Carol Burnett

Annie (Special Anniversary Edition) [Region 99]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Annie
  • Better on Broadway
  • Loved it!
  • Annie!
  • a very entertaining dvd
Annie (Special Anniversary Edition) [Region 99]
Starring: Albert Finney , Carol Burnett , Ann Reinking , Tim Curry , and Bernadette Peters
Director: John Huston
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:
  1. Annie (Original 1982 Motion Picture Soundtrack)
  2. Mary Poppins (40th Anniversary Edition)
  3. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Full Screen Edition)
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  5. The Sound of Music (Two-Disc 40th Anniversary Special Edition)

ASIN: B0000VCZKM
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Amazon.com

Charmless and dull, this adaptation of the Broadway hit stars Aileen Quinn as the depression-era moppet, Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks, Carol Burnett as the cruel headmistress at an orphanage, and Tim Curry as a villain. The film never gets its legs, and there is no sense of setting; it's almost as if the whole thing is happening in a void. John Huston nominally directed--no doubt to make money between his smaller, cheaper masterpieces--but one would have thought he would invest something of himself in here. <I>--Tom Keogh</I>

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Annie.......2007-06-13

This version of Annie is wonderful. Carol Burnett creates such a wonderful character, and the orphans are extremely talented. This film is a step above the rest of the "Annie" movies.

4 out of 5 stars Better on Broadway.......2007-06-13

Having been lucky enough to see the original on Broadway I was looking forward to the transition to the silver screen. Unfortunately most of the magic of the musical was left in New York and never made it to Hollywood. The songs are, of course, very good, though they did drop one of my favorites, "NYC", from the score and added the, in my opinion inferior, "Let's Go To The Movies". Aileen Quinn does a very credible job in the title role. Albert Finney, as Daddy Warbucks, and Carol Burnett, as Miss Hannigan, also do a good job. Ann Reinking, as Daddy Warbucks' secretary, proves to be one of the best dancers around. Many of the things that are done in the movie, such as the rescue of Annie on the railroad bridge, could not have done on the stage. For all its shortcomings, "Annie" is still well worth the watch.

4 out of 5 stars Loved it!.......2007-05-22

Honestly, who doesn't know the movie Annie? But this special anniversary dvd has some nice bonus features. You can sing karaoke with or without voice with some of the more popular songs, you can "act" with Annie in some of the scenes, you can take a quiz about Annie and the 1930's and there is a very nice bonus feature with the lovely woman whom played Annie when she was a child. I do wish there were a few more features, maybe some other cast interviews; but all in all, this is a real treat!

5 out of 5 stars Annie!.......2007-05-18

I love this musical! So happy to have it on DVD! Rich in color and clarity.

5 out of 5 stars a very entertaining dvd.......2007-05-16

a fun movie to watch for the whole family especially for little girls!
The Four Seasons
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A Very Funny Movie
  • Alan Alda's Best !!
  • If you Love MASH...
  • Entertaining Movie
  • The Four Seasons Review
The Four Seasons
Starring: Beatrice Alda , Elizabeth Alda , Bess Armstrong , Carol Burnett , and Len Cariou
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007QJ1XE
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

Actually, this comedy is one of the more enjoyable films to examine midlife crisis in the 1980s. Written and directed by Alan Alda, it examines the effects of middle age on a group of married couples who are longtime friends. Each season they go away on a vacation together, but the dynamic gets skewed when one of the men dumps his wife for a younger woman. Though some may find the characters' self-satisfaction and upscale neuroses a shade cloying, they are more than matched by Alda's solid, often funny writing. The couple with the biggest laughs: the hilariously paired Jack Weston and Rita Moreno (although Alda and Carol Burnett also strike comic sparks). <I>--Marshall Fine</I>

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Very Funny Movie.......2007-04-05

I love this movie. It is so rare to see Alan Alda much less the remainder of this unique cast all together at one time. This is about a group of spouses/friends that takes four seasonal vacations together, each and every year. This year is different though and that is what makes this movie very special. A definite buy!

4 out of 5 stars Alan Alda's Best !!.......2007-04-04

Surprise ! This is a good movie ! This Early 1980's Comedy - Drama follows three middle aged couples who take vacations in the Spring , Summer , Autumn and Winter. Along the way the couples meet up with Middle age , Marital and Parental struggles. This is by far the best film Alan Alda ever directed as he also writes the moderately funny and (occasionally hilarious) script. The paired couple of (Jack Weston) and (Rita Moreno) provide the best laughs through the picture. (Carol Burnett) is Alda's wife and is no more than just fair in her performance. (Bess Armstrong) is very good as the younger woman for whom (Len Cariou) leaves his wife (Sandy Dennis) of 21 years for. Also watch for Alan Alda's two real life daughters (Beatrice Alda , Elizabeth Alda) who actually appear in the film when the two girls are visited at college by the three couples during their Autumn vacation.

4 out of 5 stars If you Love MASH..........2007-03-30

Alan Alda fans will love this movie. Alda haters, stay away. Alda is great in his role, as are Rita Moreno and an absolutely smokin' hot Bess Armstrong--and I mean en fuego. Carol Burnett is so-so. The story is great, and the script fast-paced. Alda wrote and directed.

Three couples vacation/spend long weekends together in each of the four seasons, accompanied by Vivaldi. When divorce strikes one of the couples, much self-examination, mutual analysis, mortality fears, etc. occur. Definitely a good movie. And did I mention Bess Armstrong is smokin' hot?

5 out of 5 stars Entertaining Movie.......2007-03-08

This is a great movie. Great actors, great performances. It's an older movie, but I don't feel that it is too dated. Fun and interesting to watch.

5 out of 5 stars The Four Seasons Review.......2007-03-08

This has always been one of my favorite films. I have not been able to find it in any video stores and decided to check with Amazon. I was delighted to find it at a reasonable price. Since receiving it, I have watched it several times and still find it to be a great film.
Noises Off...
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • British silliness at its best
  • Applause! Applause!!
  • A Hidden Gem
  • Noises Off
  • This is my favorite moive of all time
Noises Off...
Starring: Carol Burnett , Michael Caine , Denholm Elliott , Julie Hagerty , and Marilu Henner
Director: Peter Bogdanovich
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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  5. Noises Off

ASIN: B0000DZTOM
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Description

This hilariously sexy, all-star comedy promises to be an entertaining treat you're sure to love! Featuring some of today's biggest comedy favorites, including Carol Burnett (TV's THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW), John Ritter (BAD SANTA), Michael Caine (THE CIDER HOUSE RULES), and Christopher Reeve (SUPERMAN) -- NOISES OFF! is an outrageously funny look at the love, lies, and deceit that take place behind the scenes as a group of ridiculously inept stage actors rehearse a Broadway-bound play! Just when members of this chaotic cast finally get their performances right, everything starts going wrong!

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars British silliness at its best.......2007-05-13

A dysfunctional bunch of actors tries to deal with a lame script; starting at the final dress rehearsal, the premiere, and several months later on the tour. The more they do the play, the worse their interpersonal problems become. It's all in fun, enjoy!

5 out of 5 stars Applause! Applause!!.......2007-04-23

Although I enjoyed it immensely the first time, this hysterical showbiz farce, got funnier with each viewing. It is also a good idea to watch it at least once with the subtitles on, since the dialogue is extremely fast paced. The the actors are delightful. Michael Caine plays the two-timing director with his usual perfection, and Carol Burnett plays the temperamental leading lady with her usual panache. Both John Ritter and Christopher Reeve are very funny, the former as the neurotic leading man and the latter as a dim-witted method actor who has to have his off-stage beat for removing a box of groceries explained to him. Marylu Henner and Nicolette Sheridan are excellent in their supporting roles, as is Denholm Elliott, a has-been actor who hides bottles of whisky in convenient cubby-holes back stage. I especially enjoyed Mark Linn Baker who plays the beleaguered stage manager.

Peter Bogdonovich's direction as well as his actors' split-second timing makes this farce a real treat. Doors open and close, plates of sardines get passed back and forth, props get mislaid, and everything goes exactly right--before it goes awfully wrong.

And therein lies the fun!

5 out of 5 stars A Hidden Gem.......2007-04-12

Hardly anyone I've ever spoken to has heard of this movie, which is unusual considering the caliber of the cast including: Michael Caine, Christopher Reeves, Carol Burnett, etc. This movie is one of my all time favorites. The perfect movie to curl up on the couch and watch on a rainy day. It's slap stick at its best. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars Noises Off.......2007-03-14

This is a really funny movie! Top stars have been amassed with an awesome script. Lots of great physical humor. While many pants are dropped and much underwear seen, with the exception of a few vulgarities, it's a pretty clean film. A must see for theatre buffs who like a behind the scenes view.

5 out of 5 stars This is my favorite moive of all time.......2007-01-25

"Now I know what God felt like when he sat out there in the darkness creating the world . . . very pleased he'd taken his valium" (Lloyd - played by Michael Caine).

I found this movie sitting on a shelf collecting dust in an old video store. I rented it once and was hooked. The casting is superb and the material is hilarious. It helps if you like British humor as this movie is based on a British play of the same name.

It all centers on the set of a new "sex farce", showing the behind the scenes antics of the cast and crew (though mostly cast). Love triangles, jealousy, and payback all come into play. As the cast moves from rehearsing the show to performing it, things fall apart back stage - which is reflected in their performance on stage as the play within the movie falls apart as well.

The physical comedy, particularly by the able John Ritter, is wonderful, and Carol Burnette does a wonderful job as Dotty, the forgetful onstage housekeeper. What really makes this movie work is the chemistry between the characters - they work so smoothly together, it's like they've been there for years.

After seeing the movie more than a dozen times, I found it was playing in my area at a local playhouse. I've since seen the play numerous times (and I'm seeing it again in three days). It's as funny (if not funnier) than the movie, which was hard to beat. The movie director made minor changes - like moving the location of the play within the play to America instead of Europe and changing the play Lloyd was working on from Richard III to Hamlet. All to appeal more to the American audience. Other than that, they stuck very close to the original script and do tremendous justice to it.

If you don't enjoy dry wit and physical comedy, don't see this movie, you won't enjoy it at all. But if you like senseless romps, sticky triangles, and silly antics, then buy or rent Noises Off - you won't be disappointed.
Once Upon a Mattress
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Had the chance to be great, but missed it.
  • Stars fall flat
  • Once Upon a Mattress is great!
  • Mattress Mistake
  • A total disappointment
Once Upon a Mattress
Starring: Carol Burnett , Brittany Gray , Tracey Ullman , Denis O'Hare , and Zooey Deschanel
Director: Kathleen Marshall (III)
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Disney
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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  1. Once Upon A Mattress (1959 Original Broadway Cast)
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ASIN: B000ATQYVK
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Amazon.com

The playful 2004 television version of <I>Once Upon a Mattress</I> brings everything full circle for Carol Burnett, who played klutzy Princess Winnifred, would-be fiancee of royal mama's boy Prince Dauntless, in the original 1959 Broadway cast production of the musical (as well as 1964 and 1972 television adaptations). In the new show, Burnett now essays the role of Dauntless's control-freak mom, Queen Aggravain, and is very funny in the part. An Oedipal nightmare, Aggravain is in no hurry to let the prince act his adult age, chasing off prospective wives (and queens-in-training) by putting them through unbeatable tests. Along comes Winnifred (Tracey Ullman, who manages the physically demanding role quite nicely), who turns the kingdom on its head with her goofy charm, sets Dauntless's heart aflame, and poses a serious threat to Aggravain's plans. The fun supporting cast in this tuneful take on "The Princess and the Pea" includes Tom Smothers as King Sextimus, the mute monarch who manages to impart wisdom, Zooey Deschanel as pregnant Lady Larken, who helps bring Winnifred to the castle, and Denis O'Hare (<I>21 Grams</I>) as the boyish Dauntless. <I>--Tom Keogh</I>

Description

Based on the acclaimed Broadway musical, an all-star cast brings a beloved fairy tale to life in Disney Presents ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Queen Aggravain (Carol Burnett) sabotages the efforts of every young princess who hopes to marry her son, Prince Dauntless (Denis O'Hare) -- and no one else can settle down until he does! Honorable Sir Harry is determined to marry the lovely Lady Larken (Zooey Deschanel), so he sets off for faraway lands and returns with an unlikely candidate: Princess Winnifred from the swamps (Tracey Ullman). It's love at first sight for the Prince, so the Queen sets about planning her most difficult challenge yet. The palace is filled with merriment and mischief while everyone wonders, will Princess "Fred" pass the Queen's test?

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Had the chance to be great, but missed it........2007-06-13

Everything about the show had a lot of promise, but promises weren't kept. I feel the show had 3 fatal flaws wich ultimately ruined the chance to immortalize a wonderful, hilarious play.

#1: The movie was directed by a choreographer. While the dancing is great, the life of the show comes from the comedy. I felt like the show was absolutetly stripped of the natural comedy in the origional script.

#2: The movie was made 8-year-old-child friendly. A vast majority of the humor that derives from the origional script (which they completely hashed for their PG rating) was without ambiguation geared towards an adult audience.

#3: The casting needed some serious help. Just by listening to the 1997 Broadway Revival Cast recording, you could tell what the Broadway show had that the movie didn't: Talent, and Emotion.

All in all I'm a little sad that I devoured 14.50$ plus shipping on this movie. I couldn't find it to rent it anywhere, so now it will probably just sit and collect dust on my shelf. Like I say, it had the chance to be great, but missed it.

3 out of 5 stars Stars fall flat.......2007-05-13

After seeing a middle school production of this (entertaining), I was looking forward to seeing the professional version. Too bad a black and white version of the 1950's stage production isn't available. Once Upon the Mattress has great lyrics and great stars, but this version falls flat as a pancake. It has no energy. I can't stand the trashy Vegas style costuming of the queen. The rest of the costuming is beautiful. Perhaps the beautiful set design is too similar to the costuming as it all seems to blend together. Nothing stands out. What should be a great comedic vehicle for great comedic actors turns out to be quite bland.

4 out of 5 stars Once Upon a Mattress is great!.......2007-04-04

I really loved Once Upon a Mattress. That's why I bought it in the first place. Carol Burnett was fantastic.

2 out of 5 stars Mattress Mistake.......2007-03-31

Disappointed, disgusted, disparaged, and that was just within the first 15 minutes.
Oh, and the first 15 minutes were probably the best 15 minutes of the movie! Productions meant for the stage don't always translate well to the screen, but that shouldn't have been the case with this show. It shouldn't have been! An excellent cast, yes, but that still didn't save this one. The most captivating character in the show SHOULD have been Princess Winifred, but in an attempt to not play it exactly like Carol Burnett had in the '60s, Tracey Ullman was often rather dull in the role. She was likable, but still dull. The choice of Carol Burnett as the Queen was poor because she's a show stealer, and obviously was going to detract from Princess Winifred. Zooey Deschanel as Lady Larken was charming, among other characters, but that still didn't save it for me.
The worst thing about this production of Once Upon a Mattress was the filming of it. Way too many close ups. Made for T.V. musicals, in my opinion, look better if they are still represented more in the fashion of stage musicals--not so many close ups! 85% of this movie was a close up!
And just in case you're wondering.... Parents, if you're looking to buy this one for your kiddies just because it's made by Disney--think again! It may be relatively subtle, BUT this movie musical is about sex.
I can make only two positive comments about this production...

1. Zooey Deschanel was great.

2. Costumes and sets very colorful--beautiful!

But, really... don't waste your money.

2 out of 5 stars A total disappointment.......2007-02-07

For anyone who loves the original Broadway cast recording, this DVD version fails miserably in all departments. It is miscast, badly directed, and boringly choreographed. The role of the Princess needs a belter. That's the whole core of this musical. Ullman is not a belter and is also too old for the part. The supporting roles seemed to be scaled to her inadequacies, as we are also served a middle-aged, dull and pathetic Prince Dauntless. As for the young lovers, they were dull to begin with, so they come out fine. Curiously, Carol Burnett whose debut performance in the original shot her to stardom, is less than impressive as the Queen. While the part does invite some ripe overplaying, unlike the lady in the original Broadway cast who managed to bring a little subtle fun to the role, Ms Burnett has about as much subtlety as Godzilla and her overbearing presence actually unbalances this already weak production. As she chews up the scenery (which looks like styrofoam, anyway)and forcibly intrudes on scenes she wasn't meant to be in, one gets the unpleasant feeling that, despite relinquishing the starring role, Ms Burnett still has the urge to dominate. What is it with these hitherto wonderful funny ladies in later life? (Think Lucille Ball in "Mame"). All their innate skills appear to become subordinate to a manic ego. And believe me, I'm a Carol Burnett fan about everything she did until this! My two stars are for the delightful score, which even this lousy treatment doesn't quite diminish. Frankly, my advice is to skip it and if you're a fan or just curious, buy the original Broadway cast CD.
The Carol Burnett Show - Show Stoppers
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Perfect for the newcomers.
  • Fun and Entertaining
  • Very disappointing
  • Brings back great memories
  • disappointed
The Carol Burnett Show - Show Stoppers
Starring: Carol Burnett , Vicki Lawrence , Bob Mackie , Harvey Korman , and Tim Conway
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00006G8I2
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Amazon.com

If you don't get at least a half-dozen belly laughs from this compilation of outtakes from <I>The Carol Burnett Show</I>, you'd better check your pulse. Originally broadcast on CBS in 2001, this affectionate retrospective reunites the peerless cast of Burnett's variety show--Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, and Harvey Korman--to answer audience questions and reminisce. The cast recalls the many times they lost composure on camera, halting sketches due to all varieties of faux pas, from faulty props (or urinating horses) to mutual crack-ups. Culled from the show's mid-1970s heyday, the clips are infectiously hilarious, and the cast never missed an opportunity to inject a little raunchiness (later deleted) into their otherwise wholesome entertainment. Conway's the real conspirator here, frequently turning Korman into a helpless heap of giggles, and costume designer Bob Mackie (pulled from the audience) is given fair tribute for his outlandish creativity. TV like this doesn't exist any more, and <I>Show Stoppers</I> will make you wonder why. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I>

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Perfect for the newcomers........2007-06-12

I recieved this DVD as a gift and have not stopped enjoying it since. I am merely a teenage so the names Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and Harvey Korman meant absolutely nothing to me. But I now have come to know, appreciate and yes even adore them. If you were a lover of the show I highly reccommend you get this DVD for your kids to see. I so enjoyed sitting down and watching this with my Mom as she told me about all of her favorite sketches.
Now I can surely agree with the other reviewers that this is much to short. I even found myself shouting "No, Come Back" to the TV. But I would never refer to it as a Let Down or Disapointment. I am very grateful that I got to experience this piece of history. Even if it was for only 40 minutes.

4 out of 5 stars Fun and Entertaining.......2007-05-14

Loved the show from my childhood, enjoyed it best when they would make each other laugh. This DVD highlighted some of the best of those occurrences.

1 out of 5 stars Very disappointing.......2006-11-07

There are two groups of people for which this DVD is not recommended: those who are fans of the Carol Burnett Show and those who are not. Too much of the 40-something minutes are compiled of new material that's weak: questions from the audience, two songs, a tribute to the show's costume designer, and patter among the stars. The rest of the disc is outtakes, which are funny for about five minutes. I don't recall there being enough time devoted to a single sketch to allow you to appreciate the humor of the sketch itself. So if you're a fan, you already know that it's easy to get Harvey to crack up. If you're not famililar with the show, you'll wonder what all the fuss is about.

5 out of 5 stars Brings back great memories.......2006-11-03

I bought this dvd for mainly my wife, but after watching it with her, how delighted I found myself to be remembering the show. It used to be a favorite in our and in my grandparents homes and as a child i was subjected to it then, undoubtly lots of the humor from the trio has helped influnace my life and the comedy i find from time to time coming out of nowhere...This was the best purchase here because it provides not just good entertainment, but also many happy memories. My wife expressed the same views as well. How great it is to go back and relive now as adults....I highly reccommend this dvd.

1 out of 5 stars disappointed.......2006-06-12

I was looking for the Carol Burnett Shows - I thought that they would be available by "Season 1, Season 2, etc". I was very dissapointed to find that they are not available in season format. I loved this show and would like to buy the ENTIRE series. Who is responsible for this god-awful offering for one of the most wonderful comedic shows of all? SUCH A SHAME!!

I have to go with the other reviews - not worth your time or money!
The Carol Burnett Show - Let's Bump Up The Lights/Showstoppers (2-disc set)
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • THE BOXED SET IS AVAILABLE...
  • Boring
  • Clips from Carol Burnett shows provide lots of laughs!
  • Total disappointment!
  • carol burnett bump up the lights
The Carol Burnett Show - Let's Bump Up The Lights/Showstoppers (2-disc set)
Starring: Carol Burnett , Vicki Lawrence , Bob Mackie , Harvey Korman , and Tim Conway
Director: Steve Purcell (IV) , Clark Jones , and Dave Powers
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

GeneralGeneral | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | Television | Genres | DVD | Video
GeneralGeneral | 1970s | By Decade | Television | Genres | DVD | Video
The Carol Burnett ShowThe Carol Burnett Show | C | TV Series, A-Z | TV Series | Television | Genres | DVD | Video
Berry, KenBerry, Ken | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Burnett, CarolBurnett, Carol | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Conway, TimConway, Tim | ( C ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Dyke, Dick VanDyke, Dick Van | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
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Similar Items:
  1. The Carol Burnett Show - Show Stoppers
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  3. The Ultimate Johnny Carson Collection - His Favorite Moments from The Tonight Show (Vols. 1-3) (1962-1992)
  4. The Best of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
  5. The Flip Wilson Show

ASIN: B0007TKHBQ
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars THE BOXED SET IS AVAILABLE..........2007-06-09

...but apparently not yet on Amazon. All 250+ episodes from the 11 years it was on. A google search will turn up the info. I agree however, that this "Bump Up the Lights" edition is a joke. And not a funny one.

1 out of 5 stars Boring.......2007-03-31

I read the plot outline "Television show featuring skits by Carol Burnett and her comedy troupe" and expected 30 minutes of the best of her shows. They just sit on stage and reminisce about old times. The only one laughing is Carol Burnett at all the fools dishing up money for this sad product. AVOID!!

5 out of 5 stars Clips from Carol Burnett shows provide lots of laughs!.......2007-01-14

If you are of fan of Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and/or Lyle Wagner, this set of DVDs will bring back memories and provide plenty of laughs.

1 out of 5 stars Total disappointment!.......2007-01-06

What a waste! One star is too much.

I bought 2 sets to give as Christmas gifts. One of them was to my mom, which we watched together. Waaaaay too much talk, not enough scenes and not one complete skit!

I bought a set of I Love Lucy dvd's as a substitute gift so one of these Carol Burnett sets will be returned.

Awful!

1 out of 5 stars carol burnett bump up the lights.......2006-12-03

I cannot believe that Carol Burnett would put out anything like this. They sit on a stage and reminisce. Very few outtakes, or showing of best scenes. I recorded the 25th anniversery of CBShow on VHS some years ago, and I thought that was what I was going to get. This is may be a money maker, as so many of us like CB, but this is absolutely false advertising. I unfortunately opened it up and probably will not get my money back, but I warn you, this DVD and Carol Burnett Show stoppers is not worth the postage. I thought this was going to be great christmas presents, no way would I insult anybody by giving them these two.
Mama's Family - The Complete First Season
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • A Good Show...But Not Complete
  • Worth buying
  • Absolutely Loved It
  • This is still on TV people. Why do you buy?
  • " The gradual improvement of a sitcom".
Mama's Family - The Complete First Season
Starring: Eric Brown , Karin Argoud , Rue McClanahan , Carol Burnett , and Harvey Korman
Director: Jim Cox , Dave Powers , and Bob Priest
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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  5. Hazel - The Complete First Season [Region 99]

ASIN: B000GH3PMM
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

Do you remember Mama? How could you forget her? As indelibly portrayed by Vicki Lawrence, formidable Mama put the "diss" in dysfunctional. Like Tyler Perry's Madea a decade later (but without the penchant for firearms or corporeal punishment), Mama dispenses no-nonsense motherly advice, discipline, and verbal kicks in the backside. She makes Dr. Phil look like Stuart Smalley. Thelma Harper does not suffer fools. She makes them--well, everybody--suffer. These include her sister, Fran (Rue McLanahan, <I>The Golden Girls</I>), a journalist who lives with her; her feckless son, Vint (Ken Berry, <I>F-Troop</I>), who moves in with his two teenagers after he is evicted from his house; and "bleached-blonde bimbo" Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, the original Opal on <I>All My Children</I>), who marries Vint by episode 4. Mama's extended family includes her two daughters, highfalutin Ellen (Betty White) and high-strung Eunice (Carol Burnett), who, to say the least, has issues. No one will mistake Mama's family for the Cleavers or the Bradys. They communicate mostly by screaming, and with put-downs often more cruel than comical. As a bystander tells Mama and Eunice in one episode, "Hold it, you're giving me a headache." One of the most memorable episodes is the one in which the Harpers must stick together when they appear on <I>Family Feud</I> (featuring a game Richard Dawson). Lawrence and Burnett, who appears in four episodes, share a palpable chemistry, honed all those years on <I>The Carol Burnett Show</I>, where Mama originated. As with those classic sketches, the best of these episodes, such as "Cellmates," in which Mama and Eunice are jailed after a disastrous birthday celebration, can make you laugh one minute and move you the next. <I>Mama's Family</I> is a great place to visit. Thank god we don't have to live there. <I>--Donald Liebenson</I>

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A Good Show...But Not Complete.......2007-06-15

What I really want to know is when the unedited episodes of season two will be released. Some have indicated that Mama's Family was a low point in American popular culture. On some levels, I heartily agree. But when I look back at the sitcoms we were watching in the Eighties--The Facts of Life, Gimme a Break, Different Strokes, Family Ties and, Lord, help us, The Golden Girls--I remember Mama's Family as being hysterically funny. It's a shame that these episodes are the edited ones that aired in syndication, and the cuts are in fact noticeable, as a previous reviewer indicates. Nevertheless, there are some very good episodes here, and to call this show only a comedy would be to mis-label it; I remember in the Eighties, TV Guide referred to this show as a comedy/drama. There are dramatic moments between the laughs, and what one sees here, which we did not see in the sketches that originally aired on The Carol Burnett Show, is that Thelma Harper is a full person, a complex character who speaks from sorrow, heartache, fear, jealousy. She is not just a loud-mouth old lady (who reminds me of my Italian grandmother of the same generation), but a character to whom we can relate, and when we learn of her past, her fears, her disappointments, we understand why she is as she is and perhaps behaves as she does, and therein lies the shows value: its revelations into the conflicted human soul, punctuated by laughs. I don't want to over-dramatize that here, but the relationships between the characters are at times very realistic and based in things any of us can relate to: hating your new "floozie-in-law," enduring disappointment from your kids, living with relatives, realizing how much you loved your spouse once he or she is gone, realizing, maybe too late, that the life you are living is not the life you thought you'd be living. These revelatory moments come between the laughs of episodes like The Wedding and Fran's Dress and The Double Standard. Thelma Harper was a product of her times, the pre-Oprahfied times, where we didn't have talk shows to tell us how to feel or how to think of ourselves as victims who need to overcome our roots and beginnings. When I first saw these episodes again, I thought to myself, This plays like a really bad high-school play...And some of the episodes do, and they never transcend that; but some of them are almost extraordinary.

5 out of 5 stars Worth buying.......2007-06-12

You will enjoy this season one Mama's Family. They put the D in disfunctional!!!

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely Loved It.......2007-06-02

I loved the Mama's Family TV show and knew I had to have the DVD when it came out. I hope they continue to put out seasons of the show on DVD.

5 out of 5 stars This is still on TV people. Why do you buy?.......2007-05-27

This show is GREAT but why these companies put these DVDs out while it is on Television is beyond me. I can see shows like Silver Spoons or Different Strokes but stuff that is still airing. Maybe they are hoping that some people do not have cable lol. I still give this 5 stars for being a great show

3 out of 5 stars " The gradual improvement of a sitcom"........2007-05-07


Light and enjoyable, although some episodes during the first season or two can be too intense for the nature of the show due to some of the characters and the development of the sitcom.
The Carol Burnett Show - Let's Bump Up the Lights
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good
  • Carol Burnett at her best!
The Carol Burnett Show - Let's Bump Up the Lights
Starring: Harvey Korman , Tim Conway , Vicki Lawrence , Lyle Waggoner , and Carol Burnett
Director: Steve Purcell (IV)
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007TKH7K
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

One of the most endearing features of <I>The Carol Burnett Show</I> was the Q&A session with the audience that opened every show; it provided a charming forum for Burnett's warm rapport with her fans, as well as a showcase for her improvisational skills. This 2004 TV special (which, like Burnett's <I>Showstoppers</I> retrospective from 2001, posted huge ratings) puts the comedienne and her series co-stars--Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner--in front of an audience once again to reminisce and introduce some vintage Q&A clips. Burnett remains fast with a quip, and game enough to once again venture a stellar Tarzan yell, and she's well-matched by her former castmates, who spin some terrific stories about smooching male and female audience members, wrangling with the legendary Mrs. Miller, and struggling to keep a straight face while one of them (usually Conway) stole the show. For fans of the series, this is an enjoyable highlight reel of its funniest unscripted moments. <I>--Paul Gaita</I>

Description

THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW - LET'S BUMP UP THE LIGHTS! reunites Carol Burnett with her illustrious cast to relive personal favorites and expose never-before-seen clips from the legendary studio audience Q&A sessions. This hilarious television special kept more than 13 million viewers in stitches.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good.......2007-01-11

This is very good. It lets me relive some of the fun moments and makes me want to watch whole episodes.

5 out of 5 stars Carol Burnett at her best!.......2005-06-04

Carol Burnett was clearly in her element during the Q&A part of her series, and this DVD shows many of the funniest highlights the show has to offer. It's also great to see that Carol, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, and Harvey Korman still have it now, even 30 years later. Their quick wit, comic timing, and gift for ad-libbing shine through! Highly recommended!
Putting It Together: A Musical Review
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • putting all there
  • On the Whole, Not Equal To the Sum of Its Parts
  • Great performances....
  • ''It started out like a song'' Putting it Together
  • Totally Worth It!
Putting It Together: A Musical Review
Starring: Carol Burnett , George Hearn , Ruthie Henshall , John Barrowman , and Bronson Pinchot
Director: Don Roy King , and Eric D. Schaeffer
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000IOM0S8
Release Date: 2006-12-12

Description

A humorous, poignant and sophisticated musical "review," Putting It Together is a thematic celebration of the stage and screen work of multiple Tony Award-winner Stephen Sondheim, the foremost theatrical composer/lyricist of our time. Featuring an award-winning ensemble cast headed by the incomparable Carol Burnett, Putting It Together weaves a lyrical story around the emotions and relationships of five guests attending a Manhattan cocktail party, studded with material from a number of Sondheim's original musicals and films including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Dick Tracy, Into the Woods and Assassins.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars putting all there.......2007-03-09

Having watched this DVD only once all i can say is it has lived up to the expectations i was expecting .The tour de force of Sondheims music is fun and the numbers are well executed. The highlight for me was Carol Burnett and the hilarious performance of "Everyone needs a Maid" Only Carol could perform this number with a touch of mad humour.
I do recommend this dvd and I look forward to veiwing the disc again on a cold wet night with a bottle of wine and a good fire going in the wood burner.

4 out of 5 stars On the Whole, Not Equal To the Sum of Its Parts.......2007-01-10

Musical revues can be quite tricky. When a show celebrates the talents of a particular composer, having the material performed out of context is usually not a problem for the works of lesser composers. But in the case of Stephen Sondheim, it is very hard to appreciate the full force of his amazingly deft and intelligent lyrics (not to mention his subtle melodies) when the individual pieces are removed from the show for which they were written. I have seen, or at least heard, many, many musical revues of Mr. Sondheim's works. Sometimes they succeed brilliantly, but because of the high caliber of the material and intellectual connection with the source work, the producer and director of any musical revue of Sondheim must be very cautious. For these reasons, among others, I did not find this production of Putting It Together to be as completely satisfying as it should have been. And, as a Sondheim "purist", the first strike against this production was the fact that some of the lyrics were changed, which is always guaranteed to get me off on the wrong foot, at least, when dealing with Sondheim.

It has long been my considered opinion that, artistically, Mr. Sondheim can do no wrong. At his worst (if such a word could ever be applied to his output) he writes circles around every other Broadway composer of the 20th century. But, out of context, his material does not always come across, particularly his later works, which almost always require the accompaniment of the various subtle melodies that he intricately weaves throughout the course of any one show. Combining material from more than one Sondheim effort is risky, as his "voice" is never the same in any two successive theatre pieces, let alone five or ten. This is the true mark of a genius; the Grand Guignol atmosphere of Sweeney Todd cannot be expected to mix easily with the delicate waltzes of A Little Night Music, let alone the broad slapstick of Forum, the "70's Mod feel" of Company, the serious celebration of the artistic process that is Sunday In the Park With George, or the heartbreaking, stark nostalgia of Follies. From the tricky lyrics of West Side Story, through the folly of Anyone Can Whistle and right up through the achingly beautiful prose of Passion, it is best to experience Sondheim in the context of a complete piece. Not that it can't be done, mind you, but it is oh so tricky an undertaking to mix his bananas with his grapefruit.

The cast of this show are consummate professionals all, who, for the most part, are up to the task of interpreting Sondheim as he should be: minimally. Any amount of over dramatization or gesticulation in a Sondheim number will ruin it - his words are simply too powerful, too potent and too direct. I steadfastly believe that, in order to present Sondheim correctly, all any actor need do is simply sing his words. They take care of themselves, thank you, and do not require the slightest embellishment to maintain their brilliance. Exquisite diamonds rarely require magnifying glasses.

One of the problems, for me, is the tendency in musical revues to rely heavily on material that was cut from completed works. Whole evenings have been structured around Sondheim's "rejects". There are those who insist, and not without some merit, that the songs that Sondheim discards on his way to a finished piece are frequently superior to the final product proffered by certain other composers. True to a point, but I always like to think that there is a reason why songs are cut, and it's not always just because they don't quite fit. For example, there are those who think that the song, Happily Ever After, which was replaced by Being Alive in Company, is just as good as the final choice. I don't agree. Nevertheless, I don't object to a certain amount of "cut" songs in a Sondheim review, as long as they don't overpower the real stuff. After all, the finished scores for Follies, Sweeney Todd and Company alone could yield enough songs for a full evening's entertainment. Why do we need to "celebrate" Mr. Sondheim's rejects?

As for the performers here, let's start with George Hearn, who is easily one of the most successful interpreters of Sondheim to come along in the past 25 years. After replacing Len Cariou in the role of Benjamin Barker, Mr. Hearn so completely placed his stamp on the character of Sweeney Todd that many people erroneously believe him to have originated the role. Of course, there was nothing wrong with Mr. Cariou's performance, but Mr. Hearn established himself as the definitive Barker / Todd through the wonderful PBS production and subsequent DVD that was released several years ago. Here, as always, he often speaks as much as he sings, but there is an underlying comprehension and simplicity to his presentation that other actor / singers frequently fail to realize while performing Sondheim. His comfort level with the song, The Road You Didn't Take, from Follies, is such that you want to see him tackle the role of Ben, and his simple and poignant understating of Old Friends is no less skillful than his marvelously dry, deliciously comic reading of Have I Got A Girl For You.

As for the rest of the cast, well, Bronson Pinchot was a revelation. His perfect rendition of Buddy's Blues was the best I've seen since the original production of Follies closed in 1971. I saw that show three times during its original Broadway run, and I never expect to see the like of it again. Mr. Pinchot is in perfect character for every number assigned here, and he is truly a joy to behold. Just as able throughout were the performances of Ruthie Henshall and John Barrowman; Mr. Barrowman in particular sang with a sweet, clear voice, and he presented himself as sophisticated, handsome and poised throughout the evening.

This brings me to the performer that impressed me least - Carol Burnett. Throughout the 1960's and early 1970's, I was a great fan of her hilarious slapstick antics, as presented on her television show. I have also been aware for years of her fascination with Sondheim, but I just don't think that she has what it takes to do him justice. I saw her perform The Ladies Who Lunch on her variety show in the early 1970's - it left me cold then, and her rendition of it has not change one bit. She simply tries too hard to put it over, when all it needs is to be presented. Her performance of the biting, satiric classic, Could I Leave You, is even worse. Once again, her overreaching chews up the scenery completely, without managing to milk a single laugh from one of the great comedic songs of Mr. Sondheim's output! I will say that she succeeds a bit more with Getting Married Today, although she admits in the interview segment that she slowed it down. Of course, part of the charm of the original was the manic pace that Beth Howland brought to the song, and admittedly, the breakneck speed of the original would prove difficult for all but the most highly-skilled vocalist to match, let alone a woman of Miss Burnett's maturity. Carol Burnett's duet with Ruthie Henshall, Always A Woman, a wonderful song cut from Anyone Can Whistle, was quite funny, but with material like this it's hard not to be funny. Miss Burnett came across best for me on her rendition of Everybody Ought To Have A Maid, even though she destroyed the melody.

Finally, to read some of the reviews here, you would think that Carol Burnett's "blooper", which appears as a DVD bonus, was the funniest thing ever filmed before a camera. Sorry. This is Sondheim - the wit of his glorious lyrics should be the focus and main source of the laughs here, and I frankly don't believe that whoopee-cushion humor mixes at all well with the sophistication of Mr. Sondheim's wit.

Nevertheless, I give the production four stars, mainly for the material and George Hearn. If you want to hear the perfect Sondheim revue, check out the CD of the 1973 recording of Sondheim Evening: A Musical Tribute.

5 out of 5 stars Great performances...........2006-10-08

Love this DVD. Wish it had a separate CD sountrack available.

If you only think of Carol Burnett for her comedy, you will be pleasantly surprised, she can sing, too. George Hearn is in fine singing form, as always. The two of them together looked and sounded like a real-life married couple. John Barrowman (from Doctor Who) is great, and watching Bronson Pinchot made you wish he had more solos.

Ruthie Henshall was in a way the weakest part of the show--her accent was somewhat annoying (on the order of Marina Sirtis' accent in Star Trek: TNG--if that grated on your ears, Ms. Henshall's will too), but she can sing and dance well.

I can't say that I liked all of the original shows (e.g. Sunday in the Park with George) these songs came from, but watching this DVD makes you want to seek out the original shows to view or re-view, as the case might be.

Well worth buying!

4 out of 5 stars ''It started out like a song'' Putting it Together.......2006-08-15

If you are a fan of Stephen Sondheim, or yet to discover many of his finest musical numbers, this show taped live in 2001 is a must.

A strong team, all class acts individually, take us through some of the highlights from Follies, Company, A little night music, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Merrily we roll along, Sunday in the Park with George, and more.

Arguably, some numbers work better out of context than others, but the production is strong and though a ''review'', based around an older couple and a younger couple, staged with minimal scenery and props, the concept works well and the cast are strong throughout.

Highlights are Burnett's ''Ladies who lunch'', who gets this number just right, finding seething frustration with the world, but thankfully not resorting to the wayward comedienne hectoring, yelling, and crass overacting of others in this number.

Henshall smoulders sensually in ''Sooner or later'', and Barrowman joins her effectively in ''I am unworthy of your love'' from Assasins, one of Sondheim's most lyrical creations. Bronson Pinchot has a fine comic gift and makes the most of it throughout.

George Hearn is the very model of Sondheim style, singing off the text in an easy, unaffected manner. His moving rendition of ''We had a good thing going'' from Merrily we roll along, is masterful, and worth the price of the disc alone. As the older couple, his scenes with Burnett are a joy throughout, and the relationship between them always feels genuine.

Other numbers worth mentioning here include Hearn and Barrowman, who make a fine job of ''Pretty Women'' from ''Sweeney Todd'' (about the best I've heard it done), and the ensemble numbers including ''Putting it Together'' and ''Being Alive'' work well. The notoriously difficult opening of Act 2 of ''Sunday'', ''It's hot up here'', is superbly handled out of context and delivered with amusing results.

This is a multiregion disc although recorded NTSC format. Considering this was taped live, the audio recording is first rate (5.1 surround), the voices are crisp and there is plenty of detail from the slick and sassy ensemble in the pit. Occasionally, some of the orchestrations sound a little thin with such a small scale band, but this is a marginal quibble. If you want to view an enjoyable retrospective of Sondheim's work, effectively staged and performed with skill, then don't hesitate to view this.

4 out of 5 stars Totally Worth It!.......2005-10-12

I have to comment on the people complaining about the fact that there is no plot. This is a MUSICAL REVUE, which is, simply put, a PLOTLESS variety show with a unifying factor (in this case, Sondheim). The fact that there was a thin plot was nice, but not a requirement. Sometimes I am amazed at what people write, based on sheer ignorance. The cast was great, especially Burnett, who still has an incredible set of pipes for a woman her age. I found Ruthie Henshall to be a little irritating, though. True, she is pretty and can dance and sing, but the way she sings through her teeth half of the time, without opening her mouth, began to grate on my nerves a bit. But I'm nitpicking. Order this. Watch it. Love it. Oh, and Bronson is an absolute HOOT. Marginal voice but still a great performance on his part.
The Trumpet of the Swan [Region 99]
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Daughter loved it!!!
  • The Trumpet of the Swan is a must have
  • The Trumpet of the Swan
  • The Trumpet of the Swan
  • Where's the Spanish Audio?
The Trumpet of the Swan [Region 99]
Starring: Jason Alexander , Mary Steenburgen , Reese Witherspoon , Seth Green , and Carol Burnett
Director: Terry L. Noss , and Richard Rich
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005LB87
Release Date: 2001-07-31

Amazon.com

Jason Alexander's vocal performance as the hambone father of Louie, a mute trumpet swan, is quite simply the most entertaining element of <I>Trumpet of the Swan</I>, an animated version of E.B. White's children's novel. Given to long-winded speeches and flamboyant displays (Alexander's extended "death scene" after his character is knicked on the wing is a hoot), the former George Costanza's hot-air waterfowl partially salvages this oddly unmoving family feature. The story concerns the silent Louie (his thoughts are spoken by actor Jeffrey Schoeny), who suffers the ridicule of other swans but communicates a depth of feeling by playing a brass horn. The restless script has difficulty developing a coherent emotional rise; director Richard Rich (The Swan Princess) would have done well to cut back on the number of discrete episodes that rush by with dizzying, graceless speed. Joe Mantegna signs on as the voice of a big-city scoundrel who signs Louie to an exploitative music contract, while Mary Steenburgen plays Louie's mother, and Reese Witherspoon speaks for the hero's true love. <I>--Tom Keogh</I>

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Daughter loved it!!!.......2007-04-09

I purchased this movie for my daughter, she loved it and I look forward to watching it with her.

5 out of 5 stars The Trumpet of the Swan is a must have.......2006-07-10

My nephew is 2 and a half. He loves this movie. It is definitely one to have in your dvd library.

5 out of 5 stars The Trumpet of the Swan.......2005-09-29

I first saw this movie when it was first released and as a family we truly enjoyed it. I have tried for the last two years to find this movie at video stores and discount stores and was unsuccessful. Thank you Amazon for having this video and Thomas and the Magic Railroad. These are two of my 3 year old's favorite movies.

5 out of 5 stars The Trumpet of the Swan.......2005-04-02

The Trumpet of the Swan had a lesson in it. It doesn't matters how you are. It matters what is in your heart. Who cares what it is. But it is important that it is special. Some people think that loving is special. Everybody in my family love each other. We play with each other. And we can get along easier than we could with strangers. The trumpet of the swan was about communicating. Louie couldn't communicate with his friends so he used it in his heart. Sabrina was married to louie. But before they even got married there was a Swan named Boyd who wanted to get rid of Louie. But Louie saw a sign that said "Dangerous Currents ahead." Louie said "Too bad old boy never learned to read." and Boyd got crashed into a wall while flying. And they got married. The end. -Eleni (age 6)

4 out of 5 stars Where's the Spanish Audio?.......2005-02-11

I just want to warn any people seeking the spanish audio version of this movie: the cover says that it has spanish audio, but it does NOT. You can read spanish subtitles, but there is no spanish audio. It isn't an option on the disk menu, and my dvd player cannot get it to play a spanish version either. I've had other people try it as well. No spanish audio!

Actress:

  1. Carol Kane
  2. Carol Lynley
  3. Carole Landis
  4. Carole Lombard
  5. Carolyn Jones
  6. Carrie Anne Moss
  7. Carrie Fisher
  8. Carrol Baker
  9. Cassandra Peterson
  10. Cassidy Rae

Actress

Actress