21: out in the mountains I MAY 2006 l MOUNTAlNPRlDEMEDlA.ORG

 

lizu ”lIings Them Bells”

BY PAUL BROGAN

nce upon a time there
were television spe-

cials that were indeed
special. Musical performers
such as Frank Sinatra, Judy
Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris
Day, Perry Como and Bar-

bra Streisand brought their
enormous talents to the small
screen for evenings ofmusical
entertainment that were indeed
worthy of the word “special.”

One evening in 1972, a relative

newcomer graced the “tube” for an

 

1 hour of music and dance that delight-

ed millions and who went on to win
a truckload of Emmy Awards.
“Liza with a ‘Z’" was the name
of the special, and the lady of the
title was Liza Minnelli, daughter
of Judy Garland and renowned
director Vincente Minnelli; and at
the time of the broadcast receiv-
ing kudos for her superstar turn
in the film version of Cabaret.
The role would eventually win
her an Oscar.
Legendary dancer/choreog-
rapher Bob Fosse, who directed
“Cabaret,” also helrned this spec-
tacular and his “touch” would
become a distinctive part of
the Minnelli ouevre for years to
come. Finally, fab_led designer
Halston created Minnelli‘s outfits
for the show that played an enor-

mous part in defining Liza Minnel-
li throughout the 70’s and 80’s; the
two names became intertwined in
the public’s mind.

was the year in which Liza made
her international mark as a true
superstar of the first caliber. This
was before the multiple mar-

One evening in 1972, a relative newcomer
graced the "tube-” for an hour of music and
dance that delighted millions and who went
on to win a truckload of Emmy Awards.

I watched “Liza with a ‘Z”’
back in 1972. I was a teenager
at the time and had never seen
it again until its recent release
on DVD. As I faced the prospect
of seeing it again after more
than three decades, I wondered
whether it would be as good as
I remembered it. After all, it was
one of those magical evenings
that you stored away and com-
pared other specials to in the
years following.

To my delight, I found it to be
as fresh, funny and musically up-
lifting as I recalled, and thanks to
some great re-mastering for this
release, even better to look at.

I was instantly struck by
how young and unaffected Liza
seemed to be at 26 years of age.

Although she had already starred
on Broadway, made several films,
including her Oscar-nominated
role in The Sterile Cuckoo, 1972

ANNOUNCING

m
M
F
5.
U
0
m
m
'<
(5

JACKIE MARINO

Colcheslcr, VT 05446
.lackieMarino@verizon.ne(

JACKIE MARINo 8:
ASSOCIATES ARE
PLEASED TO
ANNOUNCE THE
ADDITION OF
HEATHER GEOFFREY
TO OUR TEAM OF
REAL ESTATE
PROFESSIONALS AS A
BUYER SPECIALIST.

HEATHER GEOFFRH
REALTOR. BUYER SPECIALIST

 North Professionals  W

Jackie Manno
REALTOR

655-3377 EXT. 223

riages, frequent trips to rehab,
Broadway shows like “The Act”
and “The Rink” which ran only_
because of her starring in them,
and forgettable films like Lucky
Lady, A Matter of Time, and Rent
a Cop.

“Liza with a ‘Z”’ offers us a veri-
table dynamo whose energy will
leave the viewer breathless.

While not blessed with an
extraordinary voice - she was
certainly no Garland or Streisand

- what Minnelli does possess is
showmanship. She has that in
abundance and few performers
ca.n grab an audience the way she
can, bringing them to their feet
not because you are supposed to
stand up as audiences do today,
but because the performer has
treated you to a consummate mu-
sical experience.

Liza runs the gamut of songs
during the special, including

Edwina Lee Tyler
Ubaka Hill
Bonnie Devlin
Elaine N. Fong
Valerie Naranjo
Caru Thompson
and many more!‘

WORKSHOPS
GALLERY
SHOWCASE
MARKETPLACE

Day Rates Available

  

Pop singer‘Mandy Moore (right) presents Liza with The Vanguard Award
at GLAAD's 16th Annual Media Awards.

LlMEL|TE.0RG

some unlikely numbers such as
“God Bless the Child” and “Son
of a Preacher Man," which she
makes her own. “It was a Good
Time," based on the theme from
the David Lean film, Ryan’s
Daughter, is such a toe—tapper
that one wonders why it wasn’t
heard more often. She even chan-
nels her mother With a show-stop-
ping “My Manuny."

Fred Ebb and John Kander
(Cabaret and Chicago) contribute
some great original tunes that
Minnelli sings to the delight of
the audience. The hilarious “Liza
With a ‘Z”’ and the brilliant “Ring
Them Bells” allow Minnelli to
show her comedy-timing which
was often given short shrift in
her frequent overly—melodramatic

9t

choices for film roles. She ties it
all up with a medley from Caba-
ret that settles any questions as
to the validity of her win as Best
Actress for the film.

“Liza With a ‘Z’" should be re-
quired viewing for anyone with an
appreciation for quality entertain-
ment. Add it to your collection
and I can guarantee you it will
spend more time in your DVD
player than on the shelf. “What
good. is sitting alone in your room"
when you can be watching Liza’s
finest hour? V

Paul Brogan is executive direc-
tor of A Community Resource
Network in Lebanon, New
Hampshire.

Catskili 
Womyrfs 

  aw & PERCUSSi 

DrumCentral@h

860-488-4984“

www.drumcentrall”i.ni

.)f