Customer Reviews

Mack the Knife [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I was in my 20's, I was first introduced to The Threepenny Opera in the form of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production featuring Raul Julia as MacHeath. I was hooked. That wonderful version was on LP, and has not been released on CD. If this film had not been made, that version would have been completely lost- at least large parts of it are reproduced here. This film is the closest you will get to that version, with most, if not all, of the same actors in the same roles. Raul Julia really does make a wonderful MacHeath. Some of the lyrics have been changed and some songs left out, but oddly they tried to keep as much of the original flavor as possible, songs that were omitted due to length considerations are still given tribute by a brief musical interlude/ suggestion so if you are familiar with the play you can at least appreciate where they should have fit in though they are reduced to "ghosts". I only wish that it would have been possible to reproduce the entire musical- this is my main complaint though I truly enjoyed the movie- it was like seeing an "old friend" ( my LP was destroyed years ago and I can't find another one). Other versions have not been as satisfying. I especially enjoyed Julia's powerful rendition of MacHeath "Call From the Grave" as he is standing on the gallows. For those who are not familiar with the background, Threepenny was not based only on John Gay's "The Beggars Opera" it was also based pretty closely on the poetry of the early French poet and thief Francois Villon, a real person who may be the prototype for the character of MacHeath. There is a translation of a Villon poem which is also a call from the gallows which is eerily identical to the lyrics of this version. So if you are a Threepenny fan, check out Villon, both the Swinbourne translation and some of the later ones- you'll recognize a lot of material.
The music in this film is very similar to the 1999 Berlin version, and though that is understandably in German it is the closest complete version to the now lost Royal Shakespeare production which will always be my personal favorite.

I also agree, Bobby Darrin has NOTHING to do with the original spirit of "ThreePenny Opera", no offense.

This show, if done as intended, will be fun and baudy, while at the same time, making the audience a little uncomfortable. That is the main essence of the piece, and I think this film captures it admirably. Sexy, rowdy, fun, and with an air of doom the entire time. I was a bit put off about them giving "Barbara Song" to Polly instead of Lucy, it changes the entire meaning of the song. Perhaps I'm just biased because I performed and loved that song. But none of the liberties taken with the material were unforgiveable in my opinion. The Tango number between Mack and Jenny is the best part, an edge-of-your-seat type sexiness and danger.

So don't let loyalty to the original format ruin your enjoyment of this film. Don't miss out!

Courtney Hebert Student at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy

A wonderful movie, much darker that most musicals. This makes it more realistic that most musicals. The characters are wonderful, the music his hilarious, and the dialog is great. *****

I've seen THE THREEPENNY OPERA half a dozen times. I didn't have much hope for the movie, especially given the production team, and was quite pleasantly surprised. Raul Julia is as good a MacHeath as I've seen, and Richard Harris is an excellent Peacham. As for Leonard Maltin, if he thinks Bobby Darin has anything to do with the true flavor of THE THREEPENNY OPERA, he's a bigger jerk than even I thought he was.

This is not very faithful to the original stage version, and Weill's brilliant original orchestrations have been "Hollywood-ized". However, it is a strangely captivating film. Julia Migenese and Raul Julia are perfect for the roles of Jenny and MacHeath (respectively). Polly (whose name I can't recall), Mr. Peachum (Richard Harris), and Mrs. Peachum (whose name I can't recall, but she was in the good version of ROMEO & JULIET from the 1960s) have the perfect chemistry for a dysfunctional family. A must-see! (Sorry, Kurt!)

Oh how I wish this was available on DVD and - even better - remastered.

I was looking for a DVD version because my VHS copy is tired. I bought it used many years ago and I rarely play it because I'm afraid it will go the way of all my other VHS tapes - munched by the player, or just worn out.

I've nothing to add to the other reviews, really. My only previous exposure to the Threepenny Opera had been through performances of the music completely out of context and I was thrilled when I recognized the songs in the movie. But if you get a chance to view this, please do.

It really is marvelously entertaining.

Alright - so this is not a purist's "Threepenny Opera", but a purists version of any stage play rarely makes it to film. What this film is is a jaunty, accessible screen adaptation with all of the colouful characters and many of the songs that make the stage version so enjoyable.
The story tells of the crime-boss Macheath's relationships with wives Polly and Lucy, his feud with Polly's crooked parents the Peachum's and his betrayal at the hands of former lover Jenny and best friend Police Comissioner Tiger Brown, his escapes and last minute rescue.
It is quite a thorough retelling of the stage play - keeping many elements excised from the earlier German film version by Pabst.Some of the songs are gone, most regrettably "what keeps man alive" and the show has been somewhat dressed up, with the songs turned into big song and dance numbers with plenty of cast and chorus involved in numbers that were previously more intimate. This alters the tone somewhat, but probably serves to make it accessible.
The cast are uniformly strong as Gay and Brecht' colourful rogues gallery and the design is suitably tawdry.
This is worth a look for fans of Brecht and of musicals.

This movie is a fun, accessible version of the Threepenny Opera, a great introduction to Brecht's work with a well-cast ensemble. It makes a good double feature with The Beggars Opera starring none other than Roger Daltrey- nice to explore the 20th century alterations Brecht made in his adaptation of John Gay's original play. As far as the complaints about Mack the Knife being untrue to the "original" script- even during Brecht's time the play underwent constant revision (he found it acceptable to have his actors on stage reading the newly-altered script in their hands on opening night!) Both the Barbara Song and Pirate Jenny changed performers dependent on the strength of the actress playing the role. I have seen too many versions of this play to count and one of the things that is so delightful about Brecht's work is the multitudinous interpretations of his "intent" - when it comes to Brecht it's time to throw out the Canon and get the social message, tap your toes and enjoy. Strong singing performances and choreography, the acid bitterness of poverty, and exposed sexuality all make this movie a good one.

I had never heard of this version. I had seen the 50s stage play twice and was a great fan of it and have the CD. Golan-Globus have a reputation as schlock producers and this was directed by Golan but it's really so well done that he probably should have stuck with directing. I agree with the reviewer that didn't like the switching of who sings songs and the leaving out of others. Wish they had stuck with the Off Broadway version.

On the other hand, the cast is marvelous. Raul Julia is the best Mack I've ever seen; he gets Mack's arrogance and slimee-ness. I had met him briefly when he was in DC doing "Dracula" and found him to a wonderful, playful guy. Wish he had lived longer. Julie Waters is terrific as Mrs Peachin as an Agnes Moorehead type villianess. Richard Harris surprises me that he can sing but Ed Asner nailed the grubby Peachin on stage at Christopher Street.

I wish someone like Julie Taymor would remake this and respect Blitzstein's original lyrics and cast Barbra Streisand as Jenny and let her sing "Pirate Jenny". Johnny Depp as Mack, Beyonce as Lucy Brown, Evan Rachel Wood as Polly. I wish there was a definitive movie/DVD but, in the meantime, a DVD version of Golan's would suffice.

We stumbled on this version of Threepenny Opera by accident, it doesn't come up if you put Threepenny Opera into the search engine, but we came to it by searching Raul Julia's name.

I first saw Opera at Antioch College when it was put on by the drama class in an outdoor production. It was during one of the many financial crises there and they told me that they had put it on for about $300.00. I was enchanted.

We had tried to watch the original movie, but perhaps because it was in German (a language I am not familiar with so I had to read the subtitles) I simply could not get into it.

I was very happy to find this version. It is quick and funny and very nasty, just what it is intended to be, I think. A nice little satire of the ruling classes. Both Julia as Mack and Daltrey as the Narrator are excellent. The larger numbers seem to be a little stagey and that is the only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars.

I highly recommend it and wish that I could get it on DVD.