A few weeks ago, I reviewed a documentary about an actress who seemed to hide as much as she gave. Now I got to take a look at one about an actress who, while she doesn't let us in on everything, kindly shares her story complete with big, over-the-top musical numbers. Originally reviewed for dvdsnapshot.com)
Official Synopsis:
Carol Channing's life is as colorful as
the lipstick on her big, bright smile. Carol Channing: Larger Than
Life captures the magic and vivacity of the 90-year-old icon,
onstage and off... past and present. It is both a rarefied journey
inside Broadway's most glamorous era, and a whimsical look at an
inspiring, incomparable and always entertaining American legend.
Our Take:
The Tony Awards recently aired on
television, a quaint throwback of a big awards show paying tribute to
an art form that's unique in still being mostly
geographically-specific. Some see it as the hopelessly retro province
of Midwestern tourists and “show queens,” but in a world of
digital streaming, you still have to go
to Broadway (or hope it comes to you) to attend over-the-top,
show-stopping live performances by occasionally legendary talents.
Carol Channing is an entertainment icon
with a big personality. A stage legend who created roles in
“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Hello, Dolly,” she's a
showbiz trooper who worked grueling tours and Broadway schedules well
into her Seventies. Channing never made much of a splash in the
movies (too big a personality) or TV, but who in America can't
identify those big pop eyes, the huge smile, and that raspy, sibilant
voice?
Carol Channing: Larger Than Life
documents her life on the occasion of her Ninetieth birthday. Healthy
and sharp, shuffling slowly though still lean thanks to those decades
of dancing and singing, Channing first entered a theater at age
seven. She went on to meet royalty, presidents, celebrities, and
millions of Average Joes all across the country, usually while
slinging “Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend” or braying that
“Hello, Dolly” theme. At 82, she also reunited with and married
her Junior High love, Harry. Their love story gives the film a sweet
center. Her son is only briefly mentioned and her previous (3rd)
marriage of four decades, Charles Lowe, ended in betrayal and
financial disaster.
By all accounts it seems like Channing
was kind on her way up the ladder, because this is stuffed to the
gills with interviews. A wide variety of celebrities, co-stars, and
her chorus boys share what seem to be genuinely warm, well-loved
memories. Channing shares her own stories through new interviews
along with performance and TV clips, some dating back to the late
Forties. She makes such a charming raconteur
that, by the end, one is inclined to use the more familiar “Carol.”
Nothing too incisive or earth-shattering here, but this is time
well-spent for anyone interested in the history of American
entertainment.
Special Features:
Presented in a 16:9 format with both
5.1 Dolby Digital and 2.0 Stereo English audio and SDH English
Subtitles. Extras include trailers and 15 bonus features of extra
interviews and material. At 47 minutes, it's makes an entire third
act to this 89 minute documentary.
Conclusion:
Carol Channing is the history of
American musical theater in the Twentieth Century, and to spend some
time with her seems utterly charming. Carol Channing: Larger Than
Life is a light, lovely tribute
to a unique national treasure.
Overall Picture:
Movie: A-
Extras: B+
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