Customer Reviews

The Best of Victor Borge Acts I and II [VHS]

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Many years ago I saw a television special starring Victor Borge. At the time, I had little knowledge of classical music and I did not really find it interesting. Nowadays, however, I listen to classical music all the time and I am able to appreciate the jokes, so I recently watched this video of Borge in concert.

First off, Victor Borge is a very funny man. Not only are his facial expressions and body language humourous, but his witty remarks and plays on words show the true, spirited nature of his character. Secondly, he is a very talented pianist. This is especially apparent during the last 15 to 20 minutes of the video where he plays a series of waltzes and lullabies. It is easy to see why he was a top-notch performer back in the 1930s -- and he still is to this very day.

The live concert on this video contains many of his classic routines. Some of the musical comedies include the Salieri Opera (which I have also seen listed as A Mozart Opera -- same routine), the 2nd Rhapsody by "Fliszt", and his accompaniment to Marylyn Mulvey during an aria. Equally funny are some of his non-musical comedy routines, including Inflationary Language and Phonetic Punctuation [sput]. These acts are even funnier when viewed on video than when I first listened to them on CD. The video has enough routines to keep you in stitches for at least an hour after it's over.

Overall, I highly recommend this video to anyone who has and has not witnessed the comedy in music of Victor Borge. You will not be disappointed by this well-performed one-man show that has delighted viewers/listeners for over four decades.

Victor Borge is as funny as ever in this 90-minute live performance. He is thoroughly engaged, very lively, and manages to deliver even his most common routines with such energy and humor that you feel as if you're seeing them for the first time.

That said, the recording has some flaws. The first you will notice is that the video quality, though not distracting, is nevertheless poor. It's painfully obvious that this DVD was mde from a VHS cassette. The one that most disappointed me most, though, is that "The Best of Victor Borge Acts I and II" is just that--the best of them, not the whole thing. Seven years ago, I purchased a videocassette of this same concert. Since the tape has gotten worn to the point of being unusable, I purchased this DVD expecting to have all of Acts I and II. Sadly, several routines are fully removed, including Borge's birthday sketches and his performance of the Moonlight Sonata. His performance of "Clear the Saloon" and several other pieces have also been cut from the recording. For this reason, although I don't outright regret the purchase, I'm profoundly disappointed with it.

Very good, but I would not say it is the Best of Victor Borge". I recall funnier moments. Also, the captured episodes are a little on the redundant side. But all in all it is very good.

Also, this DVD is 100% identical to "Victor Borge Act One and Two". Very disappointing if you are anticipating a new set of episodes - which one would when ordering a DVD by a new name.

Marvelous 90-minute live show. My only disappointment is that it is recorded at the lower-quality EP speed rather than standard play. Picture still looks good, however. This is not mentioned on the packaging.

Comedy with a difference. What!? No swearing????
Todays comedian often resort to expletives to get their humour across. Victor is old school, very talented musically and is funny to all ages. For the young a very funny introduction to the classics.

I bought this tape for my 70 year old father who remembers seeing Victor Borge live. We both laughed out heads off! Tears were streaming down our faces as we watched and then re-watched the tape. For my dad, it brought back many memories; for me, I just loved the timelessness of his humor. It is truly refreshing to hear some REAL COMEDY without all the swearing.

Victor Borge's work is incredible, and this tape is a compilation of some of his finest bits (See end of this review for a list). Unfortunately, unlike the tapes you rent at the video store, this tape is in the grainy EP mode, so Borge is not presented as well as one might have wished. The material

rates a 5, but the EP speed rates this tape a 2. If the nonstandard EP speed had been listed so that the buyer could choose their own personal price/quality trade-off, then that would have given it a 3 or 4.

Introducing Mozart............ My Favorite Barber............ Introducing Marilyn Mulvey............ Aria from "Rigor Mortis" by Joe Green............ The Timid Page Turner............ Phonetic Punctuation............ Inflationary Language............ Sahan Arzruni with the "2nd Rhapsody" by Fliszt............ Salieri Opera (sometimes called Mozart Opera)............ Danish Lullaby.

The first time I saw Victor Borge, I laughed until I cried. He was incredibly funny. He is a brilliant pianist and just as gifted in comedy! I would recommend this to anyone, and especially to those taking piano lessons. It is a real motivator.

This guy should be a household name. Its a shame he's no longer alive to continue to share his gift. I've seen quite a number of his videos. Its very hard to say which is my fav. This guy is hilarious and exhibited how classical music doesn't have to be boring. The "timid page turner" makes you roll on the floor. I HIGHLY recommend this video to everybody, you just can't help laughing! TO think that Borge not knowing a word of English and with only pennies in his pocket! This guy is amazing!

As to be expected, Victor Borge provides absolute joy with his performance of various presentations on this tape. Disgustingly, however, the tape degrades your pleasure. Why? Simply because the tape is recorded at SLP. Never mind that it COULD HAVE BEEN recorded at SP with a quantum leap in quality. No, the bean counters, intent on saving a mere pittance in tape, chose to record at SLP. They didn't, however, lower the price from a rather hefty near-twenty bucks to start with to half that price. You'll still enjoy seeing Borge at his best. However, be prepared for poor video quality at less than closeup shots and exceptionally tinny audio during high notes of his piano playing. It's so sad that great entertainment such as this is nearly ruined by the quest for the almighty dollar. Or, in this case, probably no more than an extra fifty cents worth of tape.