"Actor: William Le Massena"

• All That Jazz | DVD | (30/06/2003) from £8.10   |  Saving you £-2.11 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Choreographer-turned-director Bob Fosse turns the camera on himself in All That Jazz, a nervy, sometimes unnerving 1979 feature, a nakedly autobiographical piece that veers from gritty drama to razzle-dazzle musical, allegory to satire. It's an indication of his bravura, and possibly his self-absorption, that Fosse (who also co-wrote the script) literally opens alter ego Joe Gideon's heart in a key scene--an unflinching glimpse of cardiac surgery, shot during an actual open-heart procedure. Roy Scheider makes a brave and largely successful leap out of his usual romantic lead roles to step into Gideon's dancing pumps and supplies a plausible sketch of an extravagant, self-destructive, self-loathing creative dynamo, while Jessica Lange serves as a largely allegorical Muse, one of the various women that the philandering Gideon pursues (and usually abandons). Gideon's other romantic partners include Fosse's own protégé (and a major keeper of his choreographic style since his death) Ann Reinking, whose leggy grace is seductive both "onstage" and off. Fosse/Gideon's collision course with mortality, as well as his priapic obsession with the opposite sex, may offer insights into the libidinal core of the choreographer's dynamic, sexualised style of dance, but musical aficionados will be forgiven for fast-forwarding to cut out the self-analysis and focus on the music, period. At its best--as in the knockout opening, scored to George Benson's strutting version of "On Broadway", which fuses music, dance and dazzling camera work into a paean to Fosse's hoofer nation--All That Jazz offers a sequence of classic Fosse numbers--hard-edged, caustic and joyously physical. --Sam Sutherland

• Carousel | DVD | (08/03/2004) from £6.20   |  Saving you £9.79 (157.90%)   |  RRP £15.99

  The 1956 screen adaptation of Carousel, like its immediate predecessor Oklahoma!, boasted then state-of-the-art widescreen cinematography, stereophonic sound, a starring romantic duo with on-screen chemistry, and the Rodgers & Hammerstein imprimatur. Adding to its promise was a source (the venerable Ferenc Molnar play Liliom) that had already been filmed three times. Contributing to the lustre are the coastal Maine locations where 20th Century Fox filmed principal photography. Yet unlike the original Broadway production, and despite evident craft, Carousel proved a box-office disappointment. Why? Hindsight argues that movie-goers of the 1950s may have been unprepared for its tragic narrative, the sometimes unsympathetic protagonist, and a spiritual subtext addressing life after death. Whatever the obstacle, Carousel may well be a revelation to first-time viewers. The score is among the composers' most affecting, from the glorious instrumental "Carousel Waltz" to a succession of exquisite love songs ("If I Loved You"), a heart-rending secular hymn ("You'll Never Walk Alone"), and the expectant father's poignant reverie, "Soliloquy". Top-line stars Shirley Jones (as factory worker Julie Jordan) and Gordon MacRae (as Billy Bigelow, the carnival barker who woos and weds her) achieve greater dramatic urgency here than in the more successful Oklahoma!. MacRae in particular attains a personal best as the conflicted Billy, whose anxiety and wounded pride after losing his job are crucial to the plot. It's Billy's impatience to support his new family that drives him to an ill-fated decision, which transforms the fable into a ghost story. --Sam Sutherland, Amazon.com

• Carousel | DVD | (17/04/2019) from £9.15   |  Saving you £6.84 (74.75%)   |  RRP £15.99

  Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2006 Carousel tells the story of Billy Bigelow a smooth-talking carnival barker who falls in love with a mill-worker on the colourful coast of Maine. But right before the birth of his daughter Billy is killed while committing a robbery. Now in heaven years later he returns to earth for one day to attend his daughter's high school graduation and teach her one very important lesson... Featuring classics like 'If I Loved You' and the insp

• Carousel | DVD | (20/03/2006) from £4.96   |  Saving you £8.03 (161.90%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2006 Carousel tells the story of Billy Bigelow a smooth-talking carnival baker who falls in love with a mill-worker on the colourful coast of Maine. But right before the birth of his daughter Billy is killed while committing a robbery. Now in heaven years later he returns to earth for one day to attend his daughter's high school graduation and teach her one very important lesson... Featuring classics like 'If I Loved You' and the inspi

• Victor Herbert - Naughty Marietta / Munsel / Drake | DVD | (05/01/2004) from £21.35   |  Saving you £-2.36 (N/A%)   |  RRP £18.99

  Naughty Marietta is one of Victor Herbert's most enduring and beloved operettas boasting such favourite Herbert melodies as Ah Sweet Mystery of Life Italian Street Song I'm Falling in Love with Someone and Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!In 1935 MGM Studios chose Naughty Marietta as the premiere vehicle for Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy although much of the original storyline and music were drastically altered. Twenty years later Producer-Director Max Liebman brought Naughty Marietta to television in a production which was according to Variety prepared with painstaking care and devotion. Unlike the Hollywood approach Liebman's production is quite faithful to the original work allowing the unforgettable Herbert score to speak (or sing) for itself.For his leads Liebman chose two reigning stars from the worlds of Opera and Broadway: Patrice Munsel and Alfred Drake. Ms. Munsel a Met Opera favourite in such roles as Lucia Juliet and Adele gives a spirited account of the saucy Marietta d' Altena. Mr. Drake famous for creating the leading roles in Oklahoma! and Kismet made his television debut in this production lending his rich baritone voice to the role of Captain Warrington (appearing without his trademark beard).The strong supporting cast of singers and dancers - including the lovely Gale Sherwood - helps to make this a memorable evening.