Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1681 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-05-06
• Rating: Exempt
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 120 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
This pop-cultural phenomenon has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons in 26 countries for almost 18 years, churning more than US$2 billion in ticket sales. Now that Cats has finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid not just by fans of this critic-proof show, but also by those entertainment mavens who have somehow avoided Cats until now. The video version has been restaged but, alas, not really reconceived for its new medium.

The video cast, assembled from London, Amsterdam, and New York productions, is competent. Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, Jacob Brent as Mr. Mistoffelees, and Elaine Paige--the original London Grizabella, the Glamour Cat well past her prime--are a great deal more than that. Paige has toned down her theatrical belting of her big number, "Memory", and allowed the faded ruin of her character's soul to prevail in close-up. For all the "covers" of her signature song, Paige's version remains definitive. The video is, by definition, more intimate, not always a good thing: costumes are even more Halloweeny in garish close-up, the cats less cuddly without that all-important interaction, the stage's appropriately midnight lighting transmuted to a Las Vegas neon. And the chorus of cats in production numbers is even clunkier and more amorphous in two-and three-shots.

The one complete newcomer to the cast is the 90-year-old icon among English actors John Mills, a delight as Gus the Theatrical Cat. Sir John and his character show the youngsters how it's done in close-up, largely behind the eyes, abetted by a heart-tugging delivery of his one song. Yet virtually all of the songs are lip-synched, further robbing the video Cats of its onstage seeming spontaneity. It's clearer than ever that Lloyd Webber's music is mostly twaddle, with the important exception of "Memory", which instantly and rightly became one of the genuine theatre standards not dependent on context, in the vein of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns". On the plus side, most of the Cats characters and lyrics, from TS Eliot's 14-poem Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, are far better defined and understood from the video version. --Robert Windeler

Amazon.co.uk Review
Cats is a pop-cultural phenomenon that has been performed on stage for more than 50 million patrons in 26 countries for almost 18 years, resulting in more than two billion dollars in ticket sales. Now that Cats has finally made it to the small screen, attention must be paid not just by fans of this critic-proof show, but also by those entertainment mavens who have somehow avoided it until now.

This video version has been restaged but, alas, not really reconceived for its new medium. Most of the cast--assembled from London, Amsterdam and New York productions--are competent. Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy, Jacob Brent as Mr Mistoffelees and Elaine Paige--the original London Grizabella, the Glamour Cat well past her prime--are a great deal more than that. Paige has toned down her theatrical belting of her big number, "Memory", and allowed the faded ruin of her character's soul to prevail in close-up. For all the covers of her signature song, Paige's version remains definitive. The video is, by definition, more intimate, which is not always a good thing: costumes are even more Halloweeny in garish close-up, the cats less cuddly without that all-important interaction, the stage's appropriately midnight lighting transmuted to a Las Vegas neon. And the chorus of cats in production numbers is even clunkier and more amorphous in two- and three-shots.

The one complete newcomer to the cast is the 90-year-old icon among English actors, John Mills, a delight as Gus the Theatrical Cat. Sir John and his character show the youngsters how it's done in close-up, largely behind the eyes, abetted by a heart-tugging delivery of his one song. Yet virtually all of the songs are lip-synched, further robbing the video Cats of its onstage spontaneity. It's clearer than ever that Lloyd Webber's music is mostly twaddle, with the important exception of "Memory", which instantly and rightly became one of the genuine theatre standards not dependent on context, in the vein of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns". On the plus side, most of the characters and lyrics, from TS Eliot's 14-poem Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, are far better defined and understood from the video version. --Robert Windeler, Amazon.com

Special Features
English
Region 2

Customer Reviews

Fantastic musical
I have had this on video for years, and have watched it many many times, it's one of those musicals you can never get bored of.
I had a dream to see this live, and my wish finaly came true last weekend and i got to see it live at the Theatre.
What can i say but Wow! I didn't think it would be as good as the video, but i was wrong, the whole cast were fantastic, and really out done themselves.
I recommend this musical to anyone,especially those people who love Cats.

CATS RULES!!!
Cats is the most terrific musical in the whole entire world!!! I have watched it so many times. When I went to see it in real life I was sitting at the edge of my seat all the way through! In the movie there are many super characters, the costumes are amazing, the stage setting is exciting and the story line is thrilling.
Leela Saengprathum, 9 years old, Bangkok, Thailand

Mognificent!!
I got the chance a few days ago to go and see the theatre production of Cats at the Leeds Grand Theatre when the UK Tour came to town and although we were up on the balcony perched like two tweeting birds, I can safely say that there is nothing else [and I have seen Phantom in London] that comes anywhere near the production of Cats played live.

So when we returned home, we bought the DVD with the special features included to get a behind the scenes glimpse at the production. Watch Munkustrap morph from actor to cat and see what I mean!

What memories. Seeing once again [and it was so close to the live show] the dance, the movement, the balletic interpretation and the quality of sound made us both sit there with big cheshire cat grins on our faces, remembering the night out all over again.

This is a fantastic filmed version of the live show, allowing you a close up, front row seat as you watch and listen to all those songs. For us, who have had numerous moggies over the last twenty years or so, it allows us to see something of all of them, now happy in the heavyside layer, and makes for some great memory inducing moments.

This is definitely worth the money. If you have the chance, go to see the show as well. The experience is worth every penny.

Truly mognificent!!!!