A truly awful film. I first saw the Kevin Kline version and went looking for others, but so far have found none as good. This version is particularly flat. Peter Allen's Pirate King dashes off his lines as if reading them for the first time. Frederick could hardly seem less concerned about the beloved comrades he's doomed to death. The fortissimo 'With Catlike tread' is barely audible. The leap year recitation in the crypt is hurried through without any attempt to develop its comic potential. The dancing is poor when it's there at all. The only good thing was the singing of Mabel, better by far than Ronstadt's performance.
Review of The Pirates of Penzance
