Wow! I know that this was 17 years AFTER Ms. Lansbury created MAME, but this was kind of amateurish. Perhaps the tempo was too fast to work with. I saw a production many years ago with Kenley Players in Dayton, and the movements to this number were much more interesting....and that production starred Kitty Carlisle. Sad to say that I enjoyed THAT production more than this clip. There was no characterization, just people hitting their marks.
Miss Lansbury looks and acts just as young and vibrant in this as in the silent footage from the original production. No wonder even today she has so much life in her. Absolutely incredible. Thankyou for posting this.
Saw the national tour of Mame in the 70's in Dallas, Texas with the original broadway cast intact - minus Bea Arthur - what a show - even met Angela Lansbury in the parking lot and got her autograph - now that's a memory!
@funkychickendoodle Angela was a gem as Mame. I think that her original soundtrack is the the best element of musical Mamedom. But in the grand scheme of things, I don't think anyone ever came close to Rosalind Russell as Mame. Not a musical. But I can live with that. That movie stayed pretty true to the book. (Which I highly recommend, btw.) And Rosalind was amazing. I liked the Lucille Ball. But she wasn't quite right for the part. Bea made that one work.
How nice to see this video with Angela Lansbury as "Mame". Man, can she move those legs. Now you can decide for yourself if Angela Lansbury should hav been in the motion picture, MAME.
This is awesome! There are very few roles that people are meant to play--Anglea was meant to play Mame--no one can compare! My community theatre did this sow a few years ago--same sets, same costumes, and while our mame was good--she was no Angela. However, our little partick (Nick Adams) is now a Broadway performer
I realize that Angela is to mature to play "Mame" in a new movie of "Mame" but let's face it kids: Lucy's performance left something to be desired. How about a new film of "mame" with Liza Minnelli. Now I'd like to pat myself on the back for that idea. Of course it doesn't have to be Liza but who else ! ROFL! Ty Ty for the wonderful post:)
On video it is hard to see why people complained about the 1983 "Mame" sets. But look at the Ed Sullivan clip with Jane Morgan who played Mame later in the original run (1968) the 1983 set has none of the color and flashiness of the original. Putting this dark set in the wide and vast expanse of the Gershwin Theater (which has drained the intimacy and energy out of a few musicals) and it is easy to imagine that show might have gotten a little lost. Still, the revival deserved a better run.
While it is true that the 1983 revival of Mame did not have Bea Arthur recreating the role of Vera Charles, it did have Anne Francine in the part. Ms. Francine had been Bea Arthurs understudy and took over the role later in the original run. And she does a marvelous Vera herself.
This was an exact copy of the original production seventeen years earlier, The problem was the producers were inept and brought this show into New York without enough prior notice and advance publicity in the middle of a dead summer season. I saw it and it was as exciting and fresh as it was at the Winter Garden when it premiered in 1966.
I was fortunate to see the original in NYC and in LA. I did not get to see the revival. I'm glad you got to see both productions. I saw Angela in Duece, Blythe Soirit and I hope to see her in a Little Night Music in Feb. or March. She is a the best ever
@timwil09 How refreshing to read a post by someone who knows what they are talking about and not a know it all 17 year old who states their conjured up opinion as fact . At least the upside of this unsuccesful revival was that Lansbury was available for Murder She Wrote when Jean Stapleton suddenly had to drop out.
This was the first show I ever did and it made me fall in love with musical theater. They neeeeed to revive it again cuz it is amazing. I think it would totally still have a modern appeal as well. Sighhh they really don't make them like this anymore.
@SilverCreedWolf Yes, very true - but it is the first big "Production Number" in the show - and the first entrance of the fabulous Ms. Lansbury. So - in the literal sense of the term "opening number," it is not. But for the audience - this is the first "big number" and the scene prior to this is clearly leading in to this one large ensemble number featuring the star.
Is this an opening number or what? I remember when this show came into town - the critics hardly paid attention to it and made ridiculous comparisons with 1966. Thank goodness for the people who snuck in these cameras to prove that "they don't make 'em like that anymore". And it's a crying shame.
I know that the production itself wasn't well-received (saying the sets looked cheap, etc) but Angela Lansbury still got RAVE reviews by many critics!
U are a gift from the theatre gods 4 posting this rare gem! I love "Mame" and I absolutely adore Angela Lansbury, it's just great 2 see her performing live. I whole completely agree that Angela Lansbury was robbed of the role in the film version...though I fear "Mame" wouldn't have been a success as a film even w/ the incredible Miss Lansbury- musicals like "Mame" were considered passe by the 70s...what I would have LOVED would be 2 have a performance of the show filmed live in its entirety...
Just delightful! Never saw this revival, but did see the original 2x!! Angela's sublime! Think you are too for having uploaded this gem. Thanks 5 stars!!
Wow! I know that this was 17 years AFTER Ms. Lansbury created MAME, but this was kind of amateurish. Perhaps the tempo was too fast to work with. I saw a production many years ago with Kenley Players in Dayton, and the movements to this number were much more interesting....and that production starred Kitty Carlisle. Sad to say that I enjoyed THAT production more than this clip. There was no characterization, just people hitting their marks.
macraeman 2 days ago
Miss Lansbury looks and acts just as young and vibrant in this as in the silent footage from the original production. No wonder even today she has so much life in her. Absolutely incredible. Thankyou for posting this.
flagler88 3 months ago
There's been a rumor floating about for the past few years that MAME is going to be remade (the film version) with Cher playing Mame. Hmmmm
funkychickendoodle 5 months ago
Genius - shes a Genius
OLIVCHEN77 10 months ago
Saw the national tour of Mame in the 70's in Dallas, Texas with the original broadway cast intact - minus Bea Arthur - what a show - even met Angela Lansbury in the parking lot and got her autograph - now that's a memory!
funkychickendoodle 11 months ago
@funkychickendoodle Angela was a gem as Mame. I think that her original soundtrack is the the best element of musical Mamedom. But in the grand scheme of things, I don't think anyone ever came close to Rosalind Russell as Mame. Not a musical. But I can live with that. That movie stayed pretty true to the book. (Which I highly recommend, btw.) And Rosalind was amazing. I liked the Lucille Ball. But she wasn't quite right for the part. Bea made that one work.
sbergman27 6 months ago
Bravo- BROADWAY AT HIS BEST....
OLIVCHEN77 1 year ago
"There's a thank you, you can give life, if you live life all the way!" :D
CordeliaChaseluvsu 1 year ago
How abourt Susan Boyle as Mame?
gabsylv 1 year ago
How nice to see this video with Angela Lansbury as "Mame". Man, can she move those legs. Now you can decide for yourself if Angela Lansbury should hav been in the motion picture, MAME.
littlefuzz4 1 year ago
This is awesome! There are very few roles that people are meant to play--Anglea was meant to play Mame--no one can compare! My community theatre did this sow a few years ago--same sets, same costumes, and while our mame was good--she was no Angela. However, our little partick (Nick Adams) is now a Broadway performer
delidude1999 1 year ago
Any idea if there are plans for a near future revival of Mame?
akimvszan 1 year ago
I realize that Angela is to mature to play "Mame" in a new movie of "Mame" but let's face it kids: Lucy's performance left something to be desired. How about a new film of "mame" with Liza Minnelli. Now I'd like to pat myself on the back for that idea. Of course it doesn't have to be Liza but who else ! ROFL! Ty Ty for the wonderful post:)
damone77 1 year ago
On video it is hard to see why people complained about the 1983 "Mame" sets. But look at the Ed Sullivan clip with Jane Morgan who played Mame later in the original run (1968) the 1983 set has none of the color and flashiness of the original. Putting this dark set in the wide and vast expanse of the Gershwin Theater (which has drained the intimacy and energy out of a few musicals) and it is easy to imagine that show might have gotten a little lost. Still, the revival deserved a better run.
MBonEB 2 years ago
While it is true that the 1983 revival of Mame did not have Bea Arthur recreating the role of Vera Charles, it did have Anne Francine in the part. Ms. Francine had been Bea Arthurs understudy and took over the role later in the original run. And she does a marvelous Vera herself.
MBonEB 2 years ago
This was an exact copy of the original production seventeen years earlier, The problem was the producers were inept and brought this show into New York without enough prior notice and advance publicity in the middle of a dead summer season. I saw it and it was as exciting and fresh as it was at the Winter Garden when it premiered in 1966.
timwil09 2 years ago
I was fortunate to see the original in NYC and in LA. I did not get to see the revival. I'm glad you got to see both productions. I saw Angela in Duece, Blythe Soirit and I hope to see her in a Little Night Music in Feb. or March. She is a the best ever
AngelaLansburyFan 2 years ago
I saw Angela this year in a Little Night Music... she was magnificent!
asta2500 1 year ago
@timwil09 How refreshing to read a post by someone who knows what they are talking about and not a know it all 17 year old who states their conjured up opinion as fact . At least the upside of this unsuccesful revival was that Lansbury was available for Murder She Wrote when Jean Stapleton suddenly had to drop out.
pudgeuncle 1 year ago
@timwil09 why on earth didn't those idiot producers give this tons of advanced notice and publicity! This show is a smash hit from the get go!
bigbearfla 1 year ago
Haha Angela Lansbury Shimmying @ 3:25
I love it!
Trebleguy471 2 years ago
It's great that this was preserved on video but i'm sad that Miss Bea wasn't in the revival.
johnyzero2000 2 years ago
Comment removed
MBonEB 2 years ago
This was the first show I ever did and it made me fall in love with musical theater. They neeeeed to revive it again cuz it is amazing. I think it would totally still have a modern appeal as well. Sighhh they really don't make them like this anymore.
Trebleguy471 2 years ago
Angela is reappearing on Broadway late 2009 as Madame Armfeldt in the revival of A Little Night Music opposite Catherine Zeta Jones!
KokoPuffs52 2 years ago
showtunestarpower:
No, this is the second number of the show, Act One: Scene Two.
SilverCreedWolf 2 years ago
@SilverCreedWolf Yes, very true - but it is the first big "Production Number" in the show - and the first entrance of the fabulous Ms. Lansbury. So - in the literal sense of the term "opening number," it is not. But for the audience - this is the first "big number" and the scene prior to this is clearly leading in to this one large ensemble number featuring the star.
kess0078 1 year ago
Is this an opening number or what? I remember when this show came into town - the critics hardly paid attention to it and made ridiculous comparisons with 1966. Thank goodness for the people who snuck in these cameras to prove that "they don't make 'em like that anymore". And it's a crying shame.
showtunestarpower 2 years ago 3
I know that the production itself wasn't well-received (saying the sets looked cheap, etc) but Angela Lansbury still got RAVE reviews by many critics!
hateleyfan123 2 years ago
Aren't they the same sets as before?
EricMontreal22 2 years ago
Comment removed
MBonEB 2 years ago
U are a gift from the theatre gods 4 posting this rare gem! I love "Mame" and I absolutely adore Angela Lansbury, it's just great 2 see her performing live. I whole completely agree that Angela Lansbury was robbed of the role in the film version...though I fear "Mame" wouldn't have been a success as a film even w/ the incredible Miss Lansbury- musicals like "Mame" were considered passe by the 70s...what I would have LOVED would be 2 have a performance of the show filmed live in its entirety...
Capricaquarius89 2 years ago 6
Just delightful! Never saw this revival, but did see the original 2x!! Angela's sublime! Think you are too for having uploaded this gem. Thanks 5 stars!!
varadero1839 2 years ago 2
Wow! She's great as Mame! I love Lucy, but Angela was robbed of the role in the movie version... Awesome clip!
SilverCreedWolf 2 years ago 10