Liberace: The Ultimate Entertainer

This very special DVD set brings you the best of Liberace. Included are shows taped before live audiences in London in the 1960's. "Everything Liberace" is here on these DVDs, from the spectacular girls and the glittering costumes, to the fun and joyous music of Liberace and his musicians (led by his brother George). His guests, George Gobel, Minnie Pearl, Eva Gabor, Jack Benny, Larry Storch and many more, join Liberace. Product Description

Decent Videos, But Certainly Not Liberace At His Best

Don't get me wrong -- I'm a die-hard Liberace fan and have most of his videos. I recently got this latest set of three DVDs, and was a bit disappointed. Maybe it's the era they are from (late 60s), but the entertainment seemed lame and uninspired. The bits with George Gobel were terrible, and the Minnie Pearl stuff was downright corny. I also watched one production number that included Lee singing and dancing -- it was terrible! The costumes were gaudy (again, that was the late 60s style), and it just seemd so out-of-place. The other DVDs featuring his black and white performances from the 1950s as well as performances from Las Vegas in the 1980s are SO much better -- they are more "real" and show Liberace performing and acting as he is best remembered.

These 1960 DVDs are good and worth owning simply because Liberace is in them, but I can see why they waited 21 years after Lee's death to finally release them. Surely there is better TV footage of Lee performing than what this collection shows.

February 5, 2008

Glittering Memories Come Alive

It's hard to add anything to Scott Scott's excellent review, except maybe Bravo & Encore! This set is a treasure for any Liberace fan, and a wonderful introduction to anyone who is not familiar with his magic. Looking younger than his 50, he is totally relaxed and full of humor. And his playing (the heart of his appeal) has never been better. Of course, we all have favorites & personally I would have preferred the Lena Horne appearance to George Gobel's, but that's minor. Maybe someone will now produce his short-lived ABC-TV Series of '57-'58. Another might be a collection of Liberace appearances on other TV shows (Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Ed Sullivan, etc.). And "Sincerely Yours" has yet to be released on DVD (with digital remastering of the sound, maybe?) But for now, this is the best collection of his major TV appearances. September 12, 2007

NEVER BEFORE RELEASED LIBERACE SHOWS...AWESOME!!!

I have searched over 25 years for these shows. I am so excited that these DVD's are being released.
These were the Liberace Shows that were filmed in London and aired here in the US on Tuesday nights on CBS during the Summer of 1969. The original shows were 1 hour long and in color. Liberace had numerous guest stars on them.
This 3 DVD set runs around 328 minutes and disc one and disc two are from those shows and are in COLOR!!!! Disc three is from his 1950's tv series and are in Black and White.
I LOVE the DVD's but was disappointed that they were not the entire shows. This set is just different segments from those wonderful shows. A time when TV was good and wholesome!!!
Dics one starts off with Liberace playing the song Lover. Then Phyllis Diller arrives. Phyllis and Liberace kid around and perform a duet together. Then there is a production number with Phyllis. Liberace then performs Tea for Two, a Listc Concerto, The Impossible Dream, Let Me Call You Sweetheart and The Last Time I Saw Paris.
Then Minnie Pearl arrives. They really camp it up and then Liberace plays Alley Cat. Minnie Pearl and Liberace then perform a hillbilly song together which is very funny.
Eve Arden and Eva Gabor are also on disc one along with more songs from Tchaikovsky to Gershwin to The Blue Danube and more!!!!
Disc two starts with Liberace performing the song L-O-V-E and then George Gobel arrives. They perform a silly duet and then do a production number together.
Liberace then plays some classical numbers. Then plays The Look of Love and Tiger Rag. Then Jack Benny arrives. Then Liberace performs Mack the Knife before he and Jack Benny do a very funny duet together.
Moonlight Sonata, How Insensitive, Boogie Woogie and People follow.
Liberace's Mother is one of the guests on these wonderful shows, so she in on this DVD also.
Liberace really shows his showmanship in the Spanish medley which starts off with Malaguena then goes into Cumana and then ends with El Cumbanchero. It's WILD FUN!!!!!!
I hope others enjoy these wonderful clips from the 60's. I easecially love that they are in color really showing off his flashy outfits.
Thanks for taking the time to read my review. I hope this helps. September 3, 2007

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