Pirates of Penzance

List Price : CDN$ 19.95

Amazon Marketplace : CDN$ 69.98

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Product Details

Director : Wilford Leach
Actor : Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Ronstadt, George Rose, Rex Smith
Format : NTSC
Binding : VHS Tape
EAN : 9786300182769
Product Group : Video
Release Date : 1993-10-06
Studio : Mca (Universal)
UPC : 047897101236

ASIN : 6300182762

Editorial Reviews

From Amazon.com

When New York theatrical producer Joseph Papp decided to bring Gilbert and Sullivan to Broadway, he added typically broad, bold strokes to make their singular operetta format meaningful to 1980s audiences. In The Pirates of Penzance, Papp had a story that offered a mixture of potential action and comedy that was less arcane than other G&S chestnuts, which Papp's production underlined by playing up its antic conflict between its hapless, titular pirates and the citizens of Penzance, the Cornish town targeted for plunder. Adding to the new production's mainstream allure was the theatrical debut for erstwhile country-rock siren Linda Ronstadt as the virginal Mabel, along with a plum role for another putative pop heartthrob, Rex Smith, as the "good" pirate, Frederic.

Naturally, such amendments piqued complaints from self-appointed G&S purists, for whom the duo's original satirical edge and theatrical innovation were obscured (if not ossified) by their canon's patina of respectability. Happily, for the rest of us, Papp's cheeky revisions are generally on the money, and this 1983 film version preserves them with unusual fidelity. Instead of opening up his production with location shooting or intricate editing, director Wilford Leach savors the artifice of its stage sets and hokey, colorful costuming, celebrating the genre's proud theatrical legacy.

The cast, meanwhile, tears into the farcical plot with elan, led by Kevin Kline as the Pirate King, a role perfect for his skill at lampooning masculine bravado (not to mention his underexposed, generally strong singing). Broadway veteran George Rose proves the very model of the modern Major-General Stanley, and Angela Lansbury, added to the film's cast for marquee value, again shows her mettle as the ditzy maid, Ruth. Ronstadt justifies Papp's gamble, having trained rigorously to meet Sullivan's acrobatic melodies--indeed, this project marked her commitment to grow beyond rock, confirmed with her subsequent exploration of classic pop with arranger-conductor Nelson Riddle. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews

Disappointed (2008-06-04)

I purchased this DVD based on the fact I thought is was the version with Angela Lansbury as stated on the box. This in fact is the broadway verison with Patricia Routledge, the one with less than ideal sound and picture. I hope they will soon release the movie version as my VHS tape is showing its age and is being held together with tape.

fabulous production of a G & S classic (2004-05-09)

Anyone who enjoys the wit and merriment of Gilbert and Sullivan will adore this marvelous production. The cast is superb, with Kevin Kline giving us one of his most delectable performances, playing the Pirate King with bravura and remarkable athletic ability. Rex Smith is wonderful as the handsome Frederick; he has a gorgeous tenor voice, with a charming vibrato and fine timbre. Linda Ronstadt is a cute and demure Mabel, and as her father, the Major-General Stanley, George Rose is a riot. His of course is one of the most famous fast-patter songs ever written, "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General", and he makes the most of it. Other notable performances are by Angela Lansbury as Ruth, and Tony Azito, who is a terrific dancer, as the Sergeant.

The staging and choreography are top-notch, and I'm especially fond of the sets, which look like three-dimensional paintings, contrasted by usually having running water in each scene. Lovely cinematography (Douglas Slocombe) and excellent direction by Wilford Leach make this one of the best G & S films ever. Gilbert loved to parody the conventions and society of his time in his lyrics, and Sullivan did the same with grand opera. There are sections of "Penzance" that spoof Verdi's "Il Trovatore" and "La Traviata".

The official premiere was in 1879 in New York City, and the opera still sparkles with cleverness, its silly plot devices are still inanely funny, and the characters still lovable.The subtitle to the opera is "The Slave of Duty", and the story concerns a boy who was mistakenly apprenticed to pirates by his nurse, who hard of hearing, thought her master said "pirate" instead of "pilot"; when he meets Mabel, feelings, sense of duty, and being born on February 29th (one of those silly plot devices !) collide, and chaos ensues. This performance, based on the N. Y. Shakespeare Festival production, will thoroughly delight anyone who appreciates Gilbert and Sullivan, and Kevin Kline fans will love to see yet another facet of his talent. Total running time is 1 hour and 52 minutes.

Pleasingly fun (2004-05-05)

Pirates of Penzance is a truly special production to be sure. The comical performance by Rex Smith makes up for any poor singing, Linda Ronstadt's graceful tones and beauty adds a gentle touch and Kevin Cline took even my Father by surprise with his athletic movement and deep tones. But I can not possibly leave out the policemen, they did a remarkable job as well and gave the later half of the video the spark it needed.Alright, I will admit my Mother left the room after half to read her emails and my Father was nearly asleep, but neither hurdles stopped me from watching it more than once everyday for over a week until I had to return it to it's anxious owners. Over all, though I'm no expert, I consider it a must see for anyone who simply wants to sit back enjoy a laugh and maybe even sing-a-long.

Disappointed (2004-03-24)

I was very disappointed in this production. For those who love Gilbert and Sullivan and can't wait to here the beautiful music, forget it. There is no orchestration. The singing isn't too bad, but I love the music so I did not like this at all. There has to be an orchestra, that is a must!!! I don't know how they could even conceive to do a Gilbert and Sullivan Opera and omit one of the most important ingredients. They used amateurs, sorry, Linda, Rex and Kevin. I don't reccommend this at all.

A completely addictive movie! (2003-11-14)

I first saw this film probably when I was five or six (shortly after it originally came on video) and since then I have been hooked. For a while I was watching it probably twice a day and had most of the lines memorized. And yet, every time I watched it I was still able to find some sight-gag or joke that I had not previously noticed. This is a musical that takes delight in often spoofing the musical genre, and the characters are all delightfully perfect. In addition, it is always fun to watch an early movie of Kevin Kline and discover that he is incredibly good at singing and dancing, not to mention being able to look fabulous in tight leather pants. All-in-all, it is a movie I eagerly recommend to everyone and anyone. I just cannot wait until they finally decide to release it on DVD, hopefully with a large number of extras.

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