadway show. And I found watching the film with the commentary was as entertaining as watching the movie without the talking heads. The film quality of the transfer to DVD isn't perfect, but it's a minor flaw. To top it off, you listen to great songs by the great Stephen Sondheim. I fully recommend it, especially if you're a fan of the documentary about Bob Dylan, "Don't Look Back," which was made by D.A. Pennebaker as well. Pennebaker just records what's in front of him and let's everything play out without manipulation. It's pure and simple and top-notch filmmaking.

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Docurama Film Festival II
Starring: Docurama Film Festival 2
Manufacturer: Docurama
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GG4XY2
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Product description

Includes: Con Man (2003), The Education of Shelby Knox (2005), The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005), Parallel Lines (2004), Passin' It On (1993), Power Trip (2003), The Shvitz (1993), Waging a Living (2005), Farmingville (2004), Original Cast Album: Company (1970).

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