Knight at HOME at the Movies
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Barbra, Barbra, Barbra, Barbra, Barbra, and Barbra
Five Streisand TV specials on DVD, one up coming and more ahead to anticipate.
Five Streisand TV specials on DVD, one up coming and more ahead to anticipate.
Rhino Home Video made a lot of show tune and diva queens happy (myself
included) with the release of the five-disc Barbra Streisand: The
Television Specials last fall.
Here's what I wrote upon the release of the initial box set:
This five-disc set includes the initial and multi-Emmy Award winning “My
Name Is Barbra” (1965) and “Color Me Barbra,” (1966) specials, in which it’s
just Babs alone in three carefully planned sequences that still dazzle. “A
Happening In Central Park,” (1968) was still Barbra alone – albeit along with
300,00 thousand fans in front and a full orchestra behind -- performing on a
humid New York night during a break from filming Funny Girl.
These have been available in vhs versions released in the 80s (and the
original Streisand introductions have been kept). The real news (other than
having all of these on DVD) is the debut of “The Belle of 14th Street”
(1967), the infamous “flop” Streisand special that recreates a 1920s music
hall and features guest stars including Jason Robards, Jr. Based on the
evidence, the carping by critics at the time was unfair – it’s a very creative,
colorful special in which Barbra is funny and in great voice.
The other unreleased special, “Barbra Streisand and Other Musical
Instruments” (1973) is more problematic but has its share of glorious
moments. Babs duets with Ray Charles and performs a sublime version of
“I Never Has Seen Snow.” None of the discs has extras but a handsome
booklet is included and the set is beautifully packaged – naturally, as
Streisand herself is credited with art direction.
* * *
Now single disc releases of the five shows that beautifully showcase
Streisand are being made available. The new packaging – which will make
these a must for collectors – include new cover art and a full color poster
insert in each of the releases. None of the discs has extras and the glossy
booklet included with the full set has been omitted.
And there's even more Streisand TV ahead -- her 1986 "One Voice"
concert -- which she performed at her then Malibu Ranch to an invited
audiences of celebrities -- is being released on September 12 again by
Rhino. Streisand performs the expected songs but also does a mini tribute
to Judy Garland with "Over the Rainbow" and the little known "It's a New
World." Though the latter isn't nearly up to par with Garland's rendition,
"Rainbow" is lovely. The disc doesn't have extras.
Now if we could only get DVD versions of other Streisand TV outings that
have never made the light of day since first airing: like her 70s TV specials
(one a mini concert to promote 1975's Funny Lady and a behind the scenes
special about A Star is Born the following year) and the fascinating
performance footage that highlights the making of The Broadway Album from
1986.
included) with the release of the five-disc Barbra Streisand: The
Television Specials last fall.
Here's what I wrote upon the release of the initial box set:
This five-disc set includes the initial and multi-Emmy Award winning “My
Name Is Barbra” (1965) and “Color Me Barbra,” (1966) specials, in which it’s
just Babs alone in three carefully planned sequences that still dazzle. “A
Happening In Central Park,” (1968) was still Barbra alone – albeit along with
300,00 thousand fans in front and a full orchestra behind -- performing on a
humid New York night during a break from filming Funny Girl.
These have been available in vhs versions released in the 80s (and the
original Streisand introductions have been kept). The real news (other than
having all of these on DVD) is the debut of “The Belle of 14th Street”
(1967), the infamous “flop” Streisand special that recreates a 1920s music
hall and features guest stars including Jason Robards, Jr. Based on the
evidence, the carping by critics at the time was unfair – it’s a very creative,
colorful special in which Barbra is funny and in great voice.
The other unreleased special, “Barbra Streisand and Other Musical
Instruments” (1973) is more problematic but has its share of glorious
moments. Babs duets with Ray Charles and performs a sublime version of
“I Never Has Seen Snow.” None of the discs has extras but a handsome
booklet is included and the set is beautifully packaged – naturally, as
Streisand herself is credited with art direction.
* * *
Now single disc releases of the five shows that beautifully showcase
Streisand are being made available. The new packaging – which will make
these a must for collectors – include new cover art and a full color poster
insert in each of the releases. None of the discs has extras and the glossy
booklet included with the full set has been omitted.
And there's even more Streisand TV ahead -- her 1986 "One Voice"
concert -- which she performed at her then Malibu Ranch to an invited
audiences of celebrities -- is being released on September 12 again by
Rhino. Streisand performs the expected songs but also does a mini tribute
to Judy Garland with "Over the Rainbow" and the little known "It's a New
World." Though the latter isn't nearly up to par with Garland's rendition,
"Rainbow" is lovely. The disc doesn't have extras.
Now if we could only get DVD versions of other Streisand TV outings that
have never made the light of day since first airing: like her 70s TV specials
(one a mini concert to promote 1975's Funny Lady and a behind the scenes
special about A Star is Born the following year) and the fascinating
performance footage that highlights the making of The Broadway Album from
1986.
