Search - A Little Night Music on DVD

Liz and Diana superb in a not-so-cinematic film version

Dennis J. Pauly | Evanston, IL USA | 03/30/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am reviewing this on the basis of having seen the film in the theater and I now own the laser version. Someone like Ingmar Bergman would have made it more cinematic but it is worth having because of Elizabeth Taylor and Diana Rigg. I think Elizabeth is a perfect Desiree and Rigg is ideal. Had the film been a commercial success she might have received an Oscar nomination. Several songs are cut including the chorus' comments throughout but I still find it fun."A Weekend in the Country" is perfectly done and one wishes Hal Prince had directed the whole movie that well. And to date it is the only Sondheim show to be filmed. I hope it comes back on DVD with scenes that were left out.. There is a still of Diana Rigg smoking a cigar that did not make it in the movie."

To watch it more helps you to appreciate it more

KerrLines | Baltimore,MD | 10/18/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having seen the stage play several times I can appreciate the movie for what it is.The movie is much slower and less funny than the stage play, yet the movie has some much more tender moments and dramatic flair.I love being able to see the held close ups of Taylor and Cariou and the chemistry these two have.The movie fills in parts that cannot be done on stage.Yes,songs are cut from the stage version, but new lyrics for WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY ,GLAMOUROUS LIFE and EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH make this interesting for Prince-Sondheim fans.It definitely is different than the original show, but I love it and watch it often.I always laugh when Cariou and Taylor are chortling about "her Dragooooooon!""

PBS please

Carl Downs | st louis missouri | 03/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actually I want to have a dvd edition of the musical play that was broadcast (too long to video tape,) a few years ago on PBS! The movie was fine, but art lovers everywhere want the real thing! I think mankind deserves real broadway masterpieces shown as they exist on the stage!"

It's Sondheim, It can't Help But Be Great

James Woods | Astoria, New York USA | 07/26/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"There is a lot that can be said is wrong with this film: it's too stagey, the video print that I have is fuzzy, Elizabeth Taylor isn't known as a great singer BUT this is the only visual recording of this Broadway musical comedy written by America's greatest Broadway composer.What can be said other than that it should be in the collection of any serious student of American musical art? It should certainly be in the collection of any fan of Stephen Sondheim's work. The music and the lyrics are beyond compare. The presentation may not be the best but, for the moment, there is no other visual presentation.More of Mr. Sondheim's work should be made available on video & DVD!"