LITTLE FACEBOOK OF HORRORS

I have started a Facebook Group for people who'd love to see a new DVD of Little Shop of Horrors with the original ending intact.  Let's get Geffen and Warner Home Video to notice!  2011 is the 25th Anniversary of the film's release.  Isn't it about time?

A handy round-up of my Little Shop material can be found here, including my argument for why the original ending is integral to the film, and some very nice stills from the deleted scenes.

Here is my Blu-Ray Wish-List, which includes both new material and items from the original DVD.  While we are at it, a newly remastered version of the Original Soundtrack Recording would also be lovely.  That 25 year old CD sounds pretty tinny these days.

DVD WISHLIST

New Material:
• New HD transfer of the Original Theatrical and Restored Versions
• Commentary on Restored Version by Ellen Greene and Alan Menken
• "The Meek Shall Inherit" Dream Sequence (either reinstated, or as an extra - at Frank Oz's discretion)
• Puppetry & Visual FX feature with Lyle Conway, Bran Ferren, Richard Conway, Brian Henson, Anthony Asbury & Martin P. Robinson
• Mike Ploog's storyboards
• Photo Gallery
• Isolated score
• Levi Stubbs performing "Mean Green Mother" at the Academy Awards
• Any rushes, trims, tests and behind-the-scenes footage that might still exist
• Anything relating to the original play, like this TV Commercial.
• PDF version of the screenplay by Howard Ashman
• PDF version of the FX feature from Cinefex Magazine

From the Original DVD:
• Frank Oz Commentary on Theatrical Cut
• Original Ending Rough Cut (both with & without Oz commentary)
• Blooper Reel
• TV & Cinema Trailers
• Original Electronic Press Kit documentary


SOUNDTRACK WISHLIST

The whole thing needs to be remastered.  I'd like to hear the opening verses of "Don't Feed the Plants" restored, and I'd love to include selections from Miles Goodman's excellent score as well.  And please do include any demos that might exist for cut songs, like "Crystal, Ronnette & Chiffon," "Your Day Begins Tonight," "Bad" and especially the wonderful "We'll Have Tomorrow," which was cut from the stage show.

Peter, Paul & Mary do G&S

This is not really "mondo" but it's lovely nonetheless.  It's Peter, Paul and Mary in front of the Sydney Opera house, singing their version of the faux medieval ballad "I Have A Song To Sing, O" from Gilbert & Sullivan's The Yeoman of the Guard (1888).  Love it!

CONAN: The Musical

Sorry for the paucity of posts of late.  As if anybody's reading anyway!  This has made the rounds of the blogs lately and I think it's fairly funny, so here it is.

TOTAL RECALL: The Musical

Gotta love those YouTube spoofs.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

In honor of Good Friday, I am re-posting my 2008 entry on  Jesus Christ Superstar. This is one of my favorite musicals.  It dramatizes the intersection between faith and politics, using the prism of modern celebrity culture to take a new and compelling look at the story of Judas' betrayal of Jesus. This phantasmagorical combination of rock music and pop culture cynicism, applied to the tales of the Bible, make Jesus Christ Superstar a mondo musical indeed.  Read more after the jump!

Goodbye, Baby June

It's time to say farewell to June Havoc, whose vaudeville childhood was immortalized in the legendary Broadway musical Gypsy.

The actress, whose career stretched from the 1920s to her retirement in 1990, has passed away at the age of 98.

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SUCK: The Vampire Musical

This premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival, and it looks like fun.


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