“Carol Channing: Larger Than Life” will hit theaters in Los Angeles and New York on Jan. 20
By Greg Hernandez on
Dec 22, 2011 9:59 am |
Comments (2) |
I’m so glad more people will get to see one of my favorite documentaries from this year: Carol Channing: Larger Than Life which is opening theatrically is Los Angeles and New York on Jan. 20 with wider release to follow.
I’m a huge fan of this three-time Tony Award winning legend who has been enchanting audiences since the 1940s with such signature roles as Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!
But I had no idea how much I would absolutely love this film which I saw at a special screening last June with Miss Channing herself present. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and also screened at Outfest in the summer.
We are treated to a treasure trove of clips from film and television performances – some very rare – and wonderful interviews with Miss Channing as she walks around the Broadway theater district and back in San Francisco where she grew up. It is so very sweet to see her and husband Harry Kullijian go down memory lane. They were junior high school sweethearts, spent more than 60 years apart before reuniting and marrying eight years ago.
“Every time he kisses me, I think I’m 12 years old again,” she says in the film.
In addition to Channing and her husband, the film includes interviews with Jerry Herman, Lily Tomlin, Chita Rivera, Barbara Walters, Tommy Tune, Tyne Daly, Debbie Reynolds, Phyllis Diller, Loni Anderson, JoAnne Worley and Bruce Vilanch.
Says Tomlin in the film: “When someone is so alive and in the moment, it takes your breath away.”
We learn some things about Miss Channing that we didn’t know before: Her first onscreen kiss was to be with Clint Eastwood in the 1956 film The First Traveling Saleslady. The two practiced and choreographed their clinch and finally filmed it but it got cut from the film!
We also find out that the legend about Channing never, ever missing a performance is not completely true: she once missed half a show on the road with Hello Dolly! when she became ill with food poisoning and began to throw up on the stage.
She also was being treated for ovarian cancer during a national tour of the show but never missed a show because of it. She explains: “That’s the road and it’s sacred to me – sacred.”
It is fascinating to hear her and Herman recall how Dolly got terrible reviews on the road before its Broadway debut. When he came up with the number Before the Parade Passes By, which greatly elevated the show and tied the story together, he woke Channing up at 3 a.m. at the hotel where the company was staying and had her sing it. They then woke up director David Merrick.
The film is written and edited by Adam Zucker. Director of Photography is Rob Vanalkemade and music is by Craig Sharmat. The film was co-produced by B. Harlan Boll.
Lovely piece about a lovely woman. I am sure you join all of us in mourning the untimely passing of Carol’s husband Harry. To see them together is to truly understand what unconditional love represents. I had the good fortune to bring them twice (2007 and 2008) to New Hampshire as part of my efforts to raise awareness and money for HIV/AIDS. They were tireless in their work to help me and the days I spent with them are memories I shall treasure always.
Paul E. Brogan
Concord, NH
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I’m so glad more people will get to see one of my favorite documentaries from this year: Carol Channing: Larger Than Life which is opening theatrically is Los Angeles and New York on Jan. 20 with wider release to follow.
Robert Newhart says:
I saw this at the Chicago Film Festival and LOVED it!! I was enthralled and was upset when it was over
Paul Brogan says:
Lovely piece about a lovely woman. I am sure you join all of us in mourning the untimely passing of Carol’s husband Harry. To see them together is to truly understand what unconditional love represents. I had the good fortune to bring them twice (2007 and 2008) to New Hampshire as part of my efforts to raise awareness and money for HIV/AIDS. They were tireless in their work to help me and the days I spent with them are memories I shall treasure always.
Paul E. Brogan
Concord, NH