A Little Night Music (DVD, 2007)

When " Alittle Night Music" was filmed by Hal Prince aned held for release until 1977, the film was regarded as being so bad they could not even find a distributor for the $8 million picture. Thus began Elizabeth Taylor's "fat period" which culminated in her famous campaign chicken choking episode, so memorably lampooned by John Belushi on "Saturday night Live." A reference to Miss Taylor in the lyrics to one song, "If She'd only been jaded; If she'd only been fat" were greeted with derisive hoots from the few people in the audience.
Now, the thirty years later we find Miss Taylor perfect for the role of the aging leading lady struggling with her past which is interfering with her present. Opposite her, recreating his Broadway role is Len Cariou, unflappable with a distaste for his own son and giddy over a woman half his age, luminously played by Leslie Anne Downne.
Miss Downne is befriended by the sharp tongued Diana Rigg in a little plot to put everyone with everyone that the summer night has just smiled upon.
Miss Rigg steals the entire picture by doing much less than any of the others.
The fatal decision when they made this picture was to change the locale from Sweden in the late 1890s to Vienna in 1906. Thus, the "smiles of a summer night" elements of the nearly non-existent Swedish summer night were completed thrown out, along with the Quintet, perhaps too theatrical a device for the literal medium of film, who served as a Greek Chorus and Messenger Device to move the plot along and illustrate various important moments in the play.
Although this picture is beautiful to look at (Oscar nomination for Costumes) and the music is Sondheim at his sumptuous best (Oscar to Jonathan Tunik for Music Adaptation)it remains much less than it could have been. It has the feeling of a foreign film, but without those pesky sub-titles; it tries to move along with the new plot, but often times lays there using dialogue suited for stilted, European translation; but most of all it is a character driven piece rather than a plot driven piece which will put many off who are waiting for SOMETHING to happen.
The score has been chopped up, and those whose voices are dubbed (many) are dubbed poorly. Miss Taylor does her best with "Send in the Clowns" but is just not a good enough singer to completely pull off this pivotal and touching moment in the second act. "A Weekend in the Country" is still the most fun in the show, with the entire cast joined together for their plots and plans for an old fashioned weekend in the country with Hermione Gingold.
The dvd itself is a disappointment. The film has not been restored and is grainy with a couple of out right glitches. The sound is not in surround sound and there are no extras.
Though somewhat better now than it seemed in the 70s, this is still a picture for die hard musical fans and those who adore Elizabeth Taylor in anything.

This was to replace an old vhs tape. I loved this movie for several reason.
"Send in the clowns" is one the most interesting and truthful songs of the 70's error. Dame Diana Rigg is superb and having to leave the "Avenger" series for this movie was a very wise decision on her part. This film is unique because Elizabeth Taylor sings and does it well. This is the only film that I know of in which she does sing. The movie came in excellent condition and it was worth years waiting for it.

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

After a chance meeting with her ex-lover, an actress sets out to win him back in this tale of changing partners in 1905 Vienna. Academy Awards: Best Original Song Score, Best Costume Design.