Liza with a Z

i was lucky enough to have seen the show when it was originally broadcast. I have been looking for a copy of this show either on VHS or Video Disc. But have not been able to achieve my goal. Anyway, I remember that I was impacted, I fell in love with Liza that very first time, what a woman, Energy, Charisma, strength, voice. I remember watching her sing every song, I used to know all the lyrics of all her songs, and even remember some of the steps. It was the best show I ever saw, and actually have not been able to see another show like that. I've seen Madonna or Cher live, but they can't compare with Liza and her voice. I saw her live years later here on my hometown, she is still great, but I think that this is her best concert ever.

This magnificent film about Liza Minnelli is one of the best films showcasing a popular entertainer at her prime. Bob Fosse directed with a keen eye and great panache. He gets the viewer involved in the performance and what the star is trying to accomplish. The music material by Kander and Ebb never sounded to poignant and fresh, as interpreted by Ms. Minnelli.

The late 60s and early 70s brought forth an unusual talent, Liza Minnelli. She was at the time at the best moment of her career. She had a voice, youth, and she could move well, following Bob Fosse's choreography, designed to enhance the presentation.

The film has been kept in mint condition and just recently released on cable. Fans of Liza Minnelli can rejoice in rediscovering that vibrant entertainer showing her public why she was a star on her own right.

When I first viewed this TV concert in 1972 I thought it the best TV concert ever. Nothing in the intervening 28 years has done anything to change my mind. Liza and director-choreographer Bob Fosse are at the peak of their respective careers and it shows in this luminous performance. I still hope for its return to video in some format.

Right after her Oscar-winning performance in CABARET, Liza Minnelli took her act on the road and it was brought to television in the form of LIZA WITH A Z. Directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse, who won an Emmy for his efforts, this breathtaking evening of musical theater showcased Liza Minnelli doing what she does best...singing, dancing, clowning, completely commanding a stage and captivating an audience. From the opening number "Yes" from 70 GIRLS 70 to the title tune, written especially for her by John Kander and Fred Ebb to a striking production number called "Ring Them Bells", Liza doesn't just prove to be a superb songstress, but a great actress who makes every number a show within itself. She brings an intensity to an old Tin Pan Alley classic "It was a Good Time" and rocks the house with "I Gotcha" and wraps the evening with a medley of songs from CABARET...a once in a lifetime concert event and a must for Minnelli fans.

It would be difficult to imagine another performer on the planet capable of accomplishing what Liza Minnelli achieved in her riveting hour-long performance of "Liza with a Z." In its beautifully restored version, this stunning television showcase, originally broadcast on May 31, 1972, is now available for a new generation of viewers.

The expression "triple threat" is used in the theatre for those gifted performers with skills in singing, acting, and dancing. Liza Minnelli is at the top of her game in all three areas in this knockout performance. With the brilliant choreography of Bob Fosse and the electric feeling of a live audience at New York's Lyceum Theatre, this was a spellbinding and virtuoso performance. While not listed in the credits, the dancing ensemble also deserves kudos for their supporting contributions to this singular and indeed historic concert.

Among all of the dazzling numbers, including "Bye, Bye, Blackbird" and Liza's "Cabaret" medley, my favorite selection was the most personal and introspective, a quiet love monologue adapted by Liza from one of Charles Aznavour's songs, "You've Let Yourself Go." The song is a confession of a wife to her husband about the rather mundane and unexciting state of their relationship. Liza's interpretation, including her raw emotions and the coloring of the words, was unforgettable in its honesty and simplicity. This song and the other dynamic numbers reveal the range of Liza's performing abilities in a show for the ages!