Curtain up. As the Third Elisberg Industries Film Festival continues, we follow up on the wonderful Camelot reminiscence I posted here yesterday with material that is even better. This today is the start of the treasure trove I mentioned. What we have from this point on is live on-stage audio of the original 1960 Broadway production of Camelot starring Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet. Not the full show, unfortunately, but a lot of it. And all the better, the material is superbly produced, with text from the libretto in split screen so you can follow all the mediocre audio, some of which is hard to make out. Further, much of the live audio is intercut (blended together, as it were) with video footage from the original cast performing in costume on The Ed Sullivan Show. For the selections to come that don’t have any of this Sullivan video footage (though much does), they instead use terrific production photos appropriate for the specific stage moments being performed, or even on occasion have silent film footage of the stage production, as well as other clever material to fill in, like Hirschfield drawings. To put it simply, this is a rare treasure, saving material of a popular culture legend that was believed lost -- and it’s spectacular. Side Note: This appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show is itself important to theater history. When Camelot opened, it got positive reviews, but mixed. And was doing only fair at the box office, uncertain how long the show would be able to run. That’s when Ed Sullivan came to the producers and offered to do a full hour tribute to Lerner and Loewe. And as part of that tribute, would let the Camelot producers put on a remarkable 20 minutes from the show. The day after the broadcast, there were lines around the block at the box office. And the show ran for over two years. And has been running in touring companies, community theater, school productions and international performances since – and four revivals on Broadway, including one this year. We start today with two videos which together are most of the first scene from the show. (The second video picks up the action immediately after the first.) This selection has the live audio of Richard Burton and Julie Andrews on stage, the libretto text and the Ed Sullivan Show video footage intercut in. The first video begins with the last verse of Richard Burton singing “I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight” and then Julie Andrews as ‘Guinevere’ arrives, having run away from her coach bringing her to Camelot to marry the king against her wishes. One clarification: this video does not have any video performances, it’s audio and “book” text only. However, there are good photos to go along with it, and some brief film clips with no sound. Which leads directly into the rest of the scene, with audio, libretto and video, which is of the title song – And as they say – The show must go on. And will, because more of this original Broadway cast production of Camelot continues tomorrow.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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