Gilda Live

I was one of the (very few) people who saw this in a movie theatre. It was a filming of her comedy act on stage with unfunny Don Novello popping up so she could go backstage and change costumes. When I first saw it I hated it. I had never watched SNL so I was completely at a loss at who these characters were she was playing. The only funny part I found was her song "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals" (which alone gave the film an R rating).

Years later I saw it again after seeing reruns on the original SNL. This time I knew who the characters were and I loved it! I was laughing out loud a few times and came to realize what a great comedienne she was. The only bad part is this comes across as (obviously) a little stagy and Novello's segments are just horribly unfunny. Still it's worth seeing for Radner's comedic talent. However you SHOULD have a basic working knowledge of the characters she played on TV. Otherwise you might not enjoy it.

I give it a 7--Novello is horribly unfunny and the staginess does wear you down.

As one of the first female performers for "Saturday Night Live" back when it premiered in 1975, Gilda Radner help shape the face of comedy. "Gilda Live" is a nostalgic look back on comedienne Gilda Radner live show from 1980. Bringing to life many of the characters she made famous on SNL, Gilda Radner's performance on stage is highlighted by the fact that it's live and uncensored. Many fans have noted that even with it's R rating at the time of it's release, the mostly "Adult" oriented performance was way more refreshing than watching it on TV. Many film critics in 1980, did not care for the movie at the time. However, after many years later...the film has become a true attestment of it's time in comedy. Though the material may seem some what dated and old, fans of the actress look back on it with such fond memories. "Gilda Live" is such a precious treasure of a film showing the late comedienne at her best both on and off the stage. A must watch for die hard fans!!!!!

Celebrated comedienne Gilda Radner stars in her own Broadway show featuring many of her famous SNL characters. Father Guido Sarducci, Paul Shaffer, and others join her in this mostly sketch comedy show. It's directed by Mike Nichols and includes dressing room behind the scene stuff. Like the SNL skits, this is a lot of hit and miss. It's fun when it hits. No matter what, Gilda is full of presence which powers the show when she's on stage. Even when the material isn't that great, she is and at least, she makes it interesting. This is for the Gilda fans and comedy fans in general. It's a comedic time capsule.

Gilda Radner was such a sweetheart and there was a sort of purity to her comedy, which made the spicier bits she would occasionally drop in funnier. To me her characterizations were hit and miss though, and rarely more than amusing. The highlight was the fast-talking Rosanne Rosannadanna, the lowlight, the mean-spirited version of Nadia Comaneci, which reeked of Cold War stereotypes. Seeing her play characters like the drunk rock 'n' roller flailing about on-stage or the little girl making a lot of noise in her room just didn't have enough cleverness either. To be honest, I liked Don Novello's Father Guido Sarducci character more, and was glad he got several slots. As for Gilda, it's a case where I love the person more than the comedy, at least for a full-length show.

"Gilda Live" may be the best concert movie ever. It's got Gilda Radner performing some of her "SNL" skits on stage. Whether it's nerdy Lisa Loopner playing "The Way We Were", Emily ("Never mind!") Litella, or Roseanne ("It's always something!") Roseannadanna, she always has something. Don (Father Sarducci) Novello gives some of his usual commentary; notice the "coincidenza". It's really too bad that Gilda Radner died. She was really funny (her song at the beginning of this movie is truly something else).

I never would have envisioned Mike Nichols directing a concert movie. Now that's always something!