Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Broadway Version)
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DVD details
Actor: Angela Lansbury, George HearnBrand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 140 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-04-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Times are hard in 1846 London and one must make do. So Nellie Lovett adds something extra to the meat pies she peddles on Fleet Street. The secret ingredient: freshly murdered victims of her partner in crime, barber Sweeney Todd.Composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim refashions a macabre tale into a musical masterwork in this dazzling performance of the 1979 Broadway hit originally staged by Harold Pr
DVD Reviews of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Broadway Version)
DVD Review: Great Stage Production
Summary: 4 Stars
After seeing the Johnny Depp movie adaptation of Sweeny, I was intrigued about what the uncut stage show would be like. I enjoyed the film, but many viewers complained about the missing songs and singing quality. This version was very well reviewed so I decided to rent it to see what the fuss was about. And, it was excellent. For those who may not know, this is an actual stage show that was filmed live. So, you can see the audience at times and the sets are limited. The sound quality is very good, but not as high quality as in a film. There is a touch of echo at times. However, this is very minor considering the age of the production. The costumes are great for a live performance; loud and flashy to reach the people in the back, though Mrs. Lovett is the only character who actually changes costumes noticeably. The colors of this production have also stood the test of time.
I've been a fan of Angela Lansbury for years. I loved her in many Disney movies, and found her singing very good in them. So, I expected her to do well here and she did not disappoint. She easily played the villain to great effect in "Manchurian Candidate" so I knew she was capable of the dark role. After seeing Lansbury, I realize how inadequate Helena Bonham Carter was as Mrs. Lovett in the recent film version. I finally got the nuance and macabre humor in all her songs - in particular "A Little Priest." Lansbury plays the part with a loony aspect. Mrs. Lovett isn't the brightest apple in the tree and her evil deeds are motivated more by selfish practicality rather than burning revenge as Sweeny is. This worked beautifully for comic relief amidst the dark story. She more than deserved her Tony Award. I had never heard of George Hearn before seeing him in this DVD. However, he was fantastic as Sweeney Todd. His voice is deep and resounding, and came through quite clearly from the stage. The necessarily heavy make-up (once again to reach the people in the cheap seats) made him appear even more twisted. Every song he sang was chock-full of emotion and he was a demanding presence on stage. These two were phenomenal in their leading roles.
My biggest gripe with the Depp film was the minor characters. They weren't developed at all, and the two lovebirds were totally unremarkable. Here, having the full playbook and more time, that is not the case. Turpin, Joanna and the rest become viable participants in the events taking place and fill out the plot. Their singing was all quite good. And I have to say that the film should have kept the Greek Chorus and the "Ballad of Sweeney Todd." The song really filled out Sweeny's motivations and tied the whole thing together. This would have helped the film overcome the gaps that the missing songs (necessarily cut for time) made. Overall, this was a wonderful production. Though it can't compare to actually seeing it live, it was well worth watching. I can only hope that the film spurs producers to bring the musical back to theatres. I would be the first in line for tickets at the Kennedy Center!
Description of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Broadway Version)
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 04/01/2008 Run time: 140 minutes Rating: NrBestsellers in DVD
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