At the goading of the ominous and omnipresent Leading Player, Pippin, the eldest son of King Charlemagne, samples life's pleasures to discover his place in the world and the meaning of his life.
Director: David Sheehan
Stars: Ben Vereen, William Katt, Leslie Denniston, Martha Raye, Chita Rivera.
Kathryn Doby ... choreographer / stage director
Bob Fosse ... choreographer / choreographer: original New York production / stage director: original New York production
John Mineo ... assistant choreographer
Kathryn Doby ... choreographer / stage director
Bob Fosse ... choreographer / choreographer: original New York production / stage director: original New York production
John Mineo ... assistant choreographer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082909/
This is a film of the stage production.
15 songs in the Soundtracks, all Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
390+ votes average 7.6 on IMDb.
The show preaches that living an ordinary life, feeling trapped, is the only true fulfilment. Yikes. The counterculture had disassembled a lot during the "60s" (mid 60s-mid 70s), but this doesn't make a convincing argument. And for it to be staged by workaholic Fosse is the height of irony. Ah, the B'way show ran '72-'77, a better time to convince people not to "drop out" than '81. (The original Pippin was John Rubinstein (similar hair, no doubt).) BV originated his role on B'way.
The journey to that "ordinary" conclusion was not terribly interesting. Of course, I'm a film person, so a backdrop and 1-15 people on stage doesn't dazzle me unless the songs and dances thrill. I don't think any of the songs became a hit, although one musical phrase does seem to be stuck in my head at the moment, without words.
The dancing is an echo of much of Fosse's prior work, not as sharply executed. I've only seen film versions of his choreography, where they have the luxury of retakes when he wants more. I don't know if his live shows are as sharp. BV's dancing was the closest to Fosse-licious, and he was just very good, not really up to his performances in Sweet Charity ('69) or All That Jazz ('79). The actual choreographer for this production (in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) was Fosse's assistant (whom we saw in ATJ.)
WK sang well, danced ok. I didn't see a filming date(s) for Pippin, but his series The Greatest American Hero ('81-'83) probably didn't air until after this was recorded.
I would never have bought this were it not a Fosse show.
distr. Showtime, dir. Sheehan; 6-
This is a film of the stage production.
15 songs in the Soundtracks, all Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
390+ votes average 7.6 on IMDb.
The show preaches that living an ordinary life, feeling trapped, is the only true fulfilment. Yikes. The counterculture had disassembled a lot during the "60s" (mid 60s-mid 70s), but this doesn't make a convincing argument. And for it to be staged by workaholic Fosse is the height of irony. Ah, the B'way show ran '72-'77, a better time to convince people not to "drop out" than '81. (The original Pippin was John Rubinstein (similar hair, no doubt).) BV originated his role on B'way.
The journey to that "ordinary" conclusion was not terribly interesting. Of course, I'm a film person, so a backdrop and 1-15 people on stage doesn't dazzle me unless the songs and dances thrill. I don't think any of the songs became a hit, although one musical phrase does seem to be stuck in my head at the moment, without words.
The dancing is an echo of much of Fosse's prior work, not as sharply executed. I've only seen film versions of his choreography, where they have the luxury of retakes when he wants more. I don't know if his live shows are as sharp. BV's dancing was the closest to Fosse-licious, and he was just very good, not really up to his performances in Sweet Charity ('69) or All That Jazz ('79). The actual choreographer for this production (in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) was Fosse's assistant (whom we saw in ATJ.)
WK sang well, danced ok. I didn't see a filming date(s) for Pippin, but his series The Greatest American Hero ('81-'83) probably didn't air until after this was recorded.
I would never have bought this were it not a Fosse show.
distr. Showtime, dir. Sheehan; 6-
