VHS : Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Conrad, Stewart, Revill, Opera World
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In association with Amazon.com
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starring: William Conrad, Clive Revill, Kate Flowers, John Stewart, Anne Collinsdirected by: Rodney Greenberg
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9781578900039
Format: Classical, Digital Sound, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 1578900034
Label: Home Vision
Manufacturer: Home Vision
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Home Vision
Release Date: January 01, 1997
Running Time: 117 minutes
Sales Rank: 22141
Studio: Home Vision
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- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive)
- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado / Eric Idle, Lesley Garrett, Richard Van Allan, Felicity Palmer, Richard Angas, Bonaventura Bottone, Susan Bullock, English National Opera
- Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Michell, Kelly, Oliver, Allen, Opera World
- Gilbert & Sullivan - H.M.S. Pinafore / Trial By Jury - David Hobson, Anthony Warlow, Colette Mann, Tiffany Speight, John Bolton Wood, Richard Alexander, Opera Australia, State Theatre, The Arts Centre Melbourne
- see more
Editorial Review:
Description:
In the Japanese town of Titipu, a wandering minstrel, Nanki-Poo, is searching for Yum-Yum, one of the 'Three little maids from school' with whom he has fallen in love. But Yum-Yum is betrothed to Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner. Ko-Ko is under pressure from the absent Mikado to perform an execution and persuades the suicidal Nanki-Poo to be his victim. The fact that Nanki-Poo is in fact the heir to the throne of Japan creates an awkward situation when the Mikado arrives in person.
Amazon.com:
An uneasy cross between a movie and a theater production, this version of Gilbert & Sullivan's masterpiece The Mikado is on the clumsy side. Obviously taped on a stage (there are just two settings, a town square and a landscape) but without an audience, it lacks the spark of live performance and the versatility of film. The action is weighed down by jejune attempts at comedy. When Nanki-Poo (disguised as a musician) receives the devastating news that the woman he loves is promised to another man, he doesn't react at all, but instead plays trombone accompaniment. And after he describes his catalog of musical offerings, the court gentlemen--for no reason except that the song's final word is 'lullaby'--drop to the ground and fall asleep. Besides not being funny, these gags are unconnected to anything in the story.
A couple of performances partly redeem things. Kate Flowers sings very well and, even better, actually creates a character. Her Yum-Yum is mischievous, blunt, sarcastic--just the kind of person who would compare herself to the sun and the moon. And as Ko-Ko, Clive Revill is a terrific combination of wily and sympathetic. Slightly hunched and wearing a jester's costume, Revill is a nervous little schemer who's vividly believable. William Conrad's bland Mikado doesn't have much impact.
This is one of the less distinguished entries in the Opera World series of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas. Many of the videos in the series do have one excellent feature: the lyrics are subtitled, making Gilbert's words infinitely easier to follow. --David Olivenbaum
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Gilbert & Sullivan - The Mikado
I originally saw this production over 20 years ago on PBS. It was the first time I saw The Mikado and I thought it was rightfully one of G&S's best works. I have seen a couple of other versions, one in a live professional production ($50 a seat) and another that was televised and I think this is still ther better of the three. Just as a lark I thought I would see if it was somehow available on DVD and I knew William Conrad was in it. All I needed to search was Conrad and Mikado and, by golly, ... Read More
Rating:  - Imitation of much better
If you want accurate renditions of the venerable Gilbert & Sullivan, try to find the D'Orly Carte Company's version. They are the original company that G&S started and tutored to perform their operettas.
Rating: - Overlook the flaws and enjoy this movie.
This 1982, BBC/PBS, made-for-TV production is somewhat dated. The technical aspects, including sound work would be done better today. It is easy to hear and to understand the play, but there is very little stereo effect, and today's 5.1 sound would make it even better.
One feature I appreciated was the included libretto, which follows the one from Bradley's book closely. There are no captions of any kind.
I was surprised to see Joseph Conrad cast as the Mikado; I didn't ... Read More
Rating: - Full of Fresh Surprises! Buy It!
My roommate and I have seen the Mikado in person in January and the old Kenny Baker DVD in March, and we've seen The Mikado last year in person at the City Center, and many times in NYC and even the Hot Mikado in Pittsburgh. This DVD is worth buying for many good reasons. Some lyrics were heard for the very first time by us because we could hear the words and even read their lips on those wonderful close-ups. The sets and costumes were good and the direction was fine. CLIVE REVILL was kind of ugly and unsuited ... Read More
Rating: - Fast Service.
I received the product in a matter of a few days. Very fast, efficient service.
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