VictorVictoria DVD with Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, James Garner (PG) +Movie Reviews

One of Hollywood's Great Comedy Musicals

Jose R. Perez | Yonkers, NY USA | 08/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the age of "Moulin Rouge" audiences would do far better by rediscovering this musical comedy gem, starring the incomparable Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, Leslie Ann Warren and James Garner. Rarely has Hollywood captured the essence of great music with outstanding performances as it has in "Victor/Victoria." There are literally a dozen or so scenes that will leave you hysterical, as in gasping-for-breath hysterical, something many films aspire to, but few ever deliver on. But more than funny, this is a poignant, character driven film where every principal is allowed to shine. Andrews permanently sheds her "Sound of Music" virginal skin in the title role, embodying the man-pretenting-to-be-a-woman-pretending-to-be-a-man part in a way noone has ever done before or since. Of course, the audience is in on the joke, but it never becomes tired or anything less than fresh. Robert Preston is the antithesis of his former "Music Man" personna, a gay-Paree emcee who discover's Victor's startling 8-octave vocal range and turns him/her into the rage of Paris. These two performances, along with Leslie Ann Warren's unforgettable floosy - all three Oscar-nominated - are drop dead fabulous. These are actors at the very height of their form....funny, passionate, real and endearing. The musical highlights are truly phenomenal, certainly better than other "best loved" musicals like "Singing In the Rain" or "An American In Paris." Andrews scores on "Le Jazz Hot" and shows an indelible comic flair few people knew she was capable of in the legendary cafeteria sequence, which literally had the audience I viewed this with ROLLING in the aisles. It's a movie where even the insects - cockroaches in this case - are memorable. But more so, its also a lesson in what Hollywood USED to do so well in its tradition of movie musicals....and what its forgotten to do over the past two decades since Victor/Victoria was released. In a nutshell, Hollywood forgot that the power of song and music is their ability to HUMANIZE a character and progress the plot, but also lend depth and color to the principals. For me, "Victor/Victoria" IS Hollywood's last great musical, and certainly one of the most visually stunning, fully realized films of our time. This ranks far and away as Blake Edward's crowning masterpiece - high above SOB or the Pink Panther flicks. And the supporting performances are some of the best ever caqptured. Just try and forget Warren's cooing to James Garner ("pooookie....I'm horny) or Alex Karras' gay gangster falling in love with Preston. From roaches to royalty, "Victor/Victoria" is quite simply one of the best films of the 80's or any other decade. I am anxiously awaiting its release on DVD, and secretly hoping that the currently available Broadway show version silently goes away as it cannot hold a candle to the film. Rent it, buy it, LOVE IT."

Blake Edwards - Musical Gender Bending At It's Best!

Sheila Chilcote-Collins | Collinswood, Van Wert, OH USA | 05/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is most definitely musical gender-bending at it's best! Not many musical/comedies are produced nowadays, let alone good ones like Rocky Horror Picture Show & Little Shop Of Horrors to name a few that come to my mind.This 80's musical/comedy is set in 1934 GAY and I DO MEAN GAY Paree! This film is quite unparalled in the fact that Victor/Victoria was a movie BEFORE it made it to The Great White Way. Julie Andrews played Victor/Victoria in both movie and on stage.Great songs in - Julie's "Le Jazz Hot" & Lesley Warren's bimboesque "Kings Can-Can". The sexual chemistry is A+++ between Andrews & a sexually confused James Garner who plays "King Marchand" a Chicago club owner, who is so TOTALLY out of his element in Paris, let alone being sexually frustrated and confused over his crush on the beautiful, stylish and gay, Victor.Great cast, great songs and a greater storyline with lots of slapstick comedy make Victor/Victoria a classic of it's time!Happy Watching!"

Enchanting, delighting musical

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 06/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Julie Andrews plays the gender-bending Victoria Grant in husband Blake Edwards' musical comedy gem VICTOR/VICTORIA.Victoria Grant is a penniless soprano in Paris circa 1934, when she meets Toddy (Robert Preston - THE MUSIC MAN), a gay nightclub entertainer. She spends the night at his flat. An unexpected caller triggers the accidental discovery that with the right clothes and voice, Victoria could become "Count Victor Grazinski", a gay Polish female impersonator!Soon Victoria (or "Victor") is the toast of Paris, when American impresario King (James Garner - MOVE OVER DARLING, THE THRILL OF IT ALL) and his moll Norma Cassidy (Lesley Ann Warren - THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE), come close to blowing the ruse.Things become even more complicated when Victoria finds herself falling for King, and Toddy falls in love with King's bodyguard Squash!With Andrews, Preston and Warren in fine musical form, the story fairly brims over with delightful songs, hilarious quips and top-notch performances."

"She's a winner!"

Jay Dickson | Portland, OR | 11/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Blake Edwards film is a sort of valentine to the many gifts of his amazing wife Julie Andrews more than ten years since her last musical, and wouldn't you know it, it was a gigantic hit. It helped that the book poked a great deal of fun at the homophobia of the nascent Reagan era, that James Garner, Alex Karres, Robert Preston and (especially) Lesley Ann Warren (in her funniest role ever, as the idiot dancehall bimbo Norma). But the real reason the film takes off is because of Julie Andrews. She may be utterly unbelievable passing as a man, but she does get to show her great gift for dry humor, and she sings several fine, fine songs, including what may be one of her absolute careeer highlights, "Le Jazz Hot." No one has ever been less appropriate for a jazz number than Julie--she of course sings every single note exactly on the beat, and with her signature perfect diction--, but she gives the number so much zing and warmth and excitement it just doesn't matter. When she's up there in her Josephine Baker outfit snapping her fingers and smiling expansively, and showing off her astonishing and perfect vocal range, she is every bit as showstopping and iconic as when she was spinning round the Salzburg mountaintops in THE SOUND OF MUSIC: she's up there in movie history heaven. And if that weren't enough, you also get to hear her pronounce the word "heterosexual" (several times!) like no one before or since."

One of the Best Comedies & Best Musicals of the 1980's!

M. Hart | USA | 08/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Blake Edwards created a musical, comical, award-winning masterpiece with his film "Victor/Victoria", starring Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, James Garner, Lesley Ann Warren and Alex Karras.Julie Andrews received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her portrayal of Victoria Grant/Count Victor Grezhinski, a divorced, American lounge singer struggling to make ends meet in 1934 Paris. Unable to pay for rent or food, she decides to use a ruse at a restaurant to earn a free meal. There she meets Carroll Todd ("Toddy"), played by Robert Preston who earned Best Actor nominations for both the Oscar and Golden Globe. Also having financial difficulties, Toddy is inspired by Victoria's somewhat masculine-sounding voice when she gets angry to have her pretend to be gay male drag queen. She agrees and she becomes an overnight success after her first performance at one of the most upscale nightclubs in Paris. In the audience are King Marchand (James Garner), his girlfriend Norma Cassady (Lesley Ann Warren, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for both the Oscar & Golden Globe) and his bodygaurd Squash Bernstein (Alex Karras).What makes this film such a masterpiece is not just the excellent comedic writing by Blake Edwards, but also the Oscar-winning music composed by Henry Mancini. Count Victor Grezhinski (Julie Andrews) sings two of the most memorable songs "Le Jazz Hot" during her first nightclub performance and "The Shady Dame from Seville" during another nightclub performance. She also sings the theme song "Crazy World" during a tear-felt nightclub performance. Robert Preston as Toddy sings the fun song "Gay Paree" during a gay nightclub performance and does a hilarious reprise of "The Shady Dame from Seville" at the conclusion of the film. He also sings "You and Me" with Victor at an impromptu performance at the same gay nightclub. Another hilarious performance comes from Lesley Ann Warren singing "Chicago, Illinois" at King Marchand's nightclub in Chicago.The rendering of the film onto DVD is superb, as is the Dolby 5.1 sound quality. You simply cannot go wrong owning this DVD because you will be able to enjoy it for years to come!"

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