"Director: Max Liebman"

• Strauss Jr. - the Great Waltz (Novotna, Lahr, Andes) | DVD | (02/02/2004) from £21.69   |  Saving you £3.30 (15.21%)   |  RRP £24.99

  The Great Waltz the popular musical based on the life of Johann Strauss Jr. was one of a number of Spectaculars presented by pioneer TV producer Max Liebman in the mid 1950s. A stellar cast was assembled: Patrice Munsel was then a star of the Metropolitan Opera having sung more than a dozen roles with the company before the age of 27! Jarmila Novotna the great Czech soprano made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1940 and sang with the company for sixteen seasons. Both Munsel and Novotna were acclaimed for their performances in the immensely successful Met production of Johann Strauss's Die Fledermaus which showcased their talents as comic actresses as well as singers. The role of Hans Eberstater is played by Bert Lahr the popular star of stage and screen who is best remembered for his film role as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. Keith Andes is best known for his roles in such feature films as The Farmer's Daughter Clash by Night and Tora! Tora! Tora!In an age when the medium was still defining itself Max Liebman produced a wide range of high quality television programming. His early efforts yielded television's first variety show The Admiral Broadway Revue which later evolved into the legendary series Your Show of Shows. He later produced a series of specials which aired under the blanket title Max Liebman Presents. We offer The Great Waltz as a tribute to one of the visionaries of the formative years of television.

• 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.