Well performed and staged, but lacking charm or magic

pacificgroove-315-494931

First, may I point out that the film Holiday Inn was NOT a Universal picture, Universal had nothing to do with it. It was a Paramount picture, created by people at that studio. Just because Universal acquired the rights to old Paramount films doesn't mean it's right for Universal to self-promote itself in the credits for the stage version and in the stage show itself. In this age where the President of the United States habitually lies and willl do anything to promote himself, this is a small matter. But being a classic film buff, I was irritated enough to write this anyway.

Now for the video of the stage production. Very professionally mounted , well performed and staged, but lacking any charm or magic. Pales in comparison with the film version (itself very far from the top eschelon of movie musicals).

Perhaps the biggest reason for the stage video's shortcomings is that was staged for a live audience, not staged with the camera in mind. The actors play their parts too broadly for the screen and they are almost always seen in long shots; this diminishes audience emphathy for them and the characters they play.

score /10

pacificgroove-315-494931 27 November 2018

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw4481273/