Victor/Victoria (1995)

I think Blake Edwards and the cast of Victor/Victoria knew that Robert Preston would not be around much longer...he was already very ill (and looks it, even sweating a bit near the end.) That last number looks somewhat improvised and I think was a loving tribute to Preston that they got him to do this bit. It makes me cry every time I see it, watching this great actor have fun. It does not appear to have been pre-recorded (except for the orchestra). Everything about that last scene appears to have been done in one take, with cutaways to show audience reaction in the Paris nightclub. The scene, which ends the movie, doesn't really relate to the plot... it is a remarkable Hollywood inside bow to Robert Preston. More than likely, only director Blake Edwards or his wife Julie Andrews could shed more light on this great moment and what happened on the set of Victor/Victoria near the end of the life of a fantastic actor.

I had no idea a Broadway version of Victor Victoria existed until I just happened to see it on a shelf at our local video rental store. Having seen the film version in 1982 and being a fan of Julie Andrews, I couldn't wait to get home to view it. Jule Andrews did a remarkable job, tirelessly going through 2 long acts, and at the age of 60! Even her dancing seems improved over the years. I loved her pre-curtain and intermission talks too. I felt I was right there in a front row. At first I thought Tony Roberts would not be as good as Robert Preston in the film version, but he came through with a lovable portrayal of Toddy, the gay drag queen. In the film, Preston did a spoof of Le Jazz Hot near the end that I thought was a bit over the top, in horrible drag and also appeared exhausted. Sadly he died not long after, a great loss. Blake Edwards so improved on this scene by having both Victoria and Toddy appear together in gorgeous gowns. Costumes and scenery were remarkable and the late Henry Mancini music, especially Crazy World, is so memorable and can bring tears to the eyes. All the rest of the cast including some great dancing and choreography have left a marvelous record of this performance. Thanks to them for a wonderful evening of viewing.

What a great movie! I enjoyed the made for the movies version, but this one, a taped Broadway show, is even better. Julie is spectacular - she shows off that incredible voice, dances wonderfully, and becomes her character so you believe what she's feeling. The rest of the cast is wonderful as well, particularly the adorable Tony Roberts as Toddy. Tony is hilarious and owns that character to a tee. I loved Michael Nouri as King Marchand - he's a very handsome man with a very nice singing voice. Finally, Rachel York as Norma Cassidy is delightfully wicked and funny with her "bleached blonde road scholar" grammar mistakes ("Out of my way, pheasant!" "You think, you worry, worry, think... before you know it, you are impudent!")The entire show is put together excellently with beautiful costumes and sets and a terrific display of talent. A must-see!

A Broadway Musical filmed and broadcast on television as performed on stage is a dicey business with the best of material. I cite Sondheim's original production of "Into The Woods" or the equally enthralling production of his "Sweeny Todd". Both were produced very well for television with the latter receiving Emmy Noms and a win for George Hearn. The idea of transmitting Blake Edward's ill conceived and poorly executed stage version of his movie masterpiece "Victor Victoria", is so tragic as to be almost laughable. This smoking pile of dung, which landed on Broadway in the early 90s, served only to taint the memory of his finest film and to ruin the beautiful voice of one of our most beloved performers. The fact that it enjoyed nearly a year's run is a testament to the love that audiences still have for Julie Andrews and not due in any part to the "Quality" of the show. It was that love for Miss Andrews, and only that, which drew me to the theatre to see the show. I was so disappointed in the extreme with the entire debacle that, though I had received a free admission, I was tempted to go to the box office and demand a refund. When an established musical work comes to Broadway, it is required that no less than 8 new pieces of music be created in order for the show to be considered for the seasonal awards. Herein, the loss of Henry Mancini was blow from which the show obviously never recovered. Leslie Bricusse, the executer of Mancini's musical estate, took on the full responsibility of converting the pleasant score they had created for the film. This composer has had a long and well-respected career usually acting in the capacity of EITHER composer or lyricist. In taking on both, his work has suffered and this piece was a tragic example. The casting of Tony Roberts in the role created by Robert Preston was a mistake of mythic proportion (Where was Dick Van Dyke??) and with very little exception; Blake Edward's stage direction was flat and uninspired. The hotel Farce sequence with cast members diving under beds and through doorways and into closets was the only exception. Avoid it like the plague and rent Mr. Edward's and Ms. Andrew's finest hour - the original 1982 film.