Barbra Streisand - The Television Specials
by Dwight Hemion, Joe Layton, Robert Scheerer, Roland Vance, Walter C. Miller
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DVD details
Actor: Barbra Streisand, Charles Dale, Lee Allen, Norma Davids, Susan AlpernDirector: Dwight Hemion, Joe Layton, Robert Scheerer, Roland Vance, Walter C. Miller
Producer: Anu Krishnan
Writer: Robert Emmet
Writer: Robert Emmett
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; German (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Black & White, Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Original recording remastered
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 278 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-11-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Rhino Records
DVD Reviews of Barbra Streisand - The Television Specials
DVD Review: "The Best Boxset and Packaging Ever!!!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am an ardent Barbra Streisand fan as I have been following her career for decades now and when I heard that her rare TV specials from the 1960's and '70s were available on DVD I went mad. These specials are some of the best work Barbra has ever done in her career, and for the first time they are available on DVD. Many of the specials had a life on VHS in the 1980's, then suddenly disappeared. They have also not been seen on televison in decades. One special, "Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments", has never seen the light of day on broadcast television or home video, as it aired in 1973 and was put in the TV archives. Fans have traded old VHS copies of this show on-line, but now we can watch it over and over the way it was intended. This special, like the other four in the set, are impeccable and cleaned, as the producers wisely took the original studio prints, cleaned them, and used the latest technolgy to make the specials look like they were produced yesterday. All five specials have their own individual discs and come with song chapters.
The packaging is eye-popping. The set is made like a book, with strong, hard cardboard. The top part comes off by pulling up on it, where inside lys the discs sprawled out in an "organ book". These discs are single-layered and are held tightly in plastic nobs. As a bonus we get a beautiful book, 58 pages long with neat photos, discussing Barbra and her TV specials.
All of Barbra's televison specials are excellent, but personally my favorite is her first "My Name Is Barbra", filmed in glorious black and white. This special would propell Ms. Streisand to superstar status, and ultimately CBS, the network that aired the special, would gladly air more specials as the 1960's got underway. It was during her time on Broadway's "Funny Girl" that Barbra made the deal with CBS for the shows, five in all. No one ever knows if a TV special is going to be a hit, and although Barbra had signed on for five, nobody knew if her first would succeed. Barbra didn't have any guest-stars on "My Name Is Barbra", which was not the norm for weekly specials in the '60's. That first special was a ratings bonanza, winning Emmys for the special itself and one for Barbra for Best Female Performance. "Color Me Barbra" was the follow-up to Barbra's first show, and of course was filmed in color. Then we have one of the best live concerts by any female performer, Miss Streisand's 1967 Central Park concert called "A Happening in Central Park", which ultimately led her to stop performing live, as she started suffering from stage freight. Both "The Belle of 14th Street" and "...Other Musical Instruments" are OK specials to me, but the glowing jewels here are her first three. All the specials, except "Bell of 14th Street" are available on compact disc. Also, I have read too that Barbra did a TV special in 1975 for her then new film "Funny Lady", but that is not included in this set. Also missing from this collection are Barbra's neat VHS introductions to the specials from the 1980's. However, this set is a must-own, especially if you love Barbra, or simply want to be entertained by one of the greatest entertainers in the world. Pick up Barbra's beautiful live DVD special from 1986 as well called "One Voice", her first live show in over 20 years.
DVD Review: The Streisand Specials!
Summary: 5 Stars
These are great specials and lovely to watch. I saw them all in an evening marathon but won't forget them anytime soon. I'd seen My Name is Barbra and had the videotape as well as Color Me Barbra. I hadn't seen the rest and had never even heard of The Belle of 14th Street before. They are all good. My preference is for My Name is Barbra and Barbra and Other Musical Instruments but then seeing her in concert in Central Park? Not bad! She's wonderful! Even Belle which many don't like, I found very interesting. I am intrigued by vaudeville. Wonderful set. Buy it and keep it. Comes with a very nice box and booklet too. DVD Review: Quite A Talent-- Even Then.
Summary: 5 Stars
Barbra Streisand: The Television Specials is one of my favorite things to watch, for many reasons. Other than the obvious, this set offers such diversity. Want blues? Check. Show tunes? Mm-hm. Patriotic? She's covered that too. Overall, this is a great product, but for those of you sometimes fans, I'll try my best to detail the highlights and...well, the rest...of this set.
The first disc contains Barbra first TV special, My Name is Barbra. It's done in black and white, which actually enhances the quality. The first segment includes the song "I'm Late," which segways into some other songs, including a terrific version of "How Does the Wine Taste." Though the pacing is slower in this first bit, it quickly gets faster with the songs "I'm Five" and "Sweet Zoo," which show Barbra as a (you guessed it) five-year-old, telling of her child's eye view of things. These two songs are great to watch, and Streisand nails the mannerisms of a kid. This segment of the show has a monologue that really showcases Barbra's type of humor, and it has her talking about her love for thrift shops, which then turns into a medley of depression-era songs, including (of course) "Secondhand Rose", "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime." This part was filmed within Bergdorf-Goodman, to show a contrast between the songs and the surroundings. The third and final segment is a straight concert. Barbra sings "Lover, Come Back to Me," a song she made famous in her many nightclub performances. She then sings what the audience has obviously been waiting for: a medley of songs from Funny Girl. The show ends with "Happy Days Are Here Again" as the credits roll.
The next show in the set is Barbra's 1966 special, Color Me Barbra. This one is, as you can venture to guess, filmed in color, using The Philadelphia museum of art as the setting for segment one. Barbra starts out with "Yesterdays," a song that helps build the premise for this part. Over the next half hour, Barbra is transported into and out of the paintings she views, allowing us to hear a lovely rendition of the song "Non C'est Rien." Although those of us who do not speak French cannot understand the language, we can comprehend the emotion and range Barbra displays. Another great song from this section is "The Minute Waltz," a playful tongue twister sung to the tune of (what else?) Chopin`s minute waltz. The next segment has Barbra in a circus setting, singing a medley of animal-themed songs, including her now-famous "Have I Stayed Too Long At the Fair?" The last part is, like the first special, a sort of concert. Barbra performs several songs, one of favorites being "Anyplace I Hang My Hat is Home."
The third disc, The Belle of 14th Street, is, I'll admit, not as good as the first two. This is probably because it's more like the traditional variety show, with guest stars including Jason Robards and John Bubbles, who do little more than take up time as we wait for Barbra to return on stage. For those of you who've longed to hear Jason Robards sing...great. For everyone else, perhaps skip his solos. The highlight of this show is The third act, which contains Barbra's cover of "My Melancholy Baby", "A Good Man is Hard to Find", and "A Good Man is Hard to Find." The best song, though, is "Everybody Loves My Baby." Barbra's performance is terrific, and very, very funny.
A Happening in Central Park is, in my opinion, the highlight of this set. Filmed in 1967, it's Barbra at her best. She jokes with the audience in songs such as "A Schloon For the Gumpert," and especially in her folk monologue, which made me laugh out loud. Barbra's take on "Cry Me a River" gave me chills, as did "Natural Sounds." For those who prefer upbeat music, try "Down With Love", "Marty the Martian", or "Love is a Bore." The song "Value" (from her Bon Soir days) is played with highest humor, as is Barbra's non sequitur about Santa Claus. This concert, performed to over 135, 000 people, comes to its peak in a sing-along version of "Secondhand Rose," and concludes with "Happy Days Are Hear Again."
Barbra Streisand...and Other Instruments is also worthy of a viewing or two, especially because of the "Cryin' Time" duet with Ray Charles. Also noteworthy is the song "Piano Practicing," written by O`Kun, the same mind behind "The Minute Waltz" lyrics. The third segment of this special features a song ("Concerto for Voice and Appliances") that is....for voice and appliances. It's a bit weird seeing Barbra sing along with a blender, but it's nonetheless interesting. Finishing off this disc is "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)."
Altogether, The Belle of 14th Street has some questionable moments (eleven minutes of The Tempest...performed straight??), this set is definitely worth buying. There's something for everyone, and it's great to see such a talented performer in her early years.
DVD Review: Classic Specials
Summary: 5 Stars
They just don't make them like they use to.
Well, this set proves them right. The disks from Barbra's earliest television specials show what a truly unique, limitless, talent she is.
MY NAME IS BARBRA was the first opportunity that America got to see the legend. She appeared on local shows as a guest and was wowing them on Broadway in Funny Girl (she talks about that during the show). This was the first time when all and sundry could study the phenomenon up close.
CBS was nervous when Streisand insisted on no guest stars (a staple up to that time) or chorus lines. It was a big risk and the odds were against the 24 year old from Brooklyn. And she scored and won over everyone!
With only fantastic songs to guide her, Barbra re-invented the special. Breaking it up into a three act play she sang about the wonders of being a child. Then it was off to Bergdorf's fur vault for the fabulous fashion medley and then she capped it all off with a concert.
Next year, she came out with the bookend companion piece, COLOR ME BARBRA. Act One took place in a Philadelphia art museum where Barbra Streisand's selections were inspired by the art itself. The next part was the circus act where she did everything from singing to an ant eater to waltzing with an elephant. Again, she capped it off with a no-holds-barred concert.
THE BELLE OF FOURTEENTH STREET was regarded as her first flop by the critics but do give it a try. She recreated the vaudeville routines and sang some very nice numbers (a duet with herself; talking about Irving Berlin who was the new kid on the block during that time period). This time she had back-up performers (including Jason Robards) and her voice was lovely but broadcast at the height of the love revolution and the age of Aquarius, it was considered "dated". It is hardly a flop by anyone's standards when viewed today.
A HAPPENING IN CENTRAL PARK is the edited version of a young Barbra performing in New York City during a warm, summer night. Again, it was just Barbra and wonderful music - no back up singers, no gimmicks. And she pulled it off working the crowd into a frenzy.
BARBRA STREISAND AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS is a curio. She will try anything and her experimenting is always unique if not totally on point. Singing classics altered to the native rhythms of various countries produced a strange effect. Singing along with electrical appliance is also odd (to put it politely) but no one can say Barbra isn't game. However, her duet with Ray Charles is a classic.
All in all this collection is a must for all Barbra and/or music lovers.
DVD Review: da bomb!
Summary: 5 Stars
Years ago, I spent $125 on ebay to buy a pirated copy of an old scratchy VHS version of "The Belle of 14th Street." Now on DVD, wow!!! These are a must-have for any Barbra fan.
Description of Barbra Streisand - The Television Specials
The five spectacular DVDs contained in this boxed set speak volumes about vision and integrity, fearless instinct, and a passion for discovery. If you think you remember these specials from watching them when they first aired, you'll be astonished how time has only enhanced their vitality. The five DVDs are: My Name is Barbra, Color Me Barbra, and Belle of 14th Street, Barbra Streisand: Happening in Central Park, and Barbra Streisand...And Other Musical Instruments.A feast for Barbra Streisand fans, The Television Specials collects five one-hour programs she recorded between 1965 and 1973 when she was known simply as a recording artist and Broadway star rather than a film director, reclusive performer, and political activist. The first is My Name Is Barbra (April 14, 1965), shot shortly after she played in Funny Girl. Shot in black and white, it's a little different from the other variety shows of the day (e.g., The Judy Garland Show) in that there's no parade of guest stars or dancing girls. That's a good thing, as those are the numbers that get dated very quickly . Instead, we have all Barbra, even if she's more comfortable singing than doing comedy monologues. The show winds its way through an Alice in Wonderland sequence which ends in a plain but magnificent rendition of "People," then has Streisand in a store's fur department. Last is a simple concert setting that includes a Funny Girl medley with "Don't Rain on My Parade" and "The Music that Makes Me Dance." The closing concert segment would become a staple, and the peak, of all her shows.
Color Me Barbra followed on March 30, 1966 and is, naturally, filmed in color. The first sequence was shot at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, with Streisand wandering among the masterworks and antiquities, even singing "Where or When" dressed as Nefertiti. Next she's among a circus of animals, singing "Try to remember" to the elephant or poking fun at herself by telling the anteater "We have so much in common." Again, the final act is her just singing at a mike, with "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home" and "It Had to Be You." Making its home-video debut, The Belle of 14th Street (October 11, 1967) is something of an oddity. It's styled like a vaudeville show, with period costumes (including the audience) and old-time numbers. Jason Robards (singing and dancing!), John Bubbles, and others guest-star. Streisand plays a modest stripper for "Alice Blue Gown," plays an operatic diva for "Liebestraum," then does double duty as a boy (pre-Yentl) in the audience invited to sing a duet of "Mother Macree" with the on-stage Streisand. The last segment is Streisand singing (accompanied on stage by David Shire before he wrote shows on Broadway with Richard Maltby) such songs as "My Melancholy Baby," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows," and a medley that includes "My Buddy" and "How About Me?"
The highlight of the collection, A Happening in Central Park (September 15, 1968) is refreshingly free of gimmicks and concepts. It's just Streisand with an orchestra in front of a live New York audience. "The Nearness of You," "Cry Me a River," "I Can See It," "Second Hand Rose" (the audience enjoys singing along)," "People," and "Happy Days Are Here Again." Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments (November 2, 1973) returns to the concept-show format. Streisand takes her place among the symphony orchestra members sporting her own instrument: her voice. One medley groups a number of favorite songs but in "international" settings, such as "People" accompanied by sitar and "Don't Rain on My Parade" by bagpipe band, and Streisand changes costumes to match. Ray Charles is on hand for four songs in the second set, then Streisand returns to the orchestra to sing such songs as "On a Clear Day" and "The Sweetest Sounds."
Picture quality is good, and sound is presented in original mono, 2.0 stereo, and 5.1 surround. The only bonus features are three introductions Streisand filmed for the 1987 home-video releases, but the set is beautifully packaged with a detailed booklet of liner notes, photos, and song lists. The five 50+-minute programs are ungenerously spread over five discs, however. --David Horiuchi
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