callingbrian
Joined May 2004
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Reviews6
callingbrian's rating
This was a series that ran something less than two full seasons. I'm not sure all the episodes listed actually ran.
It had an unusually large and diversified cast, headed by Academy Award winning actor Alan Arkin and the magnificent LaTanya Richardson as diametrically opposed, both judicially and politically, but sill close, New York City judges.
It seems to me producer Lumet sought to bring back some of the quality that occasionally surfaced in the early days of live TV drama. I think he succeeded brilliantly. While the series slightly lost focus in its' second season, due mainly to cast defections and resulting plot line changes, it was, IMHO, head and shoulders above most of what passes for dramatic TV these days.
It is always a joy to see artists the likes of Arkin, Richardson, et al, applying their craft in an obviously friendly environment.
So far as I know, this two season series is not available on DVD. It should be.
It had an unusually large and diversified cast, headed by Academy Award winning actor Alan Arkin and the magnificent LaTanya Richardson as diametrically opposed, both judicially and politically, but sill close, New York City judges.
It seems to me producer Lumet sought to bring back some of the quality that occasionally surfaced in the early days of live TV drama. I think he succeeded brilliantly. While the series slightly lost focus in its' second season, due mainly to cast defections and resulting plot line changes, it was, IMHO, head and shoulders above most of what passes for dramatic TV these days.
It is always a joy to see artists the likes of Arkin, Richardson, et al, applying their craft in an obviously friendly environment.
So far as I know, this two season series is not available on DVD. It should be.
Could it be they wanted it to be this bad so they could somehow cash in on it ala Mel Brooks' "The Producers"? It's the only reason I can think of for this great big stinking road apple of a disaster to exist.
Absolutely the worst filming of a great musical ever. Wouldn't you think a red light would have gone on somewhere when they started talking about Elizabeth Taylor (whom I love) as Desiree? Wouldn't someone have said "Can we talk this over, please"? All the more unfortunate because there is precious little of Sondheim's work that has been preserved.
What a shame.
Absolutely the worst filming of a great musical ever. Wouldn't you think a red light would have gone on somewhere when they started talking about Elizabeth Taylor (whom I love) as Desiree? Wouldn't someone have said "Can we talk this over, please"? All the more unfortunate because there is precious little of Sondheim's work that has been preserved.
What a shame.
It's been a long time since I saw this, but I recall it being absolutely mesmerizing. I expected Sally Ann Howes to be good, and she didn't disappoint. But Regina Resnik was, again, as I recall, stupendous! I had it on VHS for a while, but it eventually disappeared in a move.
So far as I know, this was broadcast live, never repeated, and never released commercially on video. I seem to recall something about Sondheim not being willing to release video rights, and a lot of contractual hurdles with NYCO. But I might be wrong about that.
As these things tend to go, I wouldn't be surprised if it was long ago destroyed.
What a shame. I think it just might have been the definitive "A Little Night Music".
So far as I know, this was broadcast live, never repeated, and never released commercially on video. I seem to recall something about Sondheim not being willing to release video rights, and a lot of contractual hurdles with NYCO. But I might be wrong about that.
As these things tend to go, I wouldn't be surprised if it was long ago destroyed.
What a shame. I think it just might have been the definitive "A Little Night Music".