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Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Marshall, Howerd, Jones, Opera World

starring: Peter Marshall, Frankie Howerd, Meryl Drower, Michael Bulman, Gordon Sandison
directed by: Rodney Greenberg

: Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Marshall, Howerd, Jones, Opera World
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781569385319
Format: Classical, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
ISBN: 1569385319
Label: Acorn Media
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Acorn Media
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 22, 2002
Running Time: 96 minutes
Sales Rank: 23907
Studio: Acorn Media
Theatrical Release Date: 1982



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Editorial Review:

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



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - A little disappointing
Perfectly fine performances, BUT... this version was filmed on a sound stage for a PBS television ... Read More


Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - No plot to the course
It looks like Frankie Howerd wasn't really interested in the job. He rarely engaged the other cast ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Dancing Across the Ocean Blue
I have friends who will kill me for saying this, but this is probably the best Pinafore available on ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - great condition
I was very satisfied with both the product, and the prompt service. thank you for everything


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Camp, Camp, Camp and we love it!
My boys (including my husband) are diehard Simpsons fans. In the famous Sidewhow Bob episode where he ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.