Search - The Best of Victor Borge Act One and Two on DVD

The best of comedy in music with Victor Borge

maelstrom1 | 06/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many years ago I saw a television special starring Victor Borge. At the time, I had little knowledge of classical music and I did not really find it interesting. Nowadays, however, I listen to classical music all the time and I am able to appreciate the jokes, so I recently watched this video of Borge in concert. First off, Victor Borge is a very funny man. Not only are his facial expressions and body language humourous, but his witty remarks and plays on words show the true, spirited nature of his character. Secondly, he is a very talented pianist. This is especially apparent during the last 15 to 20 minutes of the video where he plays a series of waltzes and lullabies. It is easy to see why he was a top-notch performer back in the 1930s -- and he still is to this very day. The live concert on this video contains many of his classic routines. Some of the musical comedies include the Salieri Opera (which I have also seen listed as A Mozart Opera -- same routine), the 2nd Rhapsody by "Fliszt", and his accompaniment to Marylyn Mulvey during an aria. Equally funny are some of his non-musical comedy routines, including Inflationary Language and Phonetic Punctuation [sput]. These acts are even funnier when viewed on video than when I first listened to them on CD. The video has enough routines to keep you in stitches for at least an hour after it's over. Overall, I highly recommend this video to anyone who has and has not witnessed the comedy in music of Victor Borge. You will not be disappointed by this well-performed one-man show that has delighted viewers/listeners for over four decades."

Great routines, but truncated recording disappointing

Benjamin Pollack | 04/21/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Victor Borge is as funny as ever in this 90-minute live performance. He is thoroughly engaged, very lively, and manages to deliver even his most common routines with such energy and humor that you feel as if you're seeing them for the first time.

That said, the recording has some flaws. The first you will notice is that the video quality, though not distracting, is nevertheless poor. It's painfully obvious that this DVD was mde from a VHS cassette. The one that most disappointed me most, though, is that "The Best of Victor Borge Acts I and II" is just that--the best of them, not the whole thing. Seven years ago, I purchased a videocassette of this same concert. Since the tape has gotten worn to the point of being unusable, I purchased this DVD expecting to have all of Acts I and II. Sadly, several routines are fully removed, including Borge's birthday sketches and his performance of the Moonlight Sonata. His performance of "Clear the Saloon" and several other pieces have also been cut from the recording. For this reason, although I don't outright regret the purchase, I'm profoundly disappointed with it."

The Best of Victor Borge

Benjamin Pollack | 01/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Very good, but I would not say it is the Best of Victor Borge". I recall funnier moments. Also, the captured episodes are a little on the redundant side. But all in all it is very good.Also, this DVD is 100% identical to "Victor Borge Act One and Two". Very disappointing if you are anticipating a new set of episodes - which one would when ordering a DVD by a new name."

Genius at work, tape could be better

Thomas Santee | 07/07/2001

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Victor Borge's work is incredible, and this tape is a compilation of some of his finest bits (See end of this review for a list). Unfortunately, unlike the tapes you rent at the video store, this tape is in the grainy EP mode, so Borge is not presented as well as one might have wished. The material rates a 5, but the EP speed rates this tape a 2. If the nonstandard EP speed had been listed so that the buyer could choose their own personal price/quality trade-off, then that would have given it a 3 or 4. Introducing Mozart............ My Favorite Barber............ Introducing Marilyn Mulvey............ Aria from "Rigor Mortis" by Joe Green............ The Timid Page Turner............ Phonetic Punctuation............ Inflationary Language............ Sahan Arzruni with the "2nd Rhapsody" by Fliszt............ Salieri Opera (sometimes called Mozart Opera)............ Danish Lullaby."