Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle Years

Posted: 7/10/11 at 10:39am

Just stumbled upon this DVD again and had a blast re-watching it.

It made me really appreciate Mitzi so much again.

Does anyone have any other suggestions of DVD's like this one that really capture
the great singer/dancer/actresses of the olden Age? (Aside from Broadway: the Golden Age)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/10/11 at 10:55am

In the same restrospective format of this insanely delicious documentary on Mitzi's TV Specials? Unfortunately, no.

Thanks to YouTube, hundreds of people have posted countless clips of every single singer/dancer/actress you can name: from Ann-Margret, Cyd Charisse, Julie Prowse, Lola Folana, Joey Heatherton to Gwen Verdon. They are clips from films, TV appearances, etc. For obvious reasons, they are not on any DVD unless one of us chose to create one.

That Mitzi Gaynor: The Razzle Dazzle Years restrospective was done to launch the DVD release of all 10 of her TV Specials. Sadly, they were never released so all we have are those abridged selective snippets that appear on that documentary. Thankfully, the DVD incarnation includes a few full performance clips on the extras, but those are just 1% of her material that appeared on those TV specials.

Posted: 7/10/11 at 1:29pm

Such a shame.

A genuine force. Amazing talent. And feel BLESSED to have it on DVD.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 8:22am

Agree - absolute disappointment that the DVDs will not be available. I love the Razzle Dazzle Years DVD and will continue to hope that the full programs become available.

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 9:12am

Leg Up

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 2:10pm

THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS was a 1950's movie where Mitzi Gaynor had a prominent part. The movie also stars Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, and a comatose Marilyn Monroe (!) This enjoyable DVD features the music of Irving Berlin. But you need coffee to get through Monroe's rendition of "Heat Wave". Oh, and it also stars the terrific Donald O'Connor in his prime.

Updated On: 7/11/11 at 02:10 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 2:34pm

Mitzi Gaynor IMO has always been an extraordinary entertainer and a true triple threat. She had legs for daaaaaays!!! She was Bob Mackie's personal "Barbie doll" way before he designed for Cher.

I don't care what anyone else says but I LOVED her in South Pacific, she exuded the naivete and vulnerability that the character of Nellie Forbush required and she more than held her own singing those glorious Rodgers & Hammerstein songs. It was a role that didn't require her to fall back on her dancing and like I said before, she more than held her own.

I also loved her in 'There's No Business Like Show Business' and 'Les Girls', she also gave a very nice dramatic turn opposite Sinatra in 'The Joker is Wild'.


Updated On: 7/11/11 at 02:34 PM

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 7/11/11 at 11:28pm

I saw Mitzi last year at Feinstein's and she is still amazing. Yes, the Razzle Dazzle Years DVD gave us a real taste of what those ten years of shows must have been like. Shame we can't see more!

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 7:42am

I love the MOVIN' WITH NANCY TV special, starring Nancy Sinatra. It's more of an Austin Powers groovy fest, but it's got wonderful costumes, dances staged by and featuring David Winters (who was in the original West Side Story on Broadway and film, and who also choreographed TV's Hullabaloo with Donna McKechnie and Michael Bennett). The guest stars are "Daddy" Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., and her husband at the time, Lee Hazlewood. It's a total '60s love-fest, and if your'e into that groovy look and feel, the DVD of her TV special is a must-see.

You can check it out on YouTube as well.
LINK

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 8:57am

With all due respect, Nancy Sinatra was NEVER married to Lee Hazelwood. They never even dated. She was divorced from Tommy Sands in 1965 and she didn't remarry until 1970 (to Hugh Lambert).

Hazelwood was just a professional and friend relationship.

By the way, MOVIN" WITH NANCY aired on NBC TV in 1967. She also had a few more TV specials after this one. Many others also had several TV specials, including Ann-Margret and even Raquel Welch. Raquel's 1970 TV Special RAQUEL! is available on DVD. Sadly, none of Ann-Margret's are.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/12/11 at 3:40pm

David Winters also choreographed Raquel's and A-M's specials as well. He was that much in demand back in the day.

Yes, Lee Hazelwood was never married to Nancy Sinatra. Like BrodyFosse mentioned she married Hugh Lambert circa 1970.

I had the MOVIN' WITH NANCY special on DVD and for anyone who is a fan of that era it is a blast to watch. Dean Martin is in it as well. Nancy was at the height of her powers when that special was filmed.

Sadly none of Ann-Margret's television specials have been officially released on any home video format.

Ann-Margret also recorded an album with Lee Hazelwood around this time entitled, "The Cowboy and the Lady".