“But Alive” from Applause (1970)
Based on All About Eve, Applause won the 1970 Tony for Best Musical—largely in part to a roof-raising performance by Tony-winner Lauren Bacall as Margo Channing. Diehards have long obsessed over the 1974 television version, which brought back several members of the original cast, including Bacall and Penny Fuller, who played Eve. This exuberant showstopper follows Margo, Eve and Margo’s swishy assistant from her dressing room to a groovy gay bar down in wild Greenwich Village. The result is kitschy, yet sublime. Director/choreographer Ron Field won a Tony for his work, here recreated for the TV version.
Gay Pride Month Bonus: Unscramble the flashing neon letters along the back wall of the bar for a subliminally queer message.
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Lefty
There’s two stories next to this one, both with hot young topless dudes in them… and I click on this one first.
I think I’m getting old… 🙁
Jono
Applause is soooooooooo painful. God bless Lauren Bacall.
w.e.
My God these clips are older than dirt.
Hello
Thanks! Very entertaining.
Continuum
If showstopper means schmalzy, corny, and over the top, then I guess these are are showstoppers. Standard boring broadway harmonies. Meaningless lyrics. My God, even the dancing is stilted and lifeless compared to the modern broadway musical.
In no way do they compare with “Dreamgirls”, “Wicked”, “Les Miz”, or even “The Book of Mormon”. Or, for that matter “42nd Street”.
Give me “West Side Story” or “Sound of Music”.
There’s a good reason that these 5 so-called showstoppers are forgotten.
Lefty
@Continuum: You, sir, cannot tell shit from shinola.
Good day…
LadyL
@Lefty: I have no idea who you are, but I love you 🙂
LadyL
Oh, that was fun! Thanks so much for posting these! No idea they’d tried to turn “The World of Henry Orient,” one of my favorite films, into a stage musical. Little Alice Playten was a powerhouse–wish I could have seen “Henry, Sweet Henry” just once, even if it did flop (Well, of course it did. What made anyone think Don Ameche could replace the inspired Peter Sellers?) Watching an exuberant Bacall and company, I was 12 again. And am I mistaken? or did I spy a young Tommy Tune tap-dancing his heart out somewhere behind the amazing Ruby Keeler..?
SpudStudScott
I think they were fun, but noticeably absent was the marvelous number from GRAND HOTEL, “Take a Glass, Together” with Michael Jeter and Brent Barrett. What a fun romp.
DouggSeven
Someone call my mom and tell her I’m not gay. None of those did anything for me. The old lady in the last one is clearly lip syncing.
Owen
Anyone notice a very young Kevin Kline in the “Twentieth Century” number..?
JB
@DouggSeven: Firstly, the “old lady” you so kindly refer to is the legendary Lauren Bacall. Secondly, as was noted in the description, this video is taken from the television-movie version of the show, not the actual show itself, so of course she was lip syncing. Unless you think actors in movie-musicals are recorded live as they film (and then re-film, and re-film, and re-film…) it’s not really shocking.
stagequeen
Wait a minute — I don’t get it, the article says “unscramble” the neon letters in the back for a gay message but there’s nothing to unscramble — doesn’t it just say “gay power”?