Filmed live at the Barbican in London, this major new 5-star production of the classic musical comedy features an all-star cast including Sutton Foster, Robert Lindsay, Felicity Kendal and Gary Wilmot..
When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love – proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, a comical disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail.
This hilarious musical romp across the Atlantic, directed by the multi-award-winning Broadway director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall, features Cole Porter’s joyful score, including “I Get A Kick Out of You”, “You’re the Top” and the show stopping “Anything Goes”.
For thoughts on Anything Goes, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/29CHE2dwxcA?t=3475]
Video Quality
Anything Goes comes to Blu-Ray fresh from being filmed in London with a stellar high definition master which presents this perfectly. This presentation is simply the stage version of the musical captured with the utmost care professionally. The image looks incredibly crisp and clear with natural skin tones and some highly detailed facial features. Whether in a fully lit number or moody, shadowy sequence, the transfer remains sharp and detailed with no real variance from song to song. The colors featured in the footage have an pleasing sense of vibrancy to them. The transfer does not feature anything in the way of compression artifacts or digital nuisances of the sort. This is an experience that thrives in high definition.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray disc comes with a formidable DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures every facet of this musical effortlessly. There are very few moments that are not belted out in song or at least complemented by a musical score. Both normal dialogue and performances come through with a natural fidelity that hits appropriately given the content. The surround sound presentation makes the experience more three dimensional such as the orchestra and the laughter of the audience at the performance. There were no digital anomalies or other issues spotted. This track delivers in every respect. There are optional English subtitles provided.
Special Features
There are no special features included on this disc.
Final Thoughts
Anything Goes is a musical that has been around for nearly 100 years, and this particular revival captured on film is a great immortalization of its legacy. The staging allows for the necessary whimsy and gravitas that you desire from a big, splashy production, but there is also a greater focus on the interpersonal moments that makes the material come alive. Sutton Foster and the rest of the cast seem to be having a blast bringing this one to life, and that energy translates to the audience. The actual filming of the piece is dynamic without being too distracting. It is so rewarding to have this one easily accessible to a larger audience who might not be able to get out to the theater for such an experience. Liberator Film Studios has released a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation but no special features. If you love the material, you are going to eat this up. Recommended
Anything Goes is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Liberator Film Studios has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
