Barefoot in the Park

I have been looking for this version of Barefoot to come available for years now. Barbara Barrie was brilliantly funny. Richard Thomas was also exhaustingly funny. The whole cast works together so well. I saw this version of Barefoot on HBO as an 8th grader and was so captivated by the play and the actors performance that 23 years later (I enjoyed it that much) I am still in hopes that one day I will find this released to DVD. This play, but more especially the actors performance made me want to be an actor. This is such fun to watch. From memory it moves very quickly, is full of energy, full of love and full of fun. I thought the Redford/Fonda version would suffice in lieu of finding this version on tape or DVD, but it really didn't. Not to say that the Redford/Fonda version wasn't good - I just liked this better. HBO, please release to DVD is all that I request.

There's no question that this is a superior production of "Barefoot in the Park" - I show it to my high school drama class (although, as others have mentioned, all I have is a poor quality video taped from HBO). It is faithful to the script and the acting/comedic timing is superb (particularly Barbara Barrie as Ethel). The pace and energy of Armstrong and Thomas exemplify the joy of live theater - they create a wonderful, wacky momentum that carries the viewer along to the final curtain. I also tell my students to look at the wonderful set design; it's absolutely a delight to see the actors interact with it as if it were another character. If this ever comes out on DVD, somebody please let me know.

I saw this when it first aired on HBO - and found it MUCH funnier and more entertaining than the bland, drab, and, in my opinion, un-funny Fonda/Redford film. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a stage production with a live audience, but the acting and chemistry are far superior. Hans Conreid and Barbara Barrie are delightful, and Richard Thomas and Bess Armstrong give Neil Simon's material the comedic flavor it deserves. (Look for James Cromwell in a memorable small role as the telephone repair man).

The "fight" scenes alone have twice the energy and comedy than the film version. Example:

Corie: "You're very nearly perfect!" Paul: "That's a rotten thing to say!"

The delivery of this in the stage version is SO much more fun than Redford's ho-hum delivery of the same line. (anyone having seen both will know what I mean . . . ) I would HIGHLY recommend this version over the more "famous" Fonda film. I only wish that whatever studio owns it would put it out on DVD! I'd watch it again and again . . .

I love this version as well and would love to once again see this production. I was pretty young when this aired but I remember seeing it all the time and even though I was only around 7 at the time, I enjoyed it and would like to view it as an adult.

If someone is willing to send me a VHS copy I'd be happy to preserve it onto DVD at no cost. Just so that the deteriorating VHS tapes can be preserved in some fashion, I may even be able to clean it up a bit. I can do this all on my computer and make it look very professional with menus, chapter stops etc.

I'm trying to preserve lots of 80's HBO features not on DVD, for instance HBO short takes etc. Anything that I can remember from HBO in the 80's I'd love to preserve.

This was terrific---brilliantly funny! I only wish HBO would make this title available on DVD. I remember watching this version many years ago. I watched it many times as I thought it was so well put together. Bess Armstrong and Richard Thomas worked so well as the leading characters. Hans Conried and Barbara Barrie were no less than marvelous. Most of---if not all of the scenes were shot in the small two room apartment.

Are there any plans to make this title available? Is there are way to contact HBO for a request? So many great titles have been lost and I believe this is one of them.

Mickey