Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 20, 1993 TAG: 9311200339
SECTION: SPECTATOR PAGE: S-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARTIE ZAD THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A movie about one of the century's legendary musical-comedy performers, Gertrude Lawrence, should have top performers, great songs, lavish sets and opulent costumes. This movie, which runs just eight minutes shy of three hours, embraces all those elements.
Its star is Julie Andrews, who brings to the role a great voice, good looks and fine acting. It is a treat to watch and listen to Andrews, whose voice at this point in her career was simply pure and magical. She is gracefully involved in the 17 lavishly staged songs, some by Cole Porter, the Gershwins and Kurt Weill.
To trace Lawrence's ascent from vaudeville halls to international fame on London and Broadway stages, Donald Brooks designed more than 100 costumes with ample use of jewels by Cartier.
The film was produced by Saul Chaplin and directed by Robert Wise, who also teamed up with Andrews for "The Sound of Music." Michael Kidd was the choreographer, and Ernest Laszlo was the cinematographer.
The cast co-stars Richard Crenna as Lawrence's husband. Daniel Massey plays his own real-life godfather, Noel Coward, and Michael Craig is a nobleman whose relationship with Lawrence brings her eventual acceptance in the highest British social circles. The film also co-stars Bruce Forsyth, Beryl Reid, Jenny Agutter and Robert Reed, who went on to play Mike Brady, the father in television's "The Brady Bunch."
This re-mastered film, which lists for $89.98, includes exclusive and rarely seen behind-the-scenes footage that was not on the original theatrical-release reels.
American critics were not as enthusiastic about the film as the British were when it premiered in London. "Star!" was twice cut by 20 minutes and was down to just two hours when it was re-released as "Those Were the Happy Times."
by CNB