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| Gilbert & Sullivan - The Pirates of Penzance / Kline, Ronstadt, Smith, Routledge, Delacorte Theater (Broadway Theatre Archive) | 
| Directors: Joshua White (ii), Wilford Leach
Actors: Kevin Kline, George Rose, Linda Ronstadt, Rex Smith, Patricia Routledge
Studio: Kultur Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $24.99
Buy New: $13.48
You Save: $11.51 (46%)
Buy New/Used from $12.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (94 reviews)
Sales Rank: 4328
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 120 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.5 x 0.7
MPN: D2642D
ISBN: 0769796427
UPC: 032031264298
EAN: 9780769796420
ASIN: B00006RCMW
Release Date: October 22, 2002
Theatrical Release Date: 1980
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 ratings for 1st purchase April 25, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Dear Amazon, I have already purchased thgrice from you that too a bulk ordrer but sadly the first purchase was rthe most dissapointing.
The packing weas superb in the two ordrs but the DVD print for the Pirates movie was SAD....did not feel like a DVD print at all.
I read your return policy but from India it would cost even double to send it to you than recieve thus changed my mind.
Actually the print is horrible....My mistake is there too, i wanted the movie not the orchestra film.
Regards
Andrew Ryder
Four stars for the performance; two stars for the video recording April 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Every summer, the New York Shakespeare Festival presents outstanding free productions in Central Park featuring big-name casts. This disc is derived from a problematic videotape of one such performance. The cast is fantastic, the orchestrations and staging are fun, and the audience in the Delacorte Theater obviously had a great time that night.
This production, which later transferred to Broadway, was taped for television. It apparently never aired. Presumably this was due to the tape's serious technical faults, including a miscalibrated camera that produced overexposed, washed-out images in Act One, and audio glitches in Act Two (caused by momentary tape-speed problems that become more frequent toward the end of the performance).
To make matters worse, the only known master tape is a grainy, badly worn work dub. It does not meet the professional broadcast standards of ANY era, much less our own. Some cleanup was done for the DVD release but the various cameras' shots were apparently not "graded" to give consistent brightness, contrast and color. Even if this had been done, no amount of digital restoration can fix the overexposed shots in Act One.
I'm so happy that a record of this performance exists, and I'm glad to have this DVD in my library (particularly since I saw this production twice on stage in the 1980s and enjoyed it immensely). But you should know what you're buying.
 Pretty good pirates February 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This version of the pirates differs from the movie substantially even though the main players are the same. The full version with all songs and all verses is included. Audience reaction in this version is also interesting. It is more difficult to see the individuals in this version and the view from a distance makes me feel like I had to sit in the cheap seats at this event. I enjoyed hearing all the songs. I particularly enjoyed Patricia Routledge's characterization of Ruth. I am a big fan of "Keeping Up Appearances" and enjoyed hearing her voice in it's real beauty. So, there are advantages to each version, and I believe I enjoyed them about equally.
Possibly excellent but you have to get past the horrible video quality first February 5, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
It's entirely possible the performance recorded was excellent. However, the video quality is horrible. Apparently whoever filmed this could not manage to compensate for the bright lighting required for a live perfornace as the video is far too bright, looking badly washed out as a result.
My wife is hardly what you would call a video phile, but she could barely make it through the first 20 minutes of this DVD. The video looks as if the DVD were made directly from the original video tape release with no attempts to enhance or improve the picture. Honestly, I have seen better video quality from the small city little theater my niece worked for.
Another reviewer has claimed that one should be prepared for poor quality video based on the age of the recording. I disagree. Before selling a DVD as a professionaly produced product, you ought to actually have a product that looks as if it were professionaly produced. If the company cannot be bothered to put some effort into improving the video quality, they should at least warn potential customers of that fact. I'd suggest a banner across the front of the DVD reading "WARNING: Sub par video quality, buy at your own risk!" Of course, that would cost them sales, but failing to disclose the poor quality of the video strikes me as dishonest.
Bottom line: if the prospect of the poor video quality doesn't bother you, I'm sure you'll enjoy the presentation. Otherwise, steer clear.
Energetic and enjoyable December 28, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This isn't the usual kind of video. It presents a live stage production, performed in front of a large and very enthusiastic audience. As a result, it captures the best of live theater, including the energy that the cast seemed to draw from the crowd. Between G&S's original intent and the remarkable staging, the entire crew threw themselves into athletic over-acting that enhanced the musical humor with physical humor - including some sparring with the orchestra pit. The musical humor was there too, not just in the original libretto, but in Ronstadt's amazing use of her vocal skills as Mabel. Routledge put in an outstanding performance as Ruth, and who knew that Kevin Klein could sing? Maybe he'll never headline at the Met, but he served the role of the pirate king more than adequately.
Anyone minded to complain will find plenty to complain about. The camera's focus sometimes takes a moment to find itself, and the first half is as bright and washed-out as the second half is dim. Production doesn't meet blockbuster standards, and post-production just doesn't exist. All those things apply to a video that this never tried to be. This documents a unique, live performance, in which recording took second place behind pleasing the audience in front of the stage. Taken for what it is and meant to be, it's huge fun.
-- wiredweird
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