Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999) (V)

Director:

David Mallet

Writers:

Tim Rice (book) and
Michael Walsh

Release Date:

5 April 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Classic Family Musical

Plot:

A humourously musical retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph.

Plot Keywords:

Pharaoh | Slavery | Goat | Dancing | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Donny Osmond	...	Joseph
Maria Friedman	...	Narrator
Richard Attenborough	...	Jacob
Joan Collins	...	Mrs. Potiphar
Christopher Biggins	...	The Baker
Robert Torti	...	Pharaoh
Alex Jennings	...	Butler
Nicholas Colicos	...	Reuben (as Nicolas Colicos)
Ian McNeice	...	Potiphar
Jeff Blumenkrantz	...	Simeon
David J. Higgins	...	Levi (as David J Higgins)
Patrick Clancey	...	Issachar (as Patrick Clancy)
Shaun Henson	...	Napthali
Martin Callaghan	...	Asher
Sebastien Torkia	...	Dan
Michael Small	...	Zebulun
Peter Challis	...	Gad
Nick Holmes	...	Benjamin
Gerry McIntyre	...	Judah
Amanda Courtney-Davies	...	Apache Dancer / Wife
Nikki Belsher	...	Wife
Sandi Birch	...	Wife
Zoe Hardman	...	Wife
Jocelyn Hawkyard	...	Wife
Nicola Keen	...	Wife
Brenda Newhouse	...	Wife
Gabrielle Noble	...	Wife
Lucie Pankhurst	...	Wife
Lisa Stevens	...	Wife
Suzanne Thomas	...	Wife
Debbie Bundy	...	Additional Player
Matthew Cuts	...	Additional Player
Wayne Fowkes	...	Additional Player
Sarah Mogg	...	Additional Player
Helen Baker	...	Gogo Dancer
Suzie Boyle	...	Gogo Dancer (as Suzy Boyle)
Denise Cresswell	...	Gogo Dancer
Jason Davies	...	Gogo Dancer
Alison Jenkins	...	Gogo Dancer
Linley van Echten	...	Chorus
Nichola Filskue	...	Gogo Dancer
Paul Neanm	...	Gogo Dancer
Claire Terri	...	Gogo Dancer
Rebecca Trelease	...	Gogo Dancer
Louise Tomkins	...	Gogo Dancer
Drew Varley	...	Gogo Dancer
Bryn Walters	...	Gogo Dancer
Rob Walker	...	Gogo Dancer
Helen York	...	Gogo Dancer
Jodi Vuleta	...	Chorus
Rachel Meurk	...	Child Chorus
Anna van Echten	...	Child Chorus
Hayley Watson	...	Child Chorus
Natasha Williams	...	Child Chorus
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Danijela Duspara	...	Understudy 'wife'

Directed by
David Mallet

Writing credits
Tim Rice		(book)
Michael Walsh

Produced by
Andrew Lloyd Webber	....	producer
Andy Picheta	....	line producer
Austin Shaw	....	executive producer
Nigel Wright	....	co-producer: music

Cinematography by
Nicholas D. Knowland		(as Nic Knowland)

Film Editing by
Dave Gardener
Rose Landfield
David Mallet
Nick Morris

Casting by
David Grindrod

Production Design by
Mark Thompson

Art Direction by
Michael Minas

Costume Design by
Mark Thompson

Makeup Department
Christine Allsopp	....	personal makeup artist
Kiri Mellalieu	....	makeup artist
Sharon O'Brien	....	hair stylist
Anna Pitt	....	makeup artist
Caroline Robinson	....	makeup artist
Rupert Simon	....	make-up and hair designer
Steve Smith	....	assistant makeup artist (as Steven Smith)
Lynnette Tanner	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Geary	....	third assistant director
Dez Gray	....	third assistant director
Paul Lay	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Gordon Deller	....	property master
Marj Deller	....	prop hand
Peter Flynn	....	stagehand
Tony Foster	....	stagehand
Kamael Heru-ur Smith	....	scene designer
Kamael Heru-ur Smith	....	stagehand
Cris Malcolm	....	stagehand
Michael May	....	scenic artist
Alex McKenzie	....	stagehand
Paula McLean	....	stagehand
Steve Nagy	....	stagehand
Ian Neal	....	stagehand
Jeff Paewai	....	stagehand
Bruce Rostran	....	scenic artist
Joanne Steward	....	scene designer
Alison Trotter	....	prop hand
Graeme Warrington	....	prop hand

Sound Department
Sandy Buchanan	....	foley mixer
Vicki Cooksley	....	sound
Adam Crawford	....	sound
Dene Harris	....	sound
Nick Look	....	sound
Craig Lundy	....	sound
John MacGibbon	....	sound
Stacey Pilcher	....	sound
John Spelman	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Victor Riva	....	visual effects
Costas Charitou	....	digital effects artist: Rushes Postproduction Ltd. (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
Dan Fontaine	....	best boy
Charlie Forbes	....	gaffer
Stewart Hadley	....	lighting designer
Chris Mortley	....	electrician
Sam Osborne	....	head first assistant camera
Talya Pilcher	....	lighting technician
Chris Varga	....	dolly grip
Ginger McCarthy	....	electrical rigger (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Orpen	....	dresser
Sue Orpen	....	wardrobe assistant
Jenny Snoxell	....	wardrobe supervisor
Lisa Stewart	....	dresser
Lisa Stewart	....	wardrobe assistant
Esmae Stroud	....	dresser
Esmae Stroud	....	wardrobe assistant
Gina Tornatore	....	costume assistant
Githa Warrington	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
John Cameron	....	orchestrator
Michael Cowles	....	musician: violin
Annette Haley	....	musician: percussions
Barry Jones	....	conductor
Rebekah Love	....	musician: keyboards, rehearsals
Eddie Ovenden	....	musician: guitar
Bruce Roberts	....	musician: trumpet
Peter Warren	....	musician: violin

Transportation Department
Colin Simmons	....	driver: director

Other crew
Janine Deller	....	understudy: "Wife"
Craig Dustin	....	head mechanic
Maruna Engu	....	understudy: "Brother"
Peter Flynn	....	fly hand
Tony Foster	....	fly hand
Julia Francis	....	understudy: "Wife"
Kamael Heru-ur Smith	....	fly hand
Kamael Heru-ur Smith	....	programme compiler
Kamael Heru-ur Smith	....	programme designer
Innes Jephson	....	understudy: "Pharoah"
Mendy Johnson	....	production assistant
Brian Jugelier	....	front of house manager
Cris Malcolm	....	fly hand
Dean McKerras	....	choreographer
Paula McLean	....	fly hand
Scott McLeish	....	understudy: "Brother"
Allan Nagy	....	stage manager
Carol Nagy	....	caterer
Kay Nagy	....	production administrator
Ian Neal	....	fly hand
Merryn Osborne	....	reader
Ron Osborne	....	front of house manager
Jeff Paewai	....	fly hand
Steven Pimlott	....	stage director
Leah Robinson	....	understudy: "Narrator"
Nichola Treherne	....	associate director
Anthony Van Laast	....	choreographer
Bruce Warwick	....	programme compiler
Bruce Warwick	....	programme designer
Bruce Warwick	....	promoter

Production Companies

• Really Useful Films

Distributors

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (2000) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• DeWynters PLC  video sleeve design
• RUG Ltd.  packaging design

Also Known As:

"Great Performances: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - USA (series title)

Runtime:

76 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:E

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Really Useful Films

Trivia:

The role of Apache Dancer in this film was created especially for Amanda Courtney-Davies.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: During 'The Song of the King' Joseph says "I got the bit about the corn, but I'm not to sure about the cows. So if you could just give it to me one more time, Mr Pharaoh man." Pharaoh then proceeds to sing the verse about the corn again, and not the cows. This is in fact not an error. Pharaoh, an impatient man repeats the last line while Joseph checks for the correct answer in the Bible (held by the Narrator). The same is true for the stage productions.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Narrator:Some folks dream of the wonders they'll do before they're time on this planet is through. Some just don't have anything planned, they hide their hopes and their heads in the sand. Now I don't say who is wrong, who is right. But if by chance you are here for the night, then all I need is an hour or two to tell the tale of a dreamer like you.
Narrator:We all dream a lot. Some are lucky, some are not. But if you think it, want it, dream it, then it's real. You are what you feel. But all that I say can be told another way, in the story of a boy whose dream came true. And it could be you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Phantom of the Opera (2004)

Soundtrack:

Joseph All the Time/Jacob in Egypt

Ah, a return to my own childhood

Nearly thirty years ago, the church choir I was a member of staged an entertainment evening, the first half of which was a 45-minute 'sung story' called Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Nearly thirty years on, and I have a chance to show my own children what a wondrous musical this was and continues to be.

I also have to confess that, when I first heard of this release, I was one of those people who went 'Donny Osmond???!!??'. Again, this was coloured by memories of 30-odd years of knowing him as a 70's teenybopper, but I have to admit that I was very pleasently surprised by his performance here. The years he spent playing Joseph on stage show in his performance, and it also made me forget Jason Donovan or Philip Schofield in the part.

The film succeeds both by acknowledging the most recent stage productions, and returning to its roots. It was originally written as a school stage show, and the prologue in the assembly hall returns to it to the original setting. Having the teachers (and yes, I took a double take on Joan Collins on the piano) go on to be the singers and actors grounds the film, and the opening up of the stage setting is done without ever letting you forget it was a stage show.

The support cast are all good - it's especially satisfying to see the likes of Richard Attenborough and Christopher Biggins doing musicals again after nearly 30 years as well. Joan Collins has a whale of a time as Mrs Potiphar, and Pharaoh gets down and rocks with the best of them. Maria Freidman as the narrator shows her vocal range to perfection - currently she is the main attraction in the stage show of Witches of Eastwick.

All in all, good family fun, and worth watching with your kids.