I see some very high ratings and praise for this version of a real classic. I suspect that many of these comments are coming from young people who have not seen the original film.
This was a very laudable effort in revisiting live television production, basically propelled by George Clooney. My hat's off to the cast and crew, as this is a technique that's not been seen since the 1960's. There was no editing in what you see here; it was performed (on separate stages) exactly as you see it recorded on the DVD. Even in the heyday of live television productions (1950's) this would have been an ambitious undertaking.
Unfortunately the casting made this look like a college play. Richard Dreyfus doesn't make it as the president. Noah Wylie doesn't make it as the translator. Brian Dennehy is fine as General Bogan, as he has the dramatic chops and the physical stature required. But despite the actors' earnest efforts you yearn to see the original cast in the production. This crew seems to work too hard to mimic the performances of actors who stand just too far above them.
If you've not yet seen this production or the original film, I suggest viewing this first.
I look forward to future live television performances (although I'm not holding dinner for them). Ideally they'd be original productions.
This was a very laudable effort in revisiting live television production, basically propelled by George Clooney. My hat's off to the cast and crew, as this is a technique that's not been seen since the 1960's. There was no editing in what you see here; it was performed (on separate stages) exactly as you see it recorded on the DVD. Even in the heyday of live television productions (1950's) this would have been an ambitious undertaking.
Unfortunately the casting made this look like a college play. Richard Dreyfus doesn't make it as the president. Noah Wylie doesn't make it as the translator. Brian Dennehy is fine as General Bogan, as he has the dramatic chops and the physical stature required. But despite the actors' earnest efforts you yearn to see the original cast in the production. This crew seems to work too hard to mimic the performances of actors who stand just too far above them.
If you've not yet seen this production or the original film, I suggest viewing this first.
I look forward to future live television performances (although I'm not holding dinner for them). Ideally they'd be original productions.