Pippin: His Life and Times (1981)

[@EricMontreal22]

A word about this video-- Some years back the work print of what us fans call the "Fosse edit" leaked, and I can't underplay how excited we were to find it, despite the lower quality. A friend of mine worked VERY hard to make a combined version using as much of the cut material (which producer David Sheehan claimed had been lost forever) into what was on the commercial edit--including those songs (and Guess I'll Miss the Man is so important to the show) as well as extended dance sequences, the famous talking head scene, etc. All in all this is 20 minutes longer than what was commercially released to TV, VHS and DVD. Kathryn Doby, the Fosse dancer who was responsible for mounting and re-staging his production for this filming, didn't even know the footage existed (a year or two ago there was a great book about Pippin, Magic to Do, and the author talks about the video and how upset even Fosse was by Sheehan's edit and she didn't know about the footage and was happy to get a copy to Doby.) I didn't think it had been posted on KZbin but it might as well be shared with as many people as possible!

[@MrBlessedandlucky]

Thank you for posting this inspired & inspiring production with this super talented cast. I was there that night. Bob Fosse did a curtain speech prior to the show filmed at Hamilton Place in Ontario. 17 years old singing along in the front row with Martha Raye in my beige corduroy vest. What a memorable night!!

[@evawetzel9262]

Thank you so much for the upload! As I rewatch Pippin and compare it to other musicals, I've noticed that Pippin seems to be exposing the dark side of what modern musical comedies most often are -- a slick, melodramatic, artificial extravaganza, that finishes with a perfect happy ending. Newsies, for example, bills itself as a "true story", but is really a pantomime portraying someone's nostalgic fantasy of New York City in 1899. And honestly, the strength of musicals is that they can DO this: they take a kernel of truth and create a larger-than-life artificial experience. Pippin is unique because it recognizes the artificiality -- it's like musical that has developed self-consciousness. We contrast down-to-earth Pippin with the clownish Players, and become unsettled by the clash between the world of musical theater and reality. Having "Magic To Do" may seem like a positive thing to us, but in reality, "magic" is nothing but an illusion... sleight of hand by a beguiling magician. If we let ourselves become too consumed by artificial stories.. whether they be musicals, movies, mythic historical narratives, or propaganda.. we will have a crisis once we find real life to be unsatisfying. Especially for somebody with such high status and great expectations for life, like prince Pippin. I'm reminded of the Fight Club quote about young men in America: "We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off." ... At least, that's what I take from this show.

[@jochenstossberg5427]

Bob Fosse's took over a show which he felt wouldn't work, and turned it into one big production number - which did work. It's just Candide all over again, with what now looks like very dated choreography. Nothing profound here.

[@commonsense571]

Thank you for your eloquence and insightful comment!✨💙

[@producermz5694]

I wore out my VHS copy of this very version many years ago. Thank you so much for giving it back to me.

[@saintclaire4897]

Lol...me too

[@LisjeVal]

I wore out the library's copy of this. Well, not alone, but about 30 of the neatly 100 circulation reports were me.

[@Alipchitz]

So amazing to see the parts that were originally edited out! Thank you for posting!

[@edwardbickle4572]

My favorite musical of all time! Ben Vereen was so talented!

[@GroovyShelly]

Thank you! Been looking for this production forever. I've heard Fosse dropped into a rehearsal and just took over, even though he wasn't credited.

[@kbye2321]

If it helps, the full musical is on here listed as "Pippin: His Life And Times" under the channel "Breathe in life."

[@BJDJMusic]

I've been a really big fan of Pippin since I was a teen! Thank you for uploading this. I'm impressed you also uploaded the uncut versions of the musical from the old tape. That works very well with the story.

[@kundun5]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼⚡️⚡️⚡️🥳🥳🥳🥳❤❤❤❤ thank you soooo much for this! Ben Vereen was such a talent! What an amazing performance!

[@meemow8671]

I’m so happy they re uploaded it!! It was gone for a little while

[@Bricriu20]

Favorite version of Pippin!

[@YooTuba]

Thank you SO Much. I have zero desire to watch any version of this other than the one by Fosse with Vereen. I was way too young to see it in person so I appreciate being able to see it on film.

[@lailadobb9221]

The 2013 revival is very different although just as brilliant. The revival adds additional spectacle to heighten the darkness and joy of the show, with a much better ending/plot-twist which seems more in line with the musical’s themes and ideology. Check it out if you wish!

[@trb7153]

@@lailadobb9221 I liked the revival, and saw it on opening night on Bway ... and also the touring company. I think its ending is far superior to the ending of this production.

[@ababos7788]

Thank you for loading this classic musical! I love this show.

[@MaevieTheSongbird]

Miss you Chita 😢

[@whatscookingresearch]

I saw Pippin in a theater on Beoadway NYC in summer of 1976. It may have been this exact same cast.

[@divineKathleen]

Thank you for posting!! I saw this in 1981 with my best friend Brian Mahoney who went off to my theatre and haven't heard from since..Brian you're ever in my heart..Song and DANCE❤

[@puttingittogether777]

One of the most beautiful works, thank you so much for giving us the gift of this video!

[@kimswartz9107]

OK so some parts of Schmigadoon make more sense now.

[@trb7153]

OMG YES YES YES. Season 2 has a LOT of Pippin in it.

[@BoundyMan]

During my 6th grade year, my school did this play. But a shorter version for 5th and 6th graders to do. Still it was a big production for an elementary school, since not all students had to do the acting and singing. Some did the makeup, while others did the props, lighting, and curtains. I played a Nobleman.

[@ai__kiryu]

音こっちも好き🥹❣️

[@OofusTwillip]

William Katt (who played Pippin) starred in "The Greatest American Hero".

[@handsomeX]

"Believe it or not, I'm walking on air..."

[@paanne1013]

With parents that were both in acting, it is no wonder he is so talented on top of being very handsome.

[@ai__kiryu]

かっけーー❤

[@rickardroach9075]

This is SO much better than the current version. The “Theo Ending” sucks.

[@OofusTwillip]

Northern Calloway (David on "Sesame Street") was Ben Vereen's understudy during the Broadway run, and replaced him when Ben left the show.

[@catoblepag]

The number starting at 28:05 is basically the most Bob Fosse thing ever. At that point I didn't even need to check if he was involved in the production.

[@mickeyjohnson5247]

It's called "Glory"...

[@jochenstossberg5427]

This is the Canadian production -and although it's Fosse's Broadway creation he didn't direct this, and he didn't supervise the dances. And he wasn't happy.

[@franklinshepard]

@@jochenstossberg5427 That's not true. Original Broadway cast member Kathryn Doby, serving as dance captain and general director in Fosse's absence, had done some directing of the dancing, but when it came time to tape for TV, Fosse returned to the show. As a source close to the production put it, "Bob was there every step of the way -- from first rehearsal to final taping."

[@mysticete248]

hes kind of fine

[@paanne1013]

He is very fine. 😁

[@Ayden_B]

Where did you find the uncut version of this? I didn't even know it existed ! Ive only ever seen the version without "Prayer for a Duck" and "I Guess Ill miss the Man"

[@EricMontreal22]

Some years back the work print of what us fans call the "Fosse edit" leaked. A friend of mine worked hard to make a combined version using as much of the cut material (which producer David Sheehan claimed had been lost forever) into what was on the commercial edit--including those songs (and Guess I'll Miss the Man is so important to the show) as well as extended dance sequences, the famous talking head scene, etc. Kathryn Doby, the Fosse dancer who was responsible for mounting and re-staging his production for this filming, didn't even know the footage existed (a year or two ago there was a great book about Pippin, Magic to Do, and the author talks about the video and how upset even Fosse was by Sheehan's edit and she didn't know about the footage, so I sent her an email and she got a hold of Doby.) I didn't think it had been posted on KZbin but it might as well be shared with as many people as possible!

[@Ayden_B]

@@EricMontreal22 that’s so incredibly interesting, I remember watching the butchered commercial edit on KZbin a few years back. I never knew the Fosse edit had leaked until I saw this. It really is a far better edit, it baffles me how one could justify cutting “Guess I’ll miss the man” from the show

[@EricMontreal22]

@@Ayden_B It still shocks me how even people involved with the production so closely, didn't know that the original full work print was out there! My dream of course is that someone would and could somehow really restore the cut footage and make a professional quality release (I mean David Sheehan, who was the one who was controlling his edited version, is no longer alive to put a stop to it ;) ) Reading in the Pippin book, Magic to Do, just how disappointed the cast was when they saw the edited release, Bob Fosse even wrote a letter apologizing to those involved. It's just baffling to me--20+ minutes cut in total--as well as a couple of alternate angles for material that we didn't restore to this combined version because it seemed better to use the higher quality commercial release when possible. Cutting bits out of the the With You orgy and other dance numbers is bad enough, but the ending doesn't even make sense without Guess I'll Miss the Man. At any rate, I'm so glad this is getting seen and appreciated!

[@ELREASON44]

This was broadcast on Showtime in 1981, right?

[@EricMontreal22]

The 1hr and 51 commercial edit was. This was put together by some of us fans using the work print from with the material that producer David Sheehan (who wanted to put his stamp on the production when he edited it) claimed didn't exist.

[@ELREASON44]

@@EricMontreal22 I was 11 and just happened to get my first vcr. This was one of the first things I had recorded, by pure chance-it looked interesting to an 11 year old. At the time I watched it so many times the tape eventually had worn out. It was nice to find this. And to see those missing scenes! I can't believe I had no clue about such scenes like the talking head! Thank for sharing!

[@paules3437]

I dunno... that breastplate that his mom gave Louis doesn't look very strong to me...

[@eibod]

Why is Charlemagne the only person with an English accent?

[@pr00de]

He's supposed to be played by a very expressive actor, and a British accent reads as classy and refined. It's a very self-reflexive show, remember.