Product Details

• Actors: Greg Ellis, Nicholas Hytner, Cameron Mackintosh, Claire Moore, Peter Polycarpou
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 21, 1998
• Run Time: 75 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302041414
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,233 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Documentary look behind the scenes of Broadway's hit musical.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Miss Salonga, November 5, 2002

By 

Thayer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making of Miss Saigon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a great documentary, although it seems a little short
(well not actually at
75 minutes) because its the only thing in the tape. It would be better if the
documentary is just a bonus feature with the complete Miss Saigon musical as the main feature.
Let's just wait for that one since Miss Saigon already closed on Broadway.

I was expecting a lot of Lea Salonga footages, but when I watched it, well there are lots of
great footages, but not to the amount I was expecting. Almost about 20 minutes of the
video is about the different women who auditioned for the role of Kim.
After being shown various places where they held auditions, Philippines finally
lit up the screen with "jeepneys and tricycles", my hope country,
and I just cant believe that something unbelievable has happenned here. Then there came
Monique Wilson and Lea Salonga, their showdown isn't as exciting as I expected. But it's
perfect when Lea first appeared in the screen where she asked Schonberg's autograph, and
then he (Schonberg) sang Sun and Moon for Lea to learn, and then the most beautiful thing
happenned, the very first rendition of Lea Salonga of "Sun and Moon", she sang it
BEAUTIFULLY!!!

But the thing that I am most disappointed is they didn't show their announcement that
Lea got the part, it would be very nice to see that moment. They just showed a writing
in the screen that Lea was offered the role of Kim after 3 days of rehearsals. Lea also
sang I'd Give My Life for you, Movie in My mind, and Too Much for one heart (didn't make it
to the final cut though) in her audition scenes.

What has been shown next are the reheasal footages which are truly a delight to see.
Lea Salonga reheasing the "This money's Yours" song, "This is the hour" of the cast,
choreography of some of the song numbers.

Then the very first public preview came, they only showed the first part of "Sun and Moon"
which in my opinion is the most beautiful version I have ever heard, better than the
cast recording. Then the actual premiere came and it's nice to see when Cameron
Mackintosh hugged Lea to say good-luck. They showed the Americanm Dream. Sadly they didn't
show too much of the "Fall of Saigon" with the now famous helicopter scene.

The show received a rapturous applause in its final bow and sadly only Bowman, Salonga, and
Pryce were shown bowing, but one of the best parts of the video followed, we are given the
view inside the curtain, so the moment the curtain fell, we can see
the whole cast jumping and celebrating and shouting about their very first performance.

I recommend this to all Lea Salonga and Miss Saigon fans, I am quite certain that you'll
enjoy this video, but other than those I stated I think you won't be getting the
same impact than those who are Lea and Miss Saigon fans.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK, Worth seeing Lea and Monique try out, March 13, 2000

By 

Marieta (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making of Miss Saigon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have quite a few comments after having watched this video at least 10 times (I've had it for years now). I think it is interesting to see bits and pieces of what contributes to making the "Miss Saigon" production. It's exciting watching the cast sing with the orchestra for the first time. Also, watching Lea Salonga nervously sing through Sun and Moon never fails to give me chills. What a sweet voice! However, the video showed too many auditions, and I am disappointed the video did not show the auditions for Simon Bowman, Jonathan Pryce, and Claire Moore. This definitely does NOT subsitute for watching "Miss Saigon" on stage. But it is a "documentary" video that is must have for Lea Salonga fans/"Miss Saigon" fans.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Effective documentation, but important aspects missing, January 21, 2000

By 

"kate_s" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making of Miss Saigon [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I applaud the including of footage where Salonga gets yelled at, and of the producers in disagreement. Instead of simply making it a publicity tool, this video really lets you in on the tension and labor involved in a mega production. It makes you appreciate the pains taken in searching for Miss Saigon. Great humorous moments come when the male creative crew sings mostly off-key to demonstrate the songs! However, very important aspects are missing: there is a severe lack of interviews with other leading cast members such as Lea Salonga, Monique Wilson, Simon Bowman, Claire Moore, and Jonathan Pryce. It's not everyday that they get to be the original cast of a huge scale musical like this. How do they feel? What are their hopes, frustrations, expectations? We don't know. Aside from a tiny fragment featuring Salonga and Wilson giggling over what they think they're in for, viewers are left to wonder the excitement and tension felt by these two very young and talented performers.