Customer Reviews

Moon over Broadway

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Moon Over Broadway co-directed by legendary documentary director D.A. PENNEBAKER and his wife Chris Hegedus, is a behind the scenes documentary of the making of the Broadway Show Moon over Buffalo which starred Phillip Bosco, and Carol Burnett and was written by Ken Ludwig. From the announcement of the play being produced, to the beginning of rehearsal, to the disasterous Boston run, to the opening on Broadway. The access to the creative process the film-makers got is pretty amazing and what they captured is a rare behind the scenes warts and all glimpse of how a Broadway show is shaped. It doesn't take us long to realize we seem to be watching a train wreck occurring in slow motion.

Well things perhaps don't turn out as bad as you might believe. The show did wind up being moderately successful and audiences seemed to enjoy this bit of theatrical fluff.

Particularly interesting is the inter-play between the writer Ludwig, director Tom Moore, and the stars. There's a few truly candid moments caught with the producer and some of the show's backers as well. Being privvy to the whole process is a fascinating and educational experience.

But if you are lucky enough to have the DVD of the film, we are from over. As Paul Harvey would say... and then there's The Rest of the Story. . . .

The DVD has a commentary track that is no holds barred and reveals much more than the film ever could. The commentaries from the various actors, directors and producers, two to three years after the show closed, and a year or so after the documentary was released are remarkable frank, candid and revealing. Carol Burnett does contribute (via phone calls) to the commentary track as well. You'll gain even more insight and realize how deep wounds go by re-watching the film with it's invaluable commentary.

The movie is very good. The DVD package is remarkable.

Chris Jarmick Author of The Glass Cocoon with Serena F. Holder - A steamy cyber thriller. Available January 2001. Please order today. Thank You.

Sitting in the audience, we often glimpse the end result. We may even think how effortlessly and seamlessly it all fits together in a nice, neat package. Then we form our judgments towards yeah or nay, and go off on our way.

What Moon Over Broadway does is not only deflate, but explode, those perceptions with honesty and a no-holds barred approach. In showing the mechanics of putting together a mildly successful Broadway farce, the sweat and tears often known but rarely seen are so real and true, and understandable. From first reheasal to opening nite, fun and ugly parts are for us to witness, and form our own conclusions.

I must admit to purchasing this DVD solely on the merits of seeing one of my all time favorite comediennes at work, Carol Burnett. We do spend much time with her, but she is restrained in performing her role, and subdued in real life. It isn't until the dress rehearsal, when a technical glitch causes the director to take Carol onstage as herself, and she charms the waiting audience with her sparkling, funny personality we all love.

Highly recommend this for theater buffs.

Chris' review has it right: this DVD contains one of the best uses for a Commentary track yet devised.

The film itself is a feast for any theater fan. DA Pennebaker has complete access to the actors, playwright, director and producers during the rehearsal process for the play, both out-of-town in Boston, and then during its entire Broadway run. After seeing it, many may wonder how it could ever be worthwhile producing a play, but that's always been true of working in the theater: you don't have to be crazy, but it sure helps.

As for the DVD commentary, it literally gives you 2 films for the price of one. There is so much more information about the making of the play, and of the participants' true feelings about each other after the fact, that it almost could have been used as the actual voiceover track for the film. I watch this DVD repeatedly, and most of the time, I turn on the commentary track. It's so much more juicy, it makes the on-camera backstabbing seem pleasant by comparison.

Grand personalities, tempermental artists, and clashing ideas of taste and direction -- what more could you want in the Broadway theater? This wonderful behind-the-scenes documentary of the uphill struggle to bring "Moon Over Buffalo" to the Broadway stage reveals in intimate detail the painful collaborative efforts involved in giving birth to a new play. The film is as instantly absorbing as any great drama, and provides the viewer with an honest, unflinching view of what happens when a group of talented artists and producers come together to create.

I am very intrigued by the stage. It is the place an actor can go and discover their other personalities. I have to admit that I bought this movie because I have been in a production of MOON OVER BUFFALO and I wanted to see how they perceived the script compared to my community theatre. Let me tell you, one doesn't watch this film for the play on stage, which was awesome in itself, one watches this film to see how a Broadway worthy script goes from the page to the stage over the course of a few months. The play changes by leaps and bounds, I was very interested to discover that many of the punch lines of the show were eventually cut to make the show work. This video makes you want to get together with some friends and put on a play. We, as the audience, are one sided as far as what we see goes. But with this documentary, we are on all sides of this production. After you watch the video, you feel like you were shown something very special, very intimate. You were shown actors in their natural environment, adapting a new script to fit their needs and wants. I would go as far to say that this film should be purchased by CAROL fans. Ms. Burnett is very much a part of this film. She is awesome! She is the show, well, Burnett and Bosco are the show, but you will love her. She is a great person on and off stage. BUY THIS VIDEO! It is soooooo cool!

This rare, behind the scene look at the mounting of a big budget (and ultimately successful) broadway show should be required viewing for all college theatre majors with hopes of making a career in the theatre. In a seamless 90 minutes, the docu-style video reveals the hard work, discipline and pressures involved in mounting a broadway show and what it must be like to work in the theatre today.

Carol Burnett, a consumate performer, takes a lot of heat from the director, writer and others as the show struggles along in rehearsal as it preps for broadway. The director, Tom Moore and writer, Ken Ludwig come across with "in your face" self-importance that is totally eclipsed by Burnett's amazing grace and class in dealing with all of their anxieties. After all, this isn't Shakesphere folks!

Memorable moments are many; the set breaking down stopping the first preview cold, which prompts Burnett to come out and talk to the audience. This is absolute gold!

Everyone who's reading this already knows the premise of this documentary about the backstage machinations of Broadway show biz: One of America's best loved television stars agrees to make her Broadway comeback in a half-assed dinner theatre-calibre comedy, ultimately rising above her third-rate material and the fourth-rate "creative" team (playwright, director, producers)who attempt to thwart her at every turn. Fascinating stuff! The behind-the-scenes honchos (and playwright Ken Ludwig, in particular, whose comic "masterpiece" borrows a central plot device right out of an old "I Love Lucy" episode!)--are so wrapped up in their self-importance that don't seem to know--or care--how ludicrous they sound dissing their star on camera. Still, one big question goes unasked--or answered: What was Burnett thinking when she signed on for this turkey??? From all available evidence, there were more laughs in her weakest TV sketch than in this entire overblown production. Ironically, one of Burnett's most crowd-pleasing on-stage moments in the documentary comes when a backstage technical snafu forces her to break character and simply chat with the audience until the glitch is fixed. What a pro! (This review is based on VHS version.)

Moon Over Broadway traces the hard road of a Broadway-bound musical in this day and age, even if it stars the talented, indefatigable Carol Burnett. It's a very cool inside look at how a play is honed in places like New Haven as it makes its way to the Great White Way--warts and all. If you're a fan of theater, you won't want to miss this great film.

The film went into unexpected details about the whole Broadway process. What is most interesting is the arrogance of the playwright: a man who seemed obsessed with the thought of being embarrassed by actors who apparently were not treating his masterpiece properly. Well he need not have worried; the man's own gross behavior was an embarrassment and actually difficult to watch. Unfortunately I did not have access to DVD version; I look forward to seeing the commentary.

God bless Carol Burnett.

The fact that she was saddled with a mediocre play, a mediocre playwright, and a mediocre director did not ruffler her professional feathers.

No matter what crap she contends with, she is calm, cool, and funny.

The playwright is a pretentious bore who can go and write Feydeau till he is blue in the face.