amoscato

This so well written that everyone is down on it because most movies are written by a whole group of non-writers. I think Callahan's big mistake is wrting this for the screen, where it can't be appreciated. He should be writing for the stage, this screenplay is as good as anything Mamet, McNally or Lanford Wilson writes. As a film it is static with it's one set, but it is great theater. I would love to see this performed on a stage where it would be appreciated.

As for the actors, all gave a believable performance, except the gay character which was more caricature than real person. And that pole dance fantasy which just didn't fit the rest of the film.

One very odd thing I found with this DVD release. Both Roger Corman and New World Pictures are taken off the credits. They are listed as producers on both the Soundtrack Album and the original VHS release, as they were on the films main titles in the theater. Yet looking up Roger Corman, New World and this film here on IMDp there is no mention of them. On another note the quality on this DVD is extremely poor and the many cut scenes are not added as an extra feature. What a disappointment, after waiting 20 years for this release! I still find this obviously flawed film, charming. Try as they might to avoid it, a glimmer of the stage shows magic still shines through.

This TV production did not have songs cut from Oliver, The score was to be an original by Oliver's composer Lionel Bart. Uncredited composers were brought in to "doctor" Bart's awful score. Certainly that horrid graveyard number with Jekyll playing a gravestone shaped like a piano has to be the worst moment in the film. On the other hand some of it is so unintentionally funny you end up enjoying it anyway. Kirk Douglas' performance is pretty good, his singing isn't. Still compared to the David Hasselhoff video of the Broadway musical this could be called a masterpiece. Maybe Jekyll and Hyde shouldn't be musicalized, or at least should be given to more talented creators.