Cats - The Musical (Commemorative Edition)
starring: Elaine Paige, John Mills, Ken Page, Rosemarie Ford, Michael Gruber
directed by: David Mallet
directed by: David Mallet
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Product Description:
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca)Release Date: 07/05/2005Starring: Elaine PaigeRun time: 120 minutesRating: NrDirector: David Mallet
Amazon.com essential video:
This pop-cultural phenomenon has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons in 26 countries for almost 18 years, churning more than $2 billion in ticket sales. Now that Cats has finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid not just by fans of this critic-proof show, but also by those entertainment mavens who have somehow avoided Cats until now. The video version has been restaged but, alas, not really reconceived for its new medium.
The video cast, assembled from London, Amsterdam, and New York productions, is competent. Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, Jacob Brent as Mr. Mistoffelees, and Elaine Paige--the original London Grizabella, the Glamour Cat well past her prime--are a great deal more than that. Paige has toned down her theatrical belting of her big number, "Memory," and allowed the faded ruin of her character's soul to prevail in close-up. For all the "covers" of her signature song, Paige's version remains definitive. The video is, by definition, more intimate, not always a good thing: costumes are even more Halloweeny in garish close-up, the cats less cuddly without that all-important interaction, the stage's appropriately midnight lighting transmuted to a Las Vegas neon. And the chorus of cats in production numbers is even clunkier and more amorphous in two- and three-shots.
The one complete newcomer to the cast is the 90-year-old icon among English actors John Mills, a delight as Gus the Theatrical Cat. Sir John and his character show the youngsters how it's done in close-up, largely behind the eyes, abetted by a heart-tugging delivery of his one song. Yet virtually all of the songs are lip-synched, further robbing the video Cats of its onstage seeming spontaneity. It's clearer than ever that Lloyd Webber's music is mostly twaddle, with the important exception of "Memory," which instantly and rightly became one of the genuine theater standards not dependent on context, in the vein of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns." On the plus side, most of the Cats characters and lyrics, from T.S. Eliot's 14-poem Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, are far better defined and understood from the video version. --Robert Windeler
Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca)Release Date: 07/05/2005Starring: Elaine PaigeRun time: 120 minutesRating: NrDirector: David Mallet
Amazon.com essential video:
This pop-cultural phenomenon has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons in 26 countries for almost 18 years, churning more than $2 billion in ticket sales. Now that Cats has finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid not just by fans of this critic-proof show, but also by those entertainment mavens who have somehow avoided Cats until now. The video version has been restaged but, alas, not really reconceived for its new medium.
The video cast, assembled from London, Amsterdam, and New York productions, is competent. Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, Jacob Brent as Mr. Mistoffelees, and Elaine Paige--the original London Grizabella, the Glamour Cat well past her prime--are a great deal more than that. Paige has toned down her theatrical belting of her big number, "Memory," and allowed the faded ruin of her character's soul to prevail in close-up. For all the "covers" of her signature song, Paige's version remains definitive. The video is, by definition, more intimate, not always a good thing: costumes are even more Halloweeny in garish close-up, the cats less cuddly without that all-important interaction, the stage's appropriately midnight lighting transmuted to a Las Vegas neon. And the chorus of cats in production numbers is even clunkier and more amorphous in two- and three-shots.
The one complete newcomer to the cast is the 90-year-old icon among English actors John Mills, a delight as Gus the Theatrical Cat. Sir John and his character show the youngsters how it's done in close-up, largely behind the eyes, abetted by a heart-tugging delivery of his one song. Yet virtually all of the songs are lip-synched, further robbing the video Cats of its onstage seeming spontaneity. It's clearer than ever that Lloyd Webber's music is mostly twaddle, with the important exception of "Memory," which instantly and rightly became one of the genuine theater standards not dependent on context, in the vein of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns." On the plus side, most of the Cats characters and lyrics, from T.S. Eliot's 14-poem Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, are far better defined and understood from the video version. --Robert Windeler
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Cats
I saw the musical so many times, and when finelly I saw on TV (PBS)If you really love musicals and specially this one, it's a must have.
Rating: - Very happy with my purchase!
hello!I was very happy with the cost and amount of time it took to receive the Cats DVD and will do business with this vendor again.
Rating: - cats up closer
I recently went to the stage play 'Cats' and sat in an upper row. The visibility was great, but I had trouble hearing all the words and music because of the audience noise. Now I can watch it 'up close', and not only see it all, but hear it all. A great follow up, and a great way to remember an enjoyable evening. I recommend it.
Rating: - Just as wonderful as the Broadway Show
I took my grand daughter to see the CATS musical and she loved it, so we bought the DVD and it was just as entertaining as the musical live.Matter of fact we could understand the songs so much more clear.
Rating: - First impression, except for "Memories", was not good.
It took my watching it three times, first in VHS and later in DVD, concentrating in the music and choreography and now I love it!It is a wonderful musical but you have to give it the chance to grow on you.Now I find myself humming its music and lyrics at the oddest times.If you like music and dancing, do yourself a favor and purchase this one.Besides, chances are no other musical like it will EVER be produced, so own a part of musical history and pass it on to your grandchildren.
- CatsI saw the musical so many times, and when finelly I saw on TV (PBS)If you really love musicals and specially this one, it's a must have.
- Very happy with my purchase!hello!I was very happy with the cost and amount of time it took to receive the Cats DVD and will do business with this vendor again.
- cats up closerI recently went to the stage play 'Cats' and sat in an upper row. The visibility was great, but I had trouble hearing all the words and music because of the audience noise. Now I can watch it 'up close', and not only see it all, but hear it all. A great follow up, and a great way to remember an enjoyable evening. I recommend it.
- Just as wonderful as the Broadway ShowI took my grand daughter to see the CATS musical and she loved it, so we bought the DVD and it was just as entertaining as the musical live.Matter of fact we could understand the songs so much more clear.
- First impression, except for "Memories", was not good.It took my watching it three times, first in VHS and later in DVD, concentrating in the music and choreography and now I love it!It is a wonderful musical but you have to give it the chance to grow on you.Now I find myself humming its music and lyrics at the oddest times.If you like music and dancing, do yourself a favor and purchase this one.Besides, chances are no other musical like it will EVER be produced, so own a part of musical history and pass it on to your grandchildren.
