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List Price: $24.99 | | Label: Image Entertainment
Salesrank: 6783
Released: May 13, 2003 |
| Our Price: $12.48 |
| Used Price: $11.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
The first Broadway revival in nearly 50 years of the musical comedy masterpiece by composer Cole Porter and book writers Sam and Bella Spewack not only enchanted critics and delighted audiences, but went on to triumph as one of the biggest prize winners of the 2000 season. Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare, this hilarious romp recounts the backstage and on-stage antics of two feuding romances during an out-of-town tryout for a musical adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. Sparkling with 18 classic Cole Porter songs including "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Always True to You in My Fashion," "Too Darn Hot," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" this is Broadway musical comedy at its irresistible best. Directed by Michael Blakemore, this Tony winner for "Best Revival" stars Brent Barrett, Rachel York (Victor/Victoria), Nancy Anderson and Michael Berresse as the squabbling couples whose offstage disputes entangle them with a pair of song-and-dance gangsters and a pompous U.S. army general.
Description of Kiss Me Kate (Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances):
Cole Porter's masterwork Kiss Me, Kate was revived in a splashy production that played on Broadway in 1999 then in London, where this version was filmed in front of a live audience in 2002. Broadway veterans Brent Barrett and Rachel York play pompous Fred Graham and feisty Lilli Vanessi, respectively, the couple whose roles in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew mirror their offstage feud. The play-within-a-play format is reflected in a score that has both contemporary '50s songs ("Too Darn Hot") and Bard-inspired stage songs ("I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua"). Other songs such as "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Why Can't You Behave?," "Always True to You (In My Fashion)," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" are among Porter's best-loved melodies and wittiest lyrics. Nancy Anderson and Michael Berresse (the lone principal still remaining from the Broadway revival cast) sing and dance up a storm as the secondary couple Lois and Bill, and Teddy Kempner and Jack Chissick steal scenes as the gangsters. Recommended for fans of musicals, though it's not the most family-friendly choice due to gender conflicts and stereotyping. --David Horiuchi
Kiss Me Kate (Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances) Reviews:
kiss me kate (pbs revival) 
2009-08-27 - The show is spectacular - the performers excellent - only one problem - there is a flaw in the dvd that must be in the master from which the copies are made. During the "brush up your shakespear" act performed by the "gangsters", in their last "reprise" the act is interrupted and must be bypassed to finish the show. I returned the first copy as "damaged", but the new one sent me had the same problem. I kept it, since otherwise the show is wonderful. DHB
Broadway in my living room. 
2009-04-20 - Classic show, great cast and well filmed! I saw this revival on broadway with the original cast. The replacements are first rate. Brent Barrett (no relation) is superb. "It's too darn hot!"
Mike Barrett/Baltimore
Great movie!
2009-03-29 - This is a great movie. I wish they'd film more stage shows and release them on DVD after the shows close. The cast is great, it's well shot, and a great show too.
Kiss Me Kate is Simply Great!
2009-01-03 - As a high school musical pit director, I was fascinated by this show from early on, as I am big Cole Porter fan. Since we are planning to do this show with high school kids I was worried that this show was "over the top" for a "G" rated audience. Yes, it is bawdy but it is surely beautiful! The acting, singing and staging is fantastic; You feel like you are sitting in the Broadway audience in the third row center. The wide cuts of a huge audience giving applause was the only thing that was a bit silly- but otherwise it is a terrific production with great costumes, sets, lighting and music. The chamber orchestra made it sound more intimate and every singer was first rate. This is my 17 year old daughter's favorite movie musical show of all time. We highly recommend it to everyone!
Love Marin and Brian together!
2008-05-12 - I had the good fortune to see the production on Broadway! Fabulous. Love the two of them together. You will love the performance. I also saw them in "Ragtime" together on Broadway. What extradinary voices they both have. Together they are dynamite!!!!
