Plot: What’s it about?
No matter what fellow filmgoers this reviewer talks to, I always tell them that this summer was one of many highlights. One hitman commandeered a cab along with the cab driver to do some business, a true story of a young filmmaker broke the color barrier to make a film that none of the studios wanted becoming a pioneer in black filmmaking, and a super hero did battle with an octopus armed villain in the big city of New York. None of which highlighted so much as the one highlight involving a documentary about one man’s six year documentation of interviewing 100 legends of the stage to discuss their memories of the Great White Way. What he got out of it was a little more than he bargained for as a few elements of his documentary came to him by accident and the final result gave a much more intriguing look at a time when a full page had so much going on at one time and the road from there lead to a discussion about Broadway: The Golden Age.
As a young man in Beech Grove, Indiana in the mid 1960s, filmmaker Rick McKay was intrigued at the fact that most of the stars he noticed in movies came from the stage and performed live. He was so intrigued he went to his local library and noticed that the theater section of the New York Times was filled with so many shows happening at the same time. When it came his time to come to NY, he noticed a Broadway that was not what he expected. His idea of Broadway was no more and now a different world. From that point, it would lead him to find out about this Broadway that once was and what made it a golden age and what it was really like from those that had been through it all.
I love to hear how someone would go to great lengths to make something that they are passionate about and nothing says it better than in this documentary. I admit I’m not the biggest Broadway person but even if a viewer is the slightest bit curious about this thing called Broadway and what it was like, this is certainly worth more than a look. The assemblage of clips and interviews is very nicely put together and it’s great to see some that are still with us and some Rick was lucky enough to document before they passed on.
There were some segments that led to another and to another never losing interest in the viewer at any moment mixing present day footage with past day footage. Rick also noted that many have never seen that days time in color and it’s wonderfully represented here without any computer enhancement and it is a joy to see. Hearing the stories from the legends were amazing, funny, and hard to believe just what went on with all at the different periods before the era of the rock musicals petered out this time. Being an online writer, this reviewer wishes there was a community camaraderie amongst the fellow DVD reviewers like the one that these legends had in their time.
It is an educating piece where those who were not familiar with these people can be in hearing all their wonderful struggles and how they overcame them. I’m also glad to see more footage of the stage more so than just film clips representing the stars to show just what kind of Broadway was represented then. There are moments of astonishment, moments to learn and moments of greatness but amongst it all, Rick McKay writes the best love letter even given to any era of the Broadway stage.
Video: How does it look?
Broadway: The Golden Age was filmed on a digital camera and it was shot full frame as a result. The visual look of this is better than most video shot documentaries where the mix in with the stock footage and the archival footage which has their own share of little bits of clarity issues but through it all it blends in nicely with a lot of varying colors. Above all a solid picture clean of much debris or flaws in the transfer. A very nice job.
Audio: How does it sound?
The Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround track varies from the different interviews and the dialogue comes out very clear without too much noise and the additional footage amongst retains nice surround effects and each one of the interviews and additional footage carry their own bit of muteness but it doesn’t distract from the overall audio experience as Broadway: The Golden Age carries a nice balance between narration, music, and interviews making for a good track. My only regret was there were no subtitles for this title.
Supplements: What are the extras?
For those who didn’t get to see this film on the big screen in their town, during some of the summer weekends in New York City, filmmaker Rick McKay would stop by some of the screenings afterwards for a Q&A session and occasionally bring with him one or a few of the legends with him. Anyone who missed out on the after screening Q&A experience with Rick would greatly benefit from the commentary track by McKay as his great personality and side stories come off rather well. Here he’s speaks volumes and what he has to say fits in nicely with the company that he interviews and talks about a little bit of the struggle he had in making this documentary almost equivalent of some of the players focused on in this documentary as well as giving some time for some of the numbers featured as well as giving little hints at his next two Broadway installments. A very entertaingly great track.
Next is the featurette showing the premieres both in Hollywood and New York for the film with some funny comments from some of the players as well as some surprise appearances from present day actors, reviewers and one such director. It seems like all were in great spirits at this and it comes off greatly in this piece.
After there are three deleted scenes, all of which would’ve fit in nicely with the finished film but understandable for time purposes. I would’ve loved for Passing It On to have made it to the final cut where it has so much to say in that small time from both Eva Marie Saint and Tommy Tune.
There is also an alternate ending that brings it in a more downbeat direction along with some thoughts by present day Broadway people that is an interesting ending but in this viewer’s opinion, the better ending won out in the finished film.
On top of that, there is the extended scene of Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse performing “Whatever Lola Wants” and it is a great piece that I’m glad is available seperately as it is great on it’s own in glorious black and white.
Along with the film’s full frame theatrical trailer, there is a thirty five minute preview of one of the next two installments in Rick McKay’s Broadway Trilogy focusing on Broadway: The Next Generation. There is no archival footage but from all the interviews for this piece put together so far, I’m very much looking forward to what this installment will have as well as Broadway: The Golden Age 2. I love what starts this off, a note from Rick noting to viewers and legends alike to be the first to see this, and giving anyone the chance to recommend someone to be part of this documentary. I will say this, if any legend of Broadway reads this review, check out that part of the DVD as it would be great for you to be included in any of the next installments of Rick McKay’s Broadway Trilogy.
A great documentary was released this summer and if you don’t know the names of any of the legends, you should. Another name to know is Rick McKay and he made Broadway: The Golden Age a documentary that entertains, excites and intrigues the least bit curious about the Broadway stage of yesteryear. I agree with one of the individuals at the premiere that it should be required viewing for any theater class and not only is it a great documentary but one of the best DVDs of the year that everyone should check out.
