The Royal Family (Broadway Theatre Archive) | Donald Barton, Forrest Buckman

The Royal Family (Broadway Theatre Archive) | Donald Barton, Forrest Buckman | Le Gallienne treasure

DVDs:

The Royal Family (...

	The Royal Family (Broadway Theatre Archive) Donald Barton, Forrest Buckman Image Entertainment, 2002 average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber collaborated on this 1927 hit comedy about an eminent and slightly eccentric theatrical clan. A Barrymore-like brood, the Cavendishes are as flamboyant offstage as they are on. Their real-life family drama occurs in a Manhattan apartment when the grand matriarch, Fanny Cavendish, learns that her daughter and granddaughter may both be giving up the stage for marriage. Theatre legends Rosemary Harris, Eva LeGallienne, Sam Levene and Ellis Rabb have great fun portraying characters they know all too well from their years on stage.

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Great classic comedy -- GREAT cast

This one is a treasure. I saw it first many years ago on Great Performances on PBS. The cast is amazing, and the direction is superb. The talents of Rosemary Harris and Keene Curtis and all the rest are unparalleled. There are too few chances to enjoy these mostly stage actors. But most satisfying is the rare opportunity to watch the magnificent Eva LaGallienne in action. She was one of the all time greatest performers on the American stage. She started in the '20s as an ingenue -- playing on her youth and good looks while learning her craft to perfection. Later she became a producer, built theaters, and took on other roles traditionally closed to women of the time. Here she was already in her mid-70s, but her talent is unmistakeable. She remained active until her death at 93. (Look her up on the Internet if you don't believe me.)
Few televised plays have ever been this successful. It is classic comedy in its truest sense. I'm excited that this marvelous comedy has made it to DVD. Get it and enjoy.

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Le Gallienne treasure

This is a must video to see.
The play is good, but the main reason for everyone to see it is because it is one of the very few chances you can see the Great Eva Le Gallienne at work, since she only did a few moments available to view as 99.9% of her work was the stage.
If anyone is interested in seeing the work of the greatest actress that has ever lived, watch Eva Le Gallienne.

Dame Rosemary Harris Please!

When will Rosemary Harris get her damehood in real life? After watching her act as Julie Cavendish in the Royal Family, I have to admit that she is one of England's finest actresses. I like seeing her with Eva La Gallienne and Mary Louise Wilson. I didn't care for the daughter. The play itself is outdated but the cast is worth watching. In researching Eva La Gallienne, I couldn't believe such an actress existed to create and work in the theater for love. Eva's performance is a reminder of such a great American dame of the theater not to be forgotten. I have read the biographies of this woman's life, difficult and passionate. She was truly an example of greatness in theater.

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DE-LIGHTFUL

This staged production of the 1927 George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber hit play, about a theatrical clan towering over Broadway from their Manhatten penthouse, is still a comedic gem, with knock-out performances from Rosemary Harris, as Broadway's leading lady who regards every doorway as a grand entrance, Ellis Rabb, who also co-directed, as her John Barrymore-ish brother, a tempermental actor who remains just this side of frantic measures, and Keene Curtis, a leading man past his prime, grasping at roles with shoe polish adorning his graying hair. The biting 1920's theatrical sarcasm is still very funny, and serves as historical document of what was relevant at a time when emerging radio, silent movies, and sensational staged productions were Broadways's only competition. The foreign collection of exotic people and animals accompanying brother Tony, (Rabb), on his return trip from Europe, gives the production an authentic 1920's global glitz. I would have preferred to see this play filmed before a live audience, which would have comforted the sometimes hollowness of a filmed staged play, but "The Royal Family", is a real treat for lovers of theatre, and historical Broadway.

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