Original Cast Album: Company
- 1970
- 53m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
"Company" musical's original cast recording session filmed by D.A. Pennebaker in 1970. Captures interactions between Sondheim, performers and live recording process, culminating with Elaine ... Read all"Company" musical's original cast recording session filmed by D.A. Pennebaker in 1970. Captures interactions between Sondheim, performers and live recording process, culminating with Elaine Stritch's iconic "The Ladies Who Lunch" rendition"Company" musical's original cast recording session filmed by D.A. Pennebaker in 1970. Captures interactions between Sondheim, performers and live recording process, culminating with Elaine Stritch's iconic "The Ladies Who Lunch" rendition
Thomas Z. Shepard
- Self (record producer)
- (as Thomas Z. Shepherd)
Featured reviews
"Company" is an extraordinary piece of theatre that was ahead of its time. The story themes presented in this seventies Broadway musical, still resonate and feel fresh in our contemporary world. "Original Cast Album: Company" affords us a rare peek into the stakes, tears and process that goes into creating a cast album - which will long outlive the theatrical run and the life of the creators and talent. A soundtrack is how many - most - people will become exposed to a work. This documentary is gripping and compelling, sure to entertain the most fickle of audiences (read: non theater fans). It is a damn shame this series was not expanded to include subsequent productions. I am baffled why no producer has yet to attempt a similar feet, or pick up where this pilot ended.
Here's a great documentary to remind us that real music is performed by real people and not computers. Not only do we get to see the vocalists recording their tracks, but we get to see various sections of the full orchestra as they play their parts, including warmups and practicing "licks." Stephen Sondheim's coaching of the singers is so wonderful to watch - he understands actors and artists in a way that corporate producers/execs do not. If you love musicals--and want an uplifting experience to re-affirm your love--WATCH THIS!!
D.A. Pennebaker got roped into this as the first of a projected series of TV shows showing the recording process. After they wrapped and sold it to Chrysler, Pennebaker called up the guy's office to ask what the next one would be. He was now running MGM.
That's show biz for you. What we have left of the projected series is this one 58-minute piece, in which we get to witness Sondheim and his collaborators gathered in a recording studio to make one for the permanent record. It's from the period when Sondheim was erasing the line between recitiative and and lyrical songs, with Beth Howland singing the impossible patter song "I'm Not Getting Married Today", and that magnificent broad Elaine Stritch leading in "The Little Things"..... and blowing take after take, according to the professionals, of "The Ladies Who Lunch"..... despite the fact that I think the first take on film is the best emotionally.
What I don't understand is how bad the songs sound on on the movie. Certainly my cd of the show seem much better.
That's show biz for you. What we have left of the projected series is this one 58-minute piece, in which we get to witness Sondheim and his collaborators gathered in a recording studio to make one for the permanent record. It's from the period when Sondheim was erasing the line between recitiative and and lyrical songs, with Beth Howland singing the impossible patter song "I'm Not Getting Married Today", and that magnificent broad Elaine Stritch leading in "The Little Things"..... and blowing take after take, according to the professionals, of "The Ladies Who Lunch"..... despite the fact that I think the first take on film is the best emotionally.
What I don't understand is how bad the songs sound on on the movie. Certainly my cd of the show seem much better.
I memorized this soundtrack and could sing along with every song before I ever saw the play. In the many years since, I try to see this production whenever it appears...such a fun Sondheim musical. Nobobdy will ever compare to Elaine Strich's vocals on the album as a jaded, oft married, oft divorced friend of Bobby's. She is wonderful. Another great number is "Barcelona", when Bobby beds numerous airline stewardesses... very clever. Listen and enjoy!
10gosnellb
This one is for musical comedy fans only, but if you are, this somewhat mythic documentary will remind you why you love them so much.
Watching Sondheim at work, correcting the pronunciation of Bobby, Bubby (booby) Bobby Bob is worth the price of admission.
I've waited years to watch this and finally Netflix made it possible.
A month later, I watched the PBS screening of the John Doyle revival of Company. Since it won a Tony, I expected a decent show though I knew Doyle had staged it with his three-time gimmick, the performers playing their own instruments. (When I heard he was directing "Peter Grimes" at the Met, my first thought was how on earth the opera singers were going to manage to play their own instruments.
Not that I didn't care for the new Company, but I couldn't believe anyone on the planet earth would want to be friends with anyone of those people. They were unlikable, unsympathetic and wore incredibly ugly costumes. No dancing, of course, since you can't play an instrument and dance but there was the marching band doing What Would We Do Without You, which sort of worked. You Could Drive a Person Crazy was sort of cute, with them stopping to blow saxophones rather than do the Do-do-dododo part.
Amy had none of the whimsy that makes "I'm Not Getting Married Today" work. In fact, this Amy looked old and hard.
Joanne, however, had not a whit of the charm Elaine Stritch brought to the part. She seemed to mistake off key for acerbic and walking around playing the triangle just didn't work for me.
Maybe it's hard to be picky about a cast when they all have to play an instrument. What a stupid way to cast a musical comedy. Doyle seems to forget it's a musical.
So rent the Making Of because it truly captures the musical. And listen to the commentary. It's priceless. Once you know what Dean Jones was going through, his "Being Alive" is heart wrenching.
Watching Sondheim at work, correcting the pronunciation of Bobby, Bubby (booby) Bobby Bob is worth the price of admission.
I've waited years to watch this and finally Netflix made it possible.
A month later, I watched the PBS screening of the John Doyle revival of Company. Since it won a Tony, I expected a decent show though I knew Doyle had staged it with his three-time gimmick, the performers playing their own instruments. (When I heard he was directing "Peter Grimes" at the Met, my first thought was how on earth the opera singers were going to manage to play their own instruments.
Not that I didn't care for the new Company, but I couldn't believe anyone on the planet earth would want to be friends with anyone of those people. They were unlikable, unsympathetic and wore incredibly ugly costumes. No dancing, of course, since you can't play an instrument and dance but there was the marching band doing What Would We Do Without You, which sort of worked. You Could Drive a Person Crazy was sort of cute, with them stopping to blow saxophones rather than do the Do-do-dododo part.
Amy had none of the whimsy that makes "I'm Not Getting Married Today" work. In fact, this Amy looked old and hard.
Joanne, however, had not a whit of the charm Elaine Stritch brought to the part. She seemed to mistake off key for acerbic and walking around playing the triangle just didn't work for me.
Maybe it's hard to be picky about a cast when they all have to play an instrument. What a stupid way to cast a musical comedy. Doyle seems to forget it's a musical.
So rent the Making Of because it truly captures the musical. And listen to the commentary. It's priceless. Once you know what Dean Jones was going through, his "Being Alive" is heart wrenching.
Did you know
- GoofsIn the opening scroll, thanks is given to the office of "David Suskind". It is actually David Susskind.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Aquarius: Company (1972)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Company: La grabación original
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content