Undescribable Perfection

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

I'd say yes. Although I did thoroughly enjoy the 2006 Opera Australia and the 1994 Sydney performances(the latter is not for everybody though) and the 1983 film, this Pirates really stood out. All are much better than the 1982 D'Oyly Carte and 1985 Stratford productions, which I was disappointed by. The Pirates of Penzance was my first Gilbert and Sullivan operetta and possibly my favourite. You can definitely see why here. The lyrics and dialogue have always been hilarious and they are still here. The costumes and sets do look handsome, and the staging is always fun and never dull. It is even better musically, with stylish orchestral playing and conducting, the sisters are charming, the pirates lively and the policemen hilarious(and not under-pitch like they were in D'Oyly Carte). The performances are really impressive. Kevin Kline is not quite as good as he is in the 1983 film but his Pirate King still has charisma and swagger. George Rose's Major General Stanley is impeccable vocally and dramatically, he sings the patter like it comes easy to him when really it must have taken him a lot of practise and he performs with such gusto. Tony Azito is alongside Richard Alexander for Opera Australia the best Police Sergeant on DVD, his facial expressions and body language are priceless. Rex Smith is a dashing Frederic, and Linda Ronstadt is charming as Mabel, especially liked her duet with the flautist, a shame really that it went over the audience's heads. Patricia Routledge is a funny and sympathetic Ruth also, superior to Angela Lansbury in the film. Interesting to see Alice Playten(Blix in the fantasy film Legend) as Edith. Overall, a wonderful Pirates of Penzance. 10/10 Bethany Cox

This is the theater cast that prompted the movie, also starring Linda Ronstadt, Kevin Kline and Rex Smith. I always felt the movie was rather cheesy, even by '80s standards. Kline shines as the Pirate King. He mugs well with the audience, and has some wonderful business, often involving the pit orchestra. (The stage was built partly around the pit, which makes for some wonderful interaction.) Smith and Ronstadt both have pop/rock roots, and it shows. Smith at least has some theatrical bona fides, having debuted in "Grease." Still, musical theater is nothing if not camp, and Smith and Ronstadt are both sufficiently campy in this production. (I note, with some glee, that they had to key most of Ronstadt's arias a third or more.) We bought this version because it was the only one available (all the others had been "returned to vendor!") and were pleasantly surprised. I'd seen the movie and had to quell my gag reflex through most of it. This works much better as the theatrical version from whence it sprang 120 years ago. Still fresh; still funny. See it!

This is a very bad recording of a very good performance.The show was obviously professionally shot, and the credits list a multi-channel sound recording crew. But the sound on this is in mono and has very audible "time code" noise, a high-pitched audio signal that was used to link the videotape to a simultaneously recorded audiotape. Given the vintage of the shoot, it was probably shot on 1" videotape and 2", 24-track audiotape. As few video productions facilities still have 1" playback equipment, and judging by the video quality, this was made from a 3/4" "safety" copy.Why? The suppliers cheaped out. They didn't spend the time or energy to find the original tapes, or if they had them, to transfer them, or to do a mix-down of the 24-track master audio.It is possible to make an excellent DVD from this material. The DVD currently available is not it.

I have just watched this film for about the 20th time ,and I can assure you Ruth was played by Angela Lonsbury not Patricia Routlidge The one I watched I taped off the tv , all the other cast were the same. is this another version ?many thanks T J Careless