Gilda Live

I had seen this years ago, it was a hit and miss show with Gilda doing some of her most famous SNL characters, which are the best parts. Director Mike Nichols chose to film some backstage stuff which I don't think was needed. Father Guido Sarducci (Don Novello) is given a bit too much footage.

But Gilda provides some hilarious moments with characters like Judy Miller, the little Brownie who does her own fantasy TV show in her room, nerdy Lisa Loopner playing "The Way We Were' at a high school recital, Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci ("Aren't I cute?") and gross newscaster Rosanne Rosannadanna making a guest speech at a journalism school graduation. Some good musical moments like the vulgar "Let's Talk Dirty To The Animals' and the sweet "Honey" at the end.

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.

I tremendously enjoyed Gilda Live. A lot of her most loved characters from SNL in a broadway show, what more could you want? You get to watch this amazingly talented actress do what she did best: making people laugh.

It's no more complicated than this: of all the comediennes that came from the early days of "Saturday Night Live", Gilda Radner was the funniest.

"Gilda Live" shows her doing what she does best. Not only is there a sketch featuring our old friend Emily Litella telling an interesting children's story but also a menagerie of other characters in routines that are funny, touching and somehow heartbreaking.

The biggest scene has to be Gilda singing the song "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals". Just watch it "Gilda Live"; you'll see why.

Nine stars. Big laughs for the little lady.

Gilda Live is a filmed version of the comedic one-woman show performance of Gilda Radner Live on Broadway. Originally titled Gilda Radner: Live From New York (renamed Gilda Live for the film debut), it had a steady success as a play but the movie itself and the record as well, both released in March 1980, were complete flops with critics and the public.

To me however I had no idea this film existed until HBO ran it in 1981. I do not know why Wikipedia states "The Film was a flop with Critics and audiences alike". If the public did not show up for the film then maybe its because "They had no idea at the time there was film to begin with".

Long before her death this film developed a cult following with not only "Saturday Night Live Fans" but other people as well. The film was readily available for years on VHS and was a popular rental. For some reason it took 12 years after the initial release of the DVD format that Warner Brothers finally released it on DVD.

Now when I first saw the film in 1981 I loved every minute of it. Now 37 years later the film is still funny. Most of the sketches hold up and you really see "Gilda at her best and what a hard show this was for her to do".

Even you are not a huge "Gilda Radner Fan" you will still find this funny. The pace of the film is quick and if you don't like one sketch it there will be another you will love.

I would highly recommend buying this film and passing it around to friends for them to watch. Trust me when Summer hits and SNL is in re-runs this is a valuable alternative.