I felt like I was watching The Muppet Show. That probably says a lot about my age that the only memory I have of Petula Clark is via The Muppet Show. But frankly, beyond that memory I didn't know who the woman was. Petula Clark's era has long passed. Petula thrived in a day and age when television variety shows weren't just a telethon marketing gimmick; in that time Petula Clark reigned as a queen (one of a few). Dancing about with show men and wearing elaborate costumes - Petula Clark's career gets a revival via DVD compilation courtesy of the Infinity Entertainment Group.
Watching Portrait of Petula Clark you're taken back to a time when showmanship meant something. Meant anything really. We still have concerts today, but the production value put into them has more to do with pyrotechnics and flashing lights in a huge stadium. Today's events are about the size of the spectacle and nothing else. The bits in Portrait of Petula Clark take a more intimate route, somewhere in between lounge singing and personal serenades.
No single performance highlighted by the disc really stands out. Her duets definitely serve as better entertainment though. When she's just crooning through a music video montage things tend to get a little stale. Andy Williams' cameo on the disc add a nice few minutes and humor and banter between him and Clark. The numbers Clark and Williams do together may be the best on the DVD, though the bits with Sacha Distel and Ron Moody keep things interesting.
Overall the collection has a finite appeal to anyone born in the last 30 years. For those wiser [read: older] readers in our midst, Portrait of Petula Clark may be the perfect stroll down memory lane. I do think the transfer of classic moments like those featured in Portrait of Petula Clark to a digital format is important - this is history. Even if the live music standards of today have evolved drastically from what they once were, seeing Petula Clark do her thing with production values most artists don't attempt today is somewhat fascinating. But again - your average younger viewer might be better served by the first few seasons of The Muppet Show.
DVD Bonus Features
Extra Song: "Without a Song"
Why this was included as an extra and not spliced into the actual feature presentation is beyond me. Whether this footage wasn't dug up in time to make the initial cut whenever this originally aired as a Petula Clark special or if it was just deemed "below par" I don't know. What I can tell you is that the musical number, like the other solos on the disc, doesn't stack up in comparison to some of the great duets.
Extra Song: "Walk Through the World With Me" from Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Again, this solo effort by Petula Clark finds itself orphaned from the rest of the herd as a mere extra on the DVD. Why? Again, we don't know. But like "Without a Song" it just doesn't compare to the DVD's duet numbers.
Interviews with Petula Clark and Andy Williams:
Retrospectives are always more interesting than "in the moment" interviews - and so this extra gets a little boost. Unfortunate the interviews are so ridiculously short that it's hard to take anything away from them. Andy Williams recounts the numbers he performed with Petula Clark and what it was like working with her. Petula Clark reciprocates in her interview but also talks about her work with other stars and how she learned to perform with as little preparation as possible. Oh those wild 60s singers, always going on stage after only a few minutes of preparation - so reckless!
I said it once and I'll say it again: this one's really only for the fans. It's very much a "specialty" DVD taking aim at a super small niche (which only gets smaller every day - death joke, hey oh!). There are better ways to experience Petula Clark, but Portrait of Petula Clark might give you one of the better available views of her career as a whole.
"Portrait of Petula Clark" is on sale March 17, 2009 and is rated NR. Musical, Television. Directed by Various. Written by Petula Clark. Starring Petula Clark, Andy Williams, Sacha Distel, Ron Moody.
