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Dom Robinson reviews
Distributed by
Polygram
- Cat.no: 047 994 2
- Cert: E
- Running time: 103 minutes
- Year: 1998
- Pressing: 1999
- Region(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (UK PAL)
- Chapters: 20 plus extras
- Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Stereo
- Languages: English
- Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch
- Widescreen: 1.66:1 (15:9)
- 16:9-enhanced: No
- Macrovision: Yes
- Price: £19.99
- Extras : Scene index, Interviews, Booklet
Director:
- David Mallet
(Lord of the Dance, U2: Popmart, U2: Zoo TV Live from Sydney)
Producer:
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by
- T.S. Eliot
Music:
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cast:
Grizabella: Elaine Paige
Gus The Theatre Cat: Sir John Mills
Deuteronomy: Ken Page
Catshas become the longest-running and most famous musical of all timesince it first opened in London’s West End in 1981. It has been seen by over50 million people in more than 150 cities around the world and translated into14 different languages.
CATS is based on T.S. Eliot’s magical “Old Possum’s Book of PracticalCats”, with an extraordinary score by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose otherstage musical hits include The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, StarlightExpress and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
This two-hour spectacular was shot on film over 18 days at the Adelphi Theatrein London’s West End, the production was totally re-lit for filming and themusic has been completely re-recorded with a seventy piece orchestra, mixingboth stereo and full digital sound.
It was directed by David Mallet (Lord of the Dance, U2: Popmart, U2:Zoo TV Live from Sydney) and features original cast members in addition tothe internationally reknowned Elaine Paige, the legendary Sir JohnMills and Ken Page, as well as a supporting cast of 26.
The picture quality is very good with artifacts only noticeable if you’relooking for them and then usually on static backgrounds so not a major problem.I couldn’t determine the average bitrate though. The disc is not 16:9-enhancedfor widescreen televisions, but this is obvious since the picture isn’t quitethat wide.
The sound on the disc is available in Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Stereo – bothbeing in English – and is first-rate but then it ought to be given that this isa musical, the most memorable song being Elaine Paige‘s rendition of“Memory”.
Extras : Chapters :There are 20 chapters spread throughout the 120 minutes of the production. Itcould use some more, but it could be argued that 20 are fine because each arepositioned at the start of a new musical piece. Booklet :The booklet looks good, but doesn’t go into great depth about the production,using most of its space to say the same basic things in several languages. Interviews :Interviews are contained with both Andrew Lloyd Webber and ElainePaige. Languages & Subtitles :
The disc contains an English language soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 andDolby Stereo, plus subtitles for English, French, Italian, Spanish, Germanand Dutch.
Menu :
The menu is static but works well. Another thing to note is that on playing thedisc you can’t skip past the copyright info after selecting the requiredmenu language. There’s no option to start from the beginning of the productionso you need to go into “Select A Song” and click on “Opening Credits/Overture”,which first brings up the Polygram logo.
Overall, fans of Cats will certainly enjoy the musical on show, butsome biographies about the cast members would have served as a useful addition.
If you’d like more information on this musical, check out the official Websiteat :https://www.catsthemusical.comFILM : ****PICTURE QUALITY : ****SOUND QUALITY: *****EXTRAS: **——————————-OVERALL: ****
Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.