The Pirates of Penzance [Blu-ray]

Director: Wilford Leach

Overview

Joseph Papp's notion of staging one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best-loved operettas with two pop singers (Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith) in the leads paid off as a surprise Broadway smash in the early 1980s, and this film faithfully reproduces Papp's production, featuring most of the original cast and the original director. Frederic (Smith) has been taught since childhood to be a sea-going bandit by the Pirate King (Kevin Kline), but with his 21st birthday imminent, Frederic wants to leave pirating behind, especially after he becomes infatuated with innocent Mabel (Ronstadt). But the Pirate King informs Frederic that since he was born on the last day of February on a Leap Year, his 21st birthday won't roll around for some time yet, and he still owes the King some raiding on the high seas. To Frederic's embarrassment, the Pirate King's next target turns out to be Major General Stanley (George Rose), Mabel's father! The Pirates of Penzance also features Angela Lansbury as Ruth (the sole major casting change from the Broadway production -- Estelle Parsons played the role on stage).

Product Details

Release Date:	08/14/2018
UPC:	0191329053768
Original Release:	1983
Rating:	G
Language:	English
Time:	1:52:00
Sales rank:	15,794

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Kevin Kline	The Pirate King
Linda Ronstadt	Mabel
Rex Smith	Frederic
Angela Lansbury	Ruth
George Rose	Major-General
Tony Azito	Sergeant
David Hatton	Samuel
Louise Gold	Edith
Teresa Codling	Kate
John Bett	Actor
Romolo Bruni	Captain
Zulema Dene	Actor
Carol Macready	Actor
Zoot Money	Pirate
Linda Spurrier	Actor
Peppi Borza	Policeman
Mike Grady	Pirate
Maurice Lane	Policeman
Preston Lockwood	Conductor
Clare McIntyre	Daughter
Tilly Vosburgh	Daughter
Nancy Wood	Other Daughter
William Elliott	Conductor,Composer
Gilbert & Sullivan	Composer

Technical Credits

Wilford Leach

Wilford Leach	Screenwriter
Joseph Papp	Producer
Edward R. Pressman	Executive Producer,Producer
David Hildyard	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Joseph Papp's notion of staging one of Gilbert and Sullivan's best-loved operettas with two pop singers (Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith) in the leads paid off as a surprise Broadway smash in the early 1980s, and this film faithfully reproduces Papp's production, featuring most of the original cast and the original director. Frederic (Smith) has been taught since childhood to be a sea-going bandit by the Pirate King (Kevin Kline), but with his 21st birthday imminent, Frederic wants to leave pirating behind, especially after he becomes infatuated with innocent Mabel (Ronstadt). But the Pirate King informs Frederic that since he was born on the last day of February on a Leap Year, his 21st birthday won't roll around for some time yet, and he still owes the King some raiding on the high seas. To Frederic's embarrassment, the Pirate King's next target turns out to be Major General Stanley (George Rose), Mabel's father! The Pirates of Penzance also features Angela Lansbury as Ruth (the sole major casting change from the Broadway production -- Estelle Parsons played the role on stage). Mark Deming