Saturday Night Musical: Victor/Victoria

December 2, 2023 6:43 PM

Here's a pro-filming of Julie Andrews in the Blake Edwards-directed Broadway production of Victor/Victoria. [2h25m] I've only ever seen Andrews in films so seeing her filmed on a stage felt a bit jarring. A clever musical farce adaptation with brilliant staging.
posted by hippybear (13 comments total)

so seeing her filmed on a stage felt a bit jarring

I should clarify.

She was on television quite a bit when I was growing up doing various variety hours and musical specials. But this is the first time I've seen her filmed in a way where she looks like a human person, tiny and maybe even a bit frail, working on a mammoth stage and looking very much present in a physical space that isn't a mythical "television studio" or "movie magic" landscape.

Hard to explain, but maybe you'll agree.
posted by hippybear at 6:55 PM on December 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

I am going to watch this later. I love the movie so I think I'll love the stage production.

Also, Julie Andrews is 100% perfect and I love her. She's the best theater kid. I adore her.
posted by edencosmic at 6:56 PM on December 2, 2023 [6 favorites]

It's the whole thing! Wasn't expecting that. Well, I know one thing I'll be doing tomorrow.
posted by humbug at 7:11 PM on December 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

It's the whole thing! Wasn't expecting that.

Did I go looking for it? No. YouTube just handed it to me as part of my suggestions recently, and I was all WTF?

As shitty as YouTube is much of the time, it is occasionally brilliant with its random suggestions.
posted by hippybear at 7:15 PM on December 2, 2023 [6 favorites]

Wow, hippybear - THIS IS AWESOME.

I am so, so happy to get a chance to see this.

From a quick preview, there's some great camera work that offers some great perspectives on the dance work.

(And I LOVE that it's an NHK thing!)

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this!
posted by kristi at 7:28 PM on December 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

ok Bookmarked. Now I just need time to sit down and watch it!
posted by MrBobaFett at 7:29 PM on December 2, 2023

Also, if you're really into the iceberg, the YouTube account that posted this is a Julie Andrews quicksand of treacle for you to find yourself surrendering the last parts of your will to live unto.
posted by hippybear at 7:32 PM on December 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

In Julia Andrews-adjacent news, Christopher Plummer's non-dubbed version of Edelweiss. (Details here.)
posted by sardonyx at 8:39 PM on December 2, 2023 [6 favorites]

This is great. I love that you mainly associate her with the movies, because she started out on the stage. She originated the role of Eliza Doolittle on Broadway, and wasn't considered ready for the screen version because she wasn't "film-worthy" enough by Jack Warner or some such shit. Take that, Jack!
posted by queensissy at 10:15 PM on December 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Back in the late 90s I went to see the show on Broadway with a friend. Alas, Julie was out that performance,...the role was filled in by Raquel Welch. She was fine in it. Very short of stature which surprised me.
posted by Czjewel at 10:22 PM on December 2, 2023

I too had tickets to see the show on Broadway in the 90s. Had car problems and didn't get to the theatre until the end of the first act. (we drove down from Boston)
posted by cheshyre at 9:46 AM on December 3, 2023

Enjoying the hell out of this. Thanks for posting!
posted by humbug at 9:51 AM on December 3, 2023

Thank you sardonyx for posting that Christopher Plummer video. It's so beautiful I teared up. He sounded lovely and I don't see why they dubbed him. It may not be note perfect but it was very moving. That made my entire morning.
posted by ceejaytee at 7:14 AM on December 4, 2023 [3 favorites]