December 1, 2014 -- There are a lot of similarities between Elaine Stritch, Ethel Merman, Carol Channing and other beloved stage and screen performers with exceptionally long careers, but even so, Stritch is one of a kind. This is shown fully in this no-holds-barred documentary about the Tony Award winning actress facing her own mortality with heart, guts and an uncanny stage presence.

At the age of 87, struggling with alcoholism, diabetes and a failing memory, Stritch continues to perform Sondheim songs (she is shown in archival footage along with legendary songwriter Steven Sondheim in recording sessions) in a one-woman road show live on stage. Even though she has trouble remembering the lyrics in practice, somehow she comes alive on stage and performs magnificently, connecting with her audience as if she is telepathic. She's a real trooper.

Stritch (who died July 17, 2014, after this film was completed) began her career on stage in 1944 and was still performing in 2013. In the film, she wants to work. She needs to work. She does not want to retire. In addition to her many performances on stage, she has also made many appearances on television and in movies. Among the film and video clips shown in the film is a scene she did with Rock Hudson in the Hemingway film adaptation “A Farewell to Arms.”

Among the well-known stars paying tribute to Stritch in this documentary are Alec Baldwin (who is also executive producer of this film) Tina Fey (Stritch appeared in a recurring role in Fey's “30 Rock” TV show as the mother of Baldwin's character) Nathan Lane, John Turturro, Tracy Morgan and the late James Gandolfini (this film is dedicated to him). Seeing the great Gandolfini in this film was sad, and it is strange to note that Stritch's career was considerably longer than Gandolfini's entire life.

As with anyone who has lived as long as Stritch has, there is the drawback of losing many friends and family to death. Stritch talks with great feeling about the love of her life, her late husband, actor John Bay, who died in 1982. John Turturro notes in the film that most people in show business have a shell to protect their feelings from a prying public. Stritch, he said, has no such shell. She is an open book and she seems to be this way in the film.

Stritch is a plain-spoken woman, direct, eschewing euphemisms. Despite her conservative Catholic upbringing, she is not above using profanities. Despite her blunt speech and high-handed manner, she is also charming, and she has a large circle of friends and admirers. In the film, it looks like she is a kind of a one-woman industry, much like the late Joan Rivers was (as shown in the documentary film, “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work”).

This film works as both a show business history, documentary and a fitting tribute to the late, great Broadway legend, Elaine Stritch. This film rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2014 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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