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Flashback to 1980. The head usher at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium gives his crew a pep talk: he wants tonight's "Bette Midler" show to go smoothly. He is a little worried about some of the risque language from other performers. After all it was Liberace who recently gave him a scare. Then, boom! There she is with her backup trio, "The Harlettes," going from rock, to ballad, to medley, from "Big Noise From Winnetka" to "I Shall Be Released." It's a concentration of high brow mixed with in your face luster; she imitates Sophie Tucker, she's mermaid Dolores Delago, and between every song, it's non-stop movement and lots of raunchy comedy. The backup trio consists of Jocelyn Brown, Ula Hedwig, Diva Gray. The contribution by the Band Vocals are Tony Berg, Jon Bonine, Joey Carbone and Randy Kerber. Irving Sudrow is Head Usher Bette Midler is truly a versatile performer. She can sing and act better than the rest of performers today. Her taped show is a great example of her abilities to truly dazzle the crowd. She can still do this to her fans today 30 years after this concert has aired. Bette comes alive on stage more so than in film or television. In this taping, she really is at her best and peak despite her personal problems. I was hoping to see Katey Sagal as one of her Harlettes but she wasn't in this one. My best advice to Bette is to go back on tour. I never did understand the mermaid thing but Bette takes it to a new level. She has an amazing energy and can belt out "the Rose" and the songs before she returned in 1986. This taping must have happened before her nervous breakdown. Bette has performed everywhere imaginable from gay bathhouses in Greenwich Village to Radio City Music Hall uptown. This taped version is quite an event without pushing the envelope even by today's standard. She is still pretty tame in comparison and she can teach the younger generation of performers that you don't have to bare it all to grab their attention. Bette knows that people have paid good money to be entertained by her and she does that. She always does that and that's why she is one of the best live performers of our generation. Sing on, Bette.Read full review
Good from start to finish. This video is some of Bette's raunchy best. Fun songs, although Shiver me Timbers and Rainbow Sleeve from the motion picture are sadly not included in this home video. Is definitely worth the price.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
This movie about the Divine Miss M, is a fun, adult R-rated show. Her humor is sometimes bawdy enough to make this suitable for late teen and adult viewers. Ms. Midler works hard to put put on a high quality, lively, almost vaudevillian show for 95 minutes. You'll have some belly laughs still today, even though this show came out approximately 20 years ago.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great price. Bette is entertaining, but was not wide screen, and I feel the film quality could have been sharper....will not deter me from future viewings. Thanks
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Another great Bette Midler video. I even have the album.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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