Not exactly a filmed version, this television adaptation of the famous musical is an episode of the Colgate Comedy Hour variety program, which was long lost because it was a one-time production broadcast live; now available on DVD through an excavation of Ethel Merman’s personal collection. As it is a transfer from a kinescope (a primitive recording process achieved by pointing a film camera at a TV monitor), given the episode’s production before the invention of videotapes, the picture and sound quality of this DVD is just terrible, but don’t hold that against them. This is one of those releases where you’re lucky it even exists at all.
The Colgate episode is not meant as a definitive telling of this musical—at least it never seems that way—but rather one hour of entertainment where an aging Merman returns to the role she made famous on Broadway and on film twenty years prior, having fun on live television in a condensed performance, helped by contemporary famous faces of the time like Frank Sinatra and Burt Lahr. The whole thing ends with the three breaking character and Merman thanking the cast, crew and audience. Amusingly enough, it even includes previews for upcoming episodes.
DVD Bonus Features
The fact that this has any extra at all is actually impressive. The only featurette is a 30 minute conversation with the musical director Buddy Bregman, recounting the broadcast; but there’s also a 20-page booklet talking about the history of both the musical and American broadcasting of the time, as well as pictures of Merman’s kinescope copy.
"Anything Goes" is on sale March 29, 2011 and is not rated. Musical. Directed by Sid Smith. Starring Frank Sinatra, Ethel Merman, Burt Lahr.
