» » Original Cast Album: Company (1970)

Original Cast Album: Company (1970) Online

Original Cast Album: Company (1970) Online
Original Title :
Original Cast Album: Company
Genre :
Movie / Documentary
Year :
1970
Directror :
D.A. Pennebaker
Cast :
Barbara Barrie,Charles Braswell,Susan Browning
Type :
Movie
Time :
50min
Rating :
8.3/10
Original Cast Album: Company (1970) Online

Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company" opened on Broadway in the Spring of 1970, and tradition dictates that the cast recording is done on the first Sunday after opening night. D.A. Pennebaker, the now-legendary documentarian, filmed the production of the original cast recording, the back and forth between Sondheim and the performers, and the dynamic of trying to record live performance. The film climaxes with Elaine Stritch's performance of "The Ladies Who Lunch". The show won 6 Tony Awards including "Best Musical" and ran for two years on Broadway.
Credited cast:
Barbara Barrie Barbara Barrie - Herself (Sarah)
Charles Braswell Charles Braswell - Himself (Larry)
Susan Browning Susan Browning - Herself (April)
George Coe George Coe - Himself (David)
John Cunningham John Cunningham - Peter
Steve Elmore Steve Elmore - Himself (Paul)
George Furth George Furth - Himself (book)
Harold Hastings Harold Hastings - Himself (music director)
Beth Howland Beth Howland - Herself (Amy)
Dean Jones Dean Jones - Himself (Robert)
Charles Kimbrough Charles Kimbrough - Himself (Harry)
Merle Louise Merle Louise - Herself (Susan)
Donna McKechnie Donna McKechnie - Herself (Kathy)
Pamela Myers Pamela Myers - Herself (Marta)
Harold Prince Harold Prince - Himself (producer / director)


User reviews

Lost Python

Lost Python

Here's a great documentary to remind us that real music is performed by real people and not computers. Not only do we get to see the vocalists recording their tracks, but we get to see various sections of the full orchestra as they play their parts, including warmups and practicing "licks." Stephen Sondheim's coaching of the singers is so wonderful to watch - he understands actors and artists in a way that corporate producers/execs do not. If you love musicals--and want an uplifting experience to re-affirm your love--WATCH THIS!!
Zorve

Zorve

This was apparently the pilot for a documentary series on cast recordings, and it's a shame it didn't come to fruition, because it's really quite good.

I was not familiar with Sondheim beyond a handful of songs that you just hear everywhere (like Send in the Clowns) and even though this is just a few songs from the musical, it was a revelation, particularly Barcelona and Ladies Who Lunch. I'm sure the full production was excellent, but these talented people singing these brilliant songs into their microphones was wonderful as well.

The most fascinating part is the final section, in which Elaine Stritch gives a powerful performance of Lunch that was not, apparently, good enough for the album. It's a great example of the difference between a live performance and a recorded one; as a live performance it was incredible, but it drove her mad.

Well worth watching.
Zetadda

Zetadda

This documentary is done after the Broadway premiere of the original production of the musical, "Company," by Stephen Sondheim and directed by Harold Prince. Anyway if you've listened to the soundtrack or have seen a stage production, you will find this behind the scenes at the recording studio where they belt out the numbers from the production to be quite interesting. You can't help but love and admire Elaine Stritch who is a Broadway veteran and legend. She may not have the best voice but her "Ladies That Lunch" is memorable and a battle at the studio. You can't help but like Elaine, Stephen, Harold or Hal, and even Howard Furth who wrote the book. They and the other cast members which included Beth Howland (before TV's Alice as Vera) and her partner/husband Charles Kimbrough (long before TV's Murphy Brown as Jim Dial) along with other cast members like veteran stage actress Donna McKechnie. They all do a fabulous job in displaying why people pay to see them perform when it was more affordable as it is now. Sometimes, a good musical doesn't have to wow you as much or have special effects. Sometimes, reality can make a pretty good show.
Knights from Bernin

Knights from Bernin

This one is for musical comedy fans only, but if you are, this somewhat mythic documentary will remind you why you love them so much.

Watching Sondheim at work, correcting the pronunciation of Bobby, Bubby (booby) Bobby Bob is worth the price of admission.

I've waited years to watch this and finally Netflix made it possible.

A month later, I watched the PBS screening of the John Doyle revival of Company. Since it won a Tony, I expected a decent show though I knew Doyle had staged it with his three-time gimmick, the performers playing their own instruments. (When I heard he was directing "Peter Grimes" at the Met, my first thought was how on earth the opera singers were going to manage to play their own instruments.

Not that I didn't care for the new Company, but I couldn't believe anyone on the planet earth would want to be friends with anyone of those people. They were unlikable, unsympathetic and wore incredibly ugly costumes. No dancing, of course, since you can't play an instrument and dance but there was the marching band doing What Would We Do Without You, which sort of worked. You Could Drive a Person Crazy was sort of cute, with them stopping to blow saxophones rather than do the Do-do-dododo part.

Amy had none of the whimsy that makes "I'm Not Getting Married Today" work. In fact, this Amy looked old and hard.

Joanne, however, had not a whit of the charm Elaine Stritch brought to the part. She seemed to mistake off key for acerbic and walking around playing the triangle just didn't work for me.

Maybe it's hard to be picky about a cast when they all have to play an instrument. What a stupid way to cast a musical comedy. Doyle seems to forget it's a musical.

So rent the Making Of because it truly captures the musical. And listen to the commentary. It's priceless. Once you know what Dean Jones was going through, his "Being Alive" is heart wrenching.
santa

santa

I memorized this soundtrack and could sing along with every song before I ever saw the play. In the many years since, I try to see this production whenever it appears...such a fun Sondheim musical. Nobobdy will ever compare to Elaine Strich's vocals on the album as a jaded, oft married, oft divorced friend of Bobby's. She is wonderful. Another great number is "Barcelona", when Bobby beds numerous airline stewardesses... very clever. Listen and enjoy!
Ungall

Ungall

Sound quality is awful, like very old cassette tape or records. This is not either musical nor concerts but like the sound track making documentary. Songs are not completely sung (interrupted) or talking or chattering voices are imposed. I expect the musical or concerts and so very much disappointed for this high price awful contents DVD.