Follies, 1971 "Who's That Woman?"

The silent film footage is from the end of the run in Los Angeles in 1972, so it is Janet Blair as Sally. The audio comes from the soundboard tape, recorded at some point during the run in New York. Sally's "voice" is the voice of Dorothy Collins.

[@kryptonbear1]

I saw the original production & then over 20 years later I saw my first revival of it at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey. For that production, Michael Bennett's original choreography was recreated for this number. I was on the edge of my seat for its entirety.

[@burleq]

If I could go back and see only one Broadway musical in its original form - this is it. No question.

[@JunnyFD]

Me too, I saw the original B'way at least 8 times including the final performance. I will never forget that performance, the audience would NOT stop applauding after 'Who's That Woman' so they did an encore of the entire number. Mary McCarty had her hands to her face visibly moved, sobbing, chest heaving during the standing ovation before the encore.

[@wickedwizard5377]

@@JunnyFD WOW, that must have been marvelous. Can you please tell us more about the experience of seeing the final performance? That's truly fascinating!

[@JunnyFD]

@@wickedwizard5377 Well, what I wrote, pretty much says it all. I do remember that even after the encore, the audience was still standing and roaring, They would NOT stop. Finally, the house lights went up. The place was fully lit and still no one stopped applauding or screaming. Then they opened the outside doors to encourage people to leave (this was the regular intermission point in those days) They continued standing and roaring, so much so that people from off the street started wandering in to see what the hell was happening. I actually met Mary McCarty in a bar during the run and told her how much I loved her and the show and she started to cry and hugged me. She was lovely.

[@wickedwizard5377]

@@JunnyFD Thank you so much for sharing that. That sounds quite fabulous, I wish I had seen this show's Original Broadway Production!

[@dreamofmzjeanie]

So grateful I was Mary McCartys’ key student at HB studio & saw the show at least once a week! I saw her act in her own club, Mary Mary on 2nd Ave. & at Brothers& Sisters W 46th St. Her niece read a comment I made on social media. I was able to pass on memorabilia to her! 💖 I miss theatre of the ‘70’s. But these ladies are in my heart forever!

[@mapanzer]

Fantastic. I never thought I'd see this. If there ever was a reason for KZbin, a clip like this is it.

[@sallydurant]

Wow, fantastic job of synching and editing, yet again. The work you are doing here is so valuable. These recordings (video and audio) are precious legacies. I got goosebumps when I could just make out the first sparkling reflection from the mirror girls' costumes. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@laurenceesposito3393]

The most ambitious musical to ever make it to Broadway. An unbelievable achievement -- everyone involved. A pity that it did not have a long enough run. And all on stage were perfectly cast. A knockout. And, like everyone else, I am so grateful that it was uploaded here so we could see it. And the girls are all working 150 percent!!!!!!

[@terryhammond1253]

Incredible! This 1971 Broadway production was the end of an era...never to be duplicated. A serious story that was still 'entertaining'. Thanks for posting.

[@jasonmatthews534]

I never noticed that Phyllis is wearing a jumpsuit. 😮

[@loutimmons3099]

YOW! I am dreaming... how can it be that I can see this number again - after fifty years??!! Amazing....AMAZING. Thank you so much!

[@clarequilty4962]

We owe you a lot, whomever you are. I saw "Follies!" at the Schubert in Century City in 1972. This was my favorite number. Saw the latest revival of "Follies!" and, though it was good, it lacked the irony, bite, and power of the original.

[@clyde23ify]

"Follies" OBC "Who's That Woman" is all it's cracked up to be. Just look. Good god, thank you for putting this together so ravishingly. I saw it as a kid and who'd have thought I'd ever see it again? This is a gift of a video reconstruction - astounding.

[@folliesfanatic]

Well, this is just a superb job of editing. It is so great to not only remember seeing the original in New York in 1971 but now to see such it again so many years later in such clarity. Michael Bennett and Bob Avian were brilliant with this piece.

[@TheMrchuck2000]

Maybe you can answer a question I have: I’ve always heard that, during this number, the set split into two parts. It’s supposed to be a real coup de theatre. I’ve always wanted to see it occur, but I don’t see it take place here. Am I mistaken? Did it happen?

[@stephenhayes7128]

One intriguing original concept for this number that was jettisoned was that there was a "hole" in the number with one of the older ladies clearly missing (implying that she had died) while her "ghost" figure was in place with the "memory" of the original staging. I DID like the concept in the latest revival that Emily Whitman (played by Susan Watson) perhaps had a touch of Alzheimer's and kept "remembering" parts of the choreography slightly behind the rest of the ladies.

[@johnkroll2151]

I think the 1971 version would have been better if the present-day women had not been able to keep up with their younger selves, thus showing their lessened abilities as the result of age. Thoughts?

[@chazofalsa]

Honestly that's a really haunting and amazing concept that hal should've kept because it adds so much layers to the number and the themes of the musical itself

[@jeffreygimblemusic]

A profound thrill to get to see this legendary number from the OBC. Thank you so so much for posting this!!!

[@onirannam]

Broadway's Best Musical Ever! Michael Bennett's original choreography, which has never been duplicated in the revivals, was show-stopping.

[@enekosondheim]

thanks indeed!!! This is Follies as it should be!

[@XPRT10R]

A-MAZIN' synching!! Fantastic job. Thank you. And what a precious treasure to have this. ❣️

[@RafaelPReyes]

This is priceless. Thank you, thank you for this. Was just comparing this with the clip from the last Broadway revival. That version (of "Who's That Woman") has its merits, but this eerie, haunting, moving number is, I'm supposing, the sequence that Michael Bennett originally envisioned.

[@shamus10011]

Did the London revival with Imedla Staunton copy Bennett's choreography?

[@wickedwizard5377]

@@shamus10011 No, it was different :)

[@AvalonMorley]

Oh my God! I never thought I'd get to see this, and in such relatively good quality! Like others, I wonder if there is, or if you have a complete version of the show. Thank you so much for putting these up here.

[@rudolfix7772]

God what I wouldn't give to hear this soundboard bootleg of the original cast! It's supposed to be sensational - this clip alone is spectacular - but it's impossible to find on the web. Thanks for sharing this little gem, and great job synching it up to the footage!

[@Cris-db8iy]

I have iT!

[@Dan_G.R.S.]

​@@Cris-db8iy Prove it!

[@johnyohalem6507]

What a beautiful job you've done of sync'ing the film with the soundtrack! Thanks so much!

[@kurtjackberhalter1537]

The show, the actors,the music,is legend! My favorite all time show! Sad,it never toured the country because of expense!

[@chookaschookas444]

Magical. Others have picked the eyes out of the original routine, but haven't found the through line that Bennett put in the original.

[@jjarndyce]

THANK you. It's so thrilling to see this - the artistry, the class....

[@BWAY62]

How incredible! It took my breath away. Thank you!

[@mitchellhudson09]

Brilliant! thank you Michael Bennett!

[@andrewpalmer6167]

OMG! A dream come true! I almost saw the original production of FOLLIES in it's Boston try outs as a kid but I missed it. I never dreamed I could ever see Mary McCarty's version of MIRROR MIRROR. it's better tab I've always imagined. thank you.

[@pnrondeau100]

Absolutely priceless! Thank you!

[@jcdbrown]

Legendary! Thank you.

[@stevenknauts2465]

This is pure genius. Thank you for letting us experience this miracle of a number.

[@erizabeta]

really love Dorothy Collins' voice!

[@katiewatts1716]

It's Mary McCarty singing lead.

[@SondheimFanatic310]

You have made me soooo happy. I've been waiting for this video for forever. Thank you so much. So glad I subscribe to your channel

[@garymoore2314]

No revival has ever come close to capturing what the original presented -it truly transcended time and space.

[@erizabeta]

I sure love this version

[@nmuphelps1]

WONDROUS!!!

[@TheLaurel1971]

Thank you!

[@dianaaljadeff2983]

Marveleus to have scenes of the original 1971 cast

[@zach3510]

Great cinema. Tops.

[@mitchellivers]

Wowowow! Thank you, Fledee

[@jemb2000]

@quadvideotape I see it as McCarty pantomiming her old nights living "life like a carousel" with her arm around "beau after beau after beau".

[@peteralfano4278]

what a treasure! I saw this original 3 times and I can't get enough of the original cast footage. I remember the audiences going crazy for this number....thank you.....

[@reginaldsims8897]

I know what you mean. Oh gosh I judge all Follies productions by how they handled this number. I had just graduated from Livingston high school in New Jersey on that June 30 1971 matinee day. And the number held my attention. And the show taught me a lesson. For as an young Afro-American male I didn't want to look back at my life like Sally Durant. But to appreciate the steely strength and hope of phyliss stone. And this is my belief... ...but maybe not so brief Lol

[@lamontrussell1524]

Wow! Thnx so much!

[@CaliforniaPickin]

Hi< I think u made an error. That woman is NOT JANET BLAIR. If Janet is in this footage , she is wearing the pink dress and mostly is dancing on the right hand side. The reason I know is Janet is my Mom ! Lol.

[@fledee]

+CaliforniaPickin I don't think we're disagreeing. The woman wearing the pink dress and dancing on the right side is Janet Blair, at the end of the run of Follies in Los Angeles. Great that she's your mother! Show her this footage, and ask her if it's her. Sally isn't the main singer of this song. The part of Sally was played by Dorothy Collins in New York, so it is Dorothy's voice as *Sally* that we hear.

[@elliottdb]

I think Janet died in 2007.

[@cynthiamadrid1430]

HOW COOL IS THAT!

[@stvp68]

Wow!

[@Gary_Jaffe]

@boinxtdor first time in your life? but the lyrics are all about "mirror, mirror" (!) it is indeed absolutely brilliant, great post (much better than the previous WHO'S THAT WOMAN dub, which is interesting but tough to watch)

[@liesljones5987]

Broadway Brlliance

[@feathersforfun]

the offstage tappers are right below them

[@leewitten4758]

My God! Thats Mary "Matron 'Mama' Morton" Mcarty!!! SQUEEE!!!!!

[@georgechulig9570]

London 2017

[@DavidLEzell]

I was there. It was extraordinary. I dated, and am friends with, a Broadway actor who said in one of his upper level theater classes they studied moments from that London production. Follies is in many ways more powerful with the passage of the years.

[@danbodan]

:))))))))

[@jacobsconsultingexecutivecoach]

Since this is West Coast footage, is it Jan Clayton dancing in Ethel Barrymore Colt's original role, and Marion Marlowe in Sheila Smith's role?

[@rgmrtn]

I thought Jan Clayton took over the part.