Pippin

Here's a Broadway musical about a young man who sets out to discover true meaning in his life, dabbling in war, sex, and politics before finding love. That may sound conventional, but it isn't. The ...( read more )

Schwartz's pop-rock score may not be as recognizable as his work for Godspell and various animated films (The Prince of Egypt, Disney's Pocahontas), but it does include the soul-driven opener "Magic to Do" (showing off Fosse's signature white gloves), the soaring "Corner of the Sky," the lovely ballad "With You" (indelicately presented in a brothel), and the romping "No Time at All" (by Martha Raye as Pippin's grandmother). Not as technically polished as newer shows preserved on video (Into the Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), this live 1981 performance of Pippin is probably of greatest interest to Fosse fans as a record of his striking vision. (The original show won five Tony Awards, including for Fosse's direction and choreography and Vereen's performance.) Note, however, that this Canadian television production was supervised, not directed, by Fosse, and is missing some numbers from the original show. --David Horiuchi

Flixster Users

65% liked it

Unrated, 115 min.

Directed by: David Sheehan

Released: January 1, 1981

Invite friends to see

DVD Released: October 31, 2000

Recommend it Add to Favorites

report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating

Top Flixster Reviews

February 9, 2008

svmainus's review

This is an old 1981 live tv perfomance. I like Ben Vereen - I love Bob Fosse's choreography - however this pop rock version of the story of the son of Charlemagne on his quest for the meaning of life just doesn't work for me. Martha Raye as his grandmother was just strange - Ch... ...( read more )
November 17, 2007

okkaywarner's review

I can't really think of a case where I would consider the movie version of something better than the play. I love plays and musicals and they are definitely best seen on the stage. This one is no exception, but seeing this on DVD was a decent enough substitute for the real thin... ...( read more )
June 17, 2007

rgsunico1's review

While most people remember Pippin solely for the song Corner of the Sky, there's a lot more good music involved here and Bob Fosse dance sequences to boot that really make this a play worth seeing. This somewhat rare 1981 recording of an original performance is so worth buying.