Liza with a "Z"

This "Concert for Television" from 1972 has been beautifully restored, in a DVD package that has lots of extras, and will delight all of Liza's fans, as well as those who admire choreographer/director Bob Fosse. Liza's natural sensuality fits into Fosse's unique (and difficult to master) choreography as if she was born to dance it, and she is one of the best interpreters of his work, which is no easy feat. Liza is fantastic in this concert, with her one-of-a-kind talent shining in every number. With 4 (Halston) costume changes, the show has sections of solo "spotlight" songs, and several production numbers where she is joined by some superb backup dancers, who unfortunately have not been given credit...my only other complaint is that with the running time of 1 hour, one wants more of this terrific multi award winning show! Those who enjoy this concert will also like the 1992 concert with Charles Aznavour at the Palais des Congres available on DVD.

The songs are:
1: "Yes," from the Kander & Ebb show "70, Girls, 70."
2: "God Bless the Child," a marvelous take on the Billie Holiday classic.
3: "Say Liza," a novelty John Kander number and the show's title song.
4: "It Was a Good Time," a touching song where Liza gets to use her acting talent.
5: "I Gottcha," the first of 3 production numbers, with Liza in a red micro mini.
6: "Son of a Preacher Man."
7: "Ring Them Bells" is very amusing with Liza having to travel to Europe to meet the boy next door.
8: "Bye Bye Blackbird," the standout number for choreography, staging and performance. Liza dazzles in black velvet!
9: "You've Let Yourself Go," Charles Aznavour's mature love song, and few can sing Aznavour like Liza.
10: "My Mammy," wonderful!
11: "Cabaret" medley ("Wilkommen," "Married," "Money," "Maybe this Time," "Cabaret"). What can you say...Liza IS Sally Bowles!
12: Curtain calls and titles.

Not seen since its initial airing in September, 1972, fans of Liza Minnelli have waited patiently for over 30 years to have this show released on DVD. The recording has never gone out of print for good reason -- it was Liza's first landmark live solo performance that was put to vinyl and by 1972, she had honed her talents and worked out her material and it all came together in an extraordinary achievement under the amazing hand of director Bob Fosse. Kander & Ebb, Fosse and Minnelli all had quite a time of it in 1972 with triumphs on film, television and the theatre.

I've only seen clips of the show over the years and look forward to sitting down and seeing it as those lucky enough in the audience did. Shot on film for a unique and different approach to the traditional variety or musical show, it's more like a movie of a concert than a TV special.

Grab this one right away...lest it disappear from the shelves for another 30 years!

UPDATE: I saw the show in Los Angeles on 03/23/06 at a screening with Liza herself, sponsored by the TV Academy, and it's truly amazing. I've had the album for years so I know every song, but to actually see the show as it was intended added a whole new layer and dimension. In the discussion panel afterwards (featuring Minnelli and the producers), they said, and rightly so, after the years of bad headlines and drama played out in the public, putting this out points the press back in the direction of what they should be talking about -- the singular and stunning talent that is Liza.

Run don't walk...and see what real talent is all about. This is it!

Rather than review the fantastic material in this wonderful "time capsule," I want to add a few comments about the technical quality of this DVD.

In nearly all of the extras, especially the panel discussion that's worth the price of the DVD itself, you're looking at contemporary digital video.

However, in the restoration of "Liza with a "Z" -- the 1972 program itself -- it must be noted that the video quality isn't up to the quality of the audio.

In fairness, this video restoration was based on raw material that was originally captured on 16 millimeter film. This is the kind of lower grade film stock shown in schools and small auditoriums. And small TV screens.

When you blow up 16-millimeter film stock (rather than standard 35-millimeter), you'll sometimes get, depending upon the size of your display screen -- a fuzzy, off-and-on, "out of focus" appearance.

This is most apparent in close-ups of Liza's face. The colors are brilliant, the sound is wonderful, the production is spectacular -- but this show was not intended for big-screen projection screens now available at electronics stores in the 21st century.

The intermittent fuzziness is more noticeable watching "Liza with a "Z" on a 32-inch TV screen vs. your computer.

One can only imagine the horrific problems that must have emerged during the restoration of this important historical document. That we're able to view anything at all with no degradation in color or sound is a miracle.

So to that end, customers -- be advised that this package is still, in my view, worth every penny. But given the 16mm film stock upon which the restoration is based -- do not expect the same image quality with which you're accustomed to seeing with contemporary films on standard DVDs.

More than anything, "Liza with a "Z" has a "lost and suddenly rediscovered" quality that's out-of-this-world. Be patient with it. After the first few minutes, you'll get used to the off-and-on fuzziness -- and before you know it, you'll be transported to a time and a place that reminds us what a sensation Liza Minnelli became, especially from 1972 to 1989, when it seemed she was destined to become an icon, placed on the short list of the greatest entertainers in history.

She might still get there with the release of this important DVD, and I'm optimistic she will.

In sum, "Liza with a "Z" obliterates the trashy tabloid stories which have chased Liza Minnelli's life during the past decade. And when you're done watching this show -- and all of its fabulous extras -- you're left with the indisputable fact that Minnelli remains a unique talent that transcends adversity. Everyone associated with its restoration should be applauded.

At some point -- it belongs in the Smithsonian AND at the Museum of Radio and Television for future generations to enjoy -- for free.

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