What authority these performers have! You don't get that sort of totally confident expertise except through the years of experience that led them to this amazing show. I'll never forget seeing it near the end of it's initial run. I remember a director friend telling me once "Casting is 90% of the show". Well, maybe not 90%, but getting the right person sure goes a long way. It's never been cast again so convincingly.
Wow - this is amazing. The "lost" footage everyone hopes they could see. All of these videos from the original production are such a treasure. Thank you for this!
I don't understand how they can spend 65 million on that piece of crap Spiderman yet they can;t find the money for a fully staged grand revival of this gem, Follies. Thanks for post
@slsavarick Well, "Follies" is a very complex show, & it's not meant to be just entertaining. Its principal characters are all middle-aged & horribly disappointed with their lives. And by the end, things haven't got much brighter for most of them.
While it does have an audience (us! & those looking for rich, interesting and well-written musicals, or just Sondheim fans in general), I can see why the masses (i.e., tourists looking for a fun time) wouldn't flock to this.
John McMartin has aged VERY nicely! And his voice is still powerful (as proven by Sondheim's 80th Birthday Concert). Such a great show. SO glad it's being produced/put on by the Kennedy Center with Bernadette and Elaine (Paige that is)!
I must have seen this a good seven times, the most thrilling experience ever and then I had the great luck to work with Miss Collins in stock. I was young and brand new in NYC, I don't think I really understood then, now I do !!!!!
@farmboynow -You are so lucky to have seen the original 7 times, understand the "repeats" kept it open longer ... why did this brillant show not have a longer, prosperous run? Recall what the nasty, too powerful critics had to say at the time? Have you seen subsequent revivals? Hear next June, in DC, Bernadette Peters and Kim Catrall are doing a limited run...what show did you do with Ms. Collins? Do you still perform?
Broadway history. Has there ever been a more dazzling show or a more brilliant cast than the original Follies? Bittersweet and beautiful. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this wonderful fragment of a truly great show
Stunning. This is a time capsule of when Broadway was worth seeing. The revivals of this show don't come close to matching the depth of honesty and warmth of the characters in these clips. One often things of Follies as a cold and brittle show, but seeing the original conception, direction and staging it really is all about heartache and loves lost. Brilliant. Thank you so much for sharing this!
This is why Bway would never be as it was, this was royalty, another time another era, when performers made the show no technology, thanks really thanks.
Me too, I can die happy: and frankly couldn't care less if Fifi D'Orsay made Attila The Hun seem like Bambi.............this is mind bogglingly extraordinary footage...........pure heaven. Thank you.
You post a rare and precious jewel, and that's the sort of idiotic comment you get. You're a bitch, I'm a bitch, she's a bitch, who the hell cares? THESE CLIPS MEAN I CAN DIE HAPPY. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
What authority these performers have! You don't get that sort of totally confident expertise except through the years of experience that led them to this amazing show. I'll never forget seeing it near the end of it's initial run. I remember a director friend telling me once "Casting is 90% of the show". Well, maybe not 90%, but getting the right person sure goes a long way. It's never been cast again so convincingly.
AndrewRudin 2 months ago
Wow - this is amazing. The "lost" footage everyone hopes they could see. All of these videos from the original production are such a treasure. Thank you for this!
tommyrocket 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Love It!!! Alexis Smith what an incredible talent and oh that red dress. Hot!!!
poetmistress2009 7 months ago
Love It!!! Alexis Smith what an incredible talent and oh that red dress. Hot!!!
poetmistress2009 7 months ago
Hooray! Ethel Shutta @5:24 ! Broadway Baby
tracer740 8 months ago
I saw Bernadette in this yesterday!!!
RichieAlan 9 months ago
I don't understand how they can spend 65 million on that piece of crap Spiderman yet they can;t find the money for a fully staged grand revival of this gem, Follies. Thanks for post
slsavarick 1 year ago
@slsavarick That fully staged revival is coming soon...with Bernadette Peters.
justasondheimbaby 10 months ago
@slsavarick Well, "Follies" is a very complex show, & it's not meant to be just entertaining. Its principal characters are all middle-aged & horribly disappointed with their lives. And by the end, things haven't got much brighter for most of them.
While it does have an audience (us! & those looking for rich, interesting and well-written musicals, or just Sondheim fans in general), I can see why the masses (i.e., tourists looking for a fun time) wouldn't flock to this.
A full revival is coming!
boynamedalexxx 8 months ago
John McMartin has aged VERY nicely! And his voice is still powerful (as proven by Sondheim's 80th Birthday Concert). Such a great show. SO glad it's being produced/put on by the Kennedy Center with Bernadette and Elaine (Paige that is)!
thesixtyfirstpupil 1 year ago
Never, in all my life, did I ever expect to see actual movie footage of the original production of Follies. It's simply extraordinary to see.
Thank you so much for this posting. :-)
Dianaemanuel 1 year ago
I must have seen this a good seven times, the most thrilling experience ever and then I had the great luck to work with Miss Collins in stock. I was young and brand new in NYC, I don't think I really understood then, now I do !!!!!
farmboynow 1 year ago
@farmboynow -You are so lucky to have seen the original 7 times, understand the "repeats" kept it open longer ... why did this brillant show not have a longer, prosperous run? Recall what the nasty, too powerful critics had to say at the time? Have you seen subsequent revivals? Hear next June, in DC, Bernadette Peters and Kim Catrall are doing a limited run...what show did you do with Ms. Collins? Do you still perform?
jotheodorou 1 year ago
@farmboynow
jotheodorou 1 year ago
Again, I never thought I'd see this again in my lifetime. To this day, my greatest experience in any theater. Thank you so much.
UncleCharlieOakley 1 year ago
This is amazing. Thank you so much for posting it.
boinxtdor 1 year ago
Follies is brilliant, especially the original cast.
BWAY62 1 year ago
Fascinating document !
gabrsh 2 years ago
Broadway history. Has there ever been a more dazzling show or a more brilliant cast than the original Follies? Bittersweet and beautiful. Thank you SO MUCH for posting this wonderful fragment of a truly great show
mandeley 2 years ago 8
Ethel Shutta was a pisser! I didn't remember that she mimed kicking the cat! What a hoot.
mrgramercypark 2 years ago
Stunning. This is a time capsule of when Broadway was worth seeing. The revivals of this show don't come close to matching the depth of honesty and warmth of the characters in these clips. One often things of Follies as a cold and brittle show, but seeing the original conception, direction and staging it really is all about heartache and loves lost. Brilliant. Thank you so much for sharing this!
midtowner 2 years ago 3
A million thanks from me, too, for posting this. I'm in HEAVEN!
jhkirkendall 2 years ago
This is why Bway would never be as it was, this was royalty, another time another era, when performers made the show no technology, thanks really thanks.
mexdance 2 years ago
Amazingggg. I always wanted to see Ethel Shutta's performance!!!! :D She was a real life Follies girl, you know! Thank you so much!!!!
GoodChinia 3 years ago
Me too, I can die happy: and frankly couldn't care less if Fifi D'Orsay made Attila The Hun seem like Bambi.............this is mind bogglingly extraordinary footage...........pure heaven. Thank you.
antod11 3 years ago
I saw this in Los Angeles when I was a kid, and I'll never forget it. Especially Gene Nelson's number "Buddy's Blues" -- do you have that?
rustyfrank 3 years ago
Thanks for the post, what a wonderful treat! Great to see Gene Nelson, one of the greatest dancers ever.
darrintap 3 years ago
You post a rare and precious jewel, and that's the sort of idiotic comment you get. You're a bitch, I'm a bitch, she's a bitch, who the hell cares? THESE CLIPS MEAN I CAN DIE HAPPY. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
me3054 3 years ago 10
fif d'orsey, it seems, was a total bitch.
BrochtrupBean 3 years ago