Liza with a Z (1972) (TV)

Director:

Bob Fosse

Writer:

Fred Ebb (written by)

Release Date:

10 September 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Music

Plot:

Liza Minnelli stars in a television concert directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. She performs such songs as the title number...

Plot Keywords:

Song | Choreography | Dancing | Concert Film | Singer

Awards:

Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Liza Minnelli	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Bennett	...	Himself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Marisa Berenson	...	Herself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Lorna Luft	...	Herself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Vincente Minnelli	...	Himself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Ann Reinking	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Mark Terry	...	Himself (uncredited)
Kay Thompson	...	Herself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Gwen Verdon	...	Herself - Audience Member (uncredited)

Directed by
Bob Fosse

Writing credits
Fred Ebb		(written by)

Produced by
Fred Ebb	....	producer
Bob Fosse	....	producer
David Horn	....	series producer
Anu Krishnan	....	producer
Barry Schulman	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Owen Roizman

Film Editing by
Alan Heim

Production Design by
Robert Randolph

Art Direction by
Sabina Daley

Costume Design by
Frank L. Thompson		(as Frank Thompson)

Makeup Department
Bob Jaris	....	makeup artist
Simon Scudera	....	hair stylist: Miss Minnelli
Christina Smith	....	makeup designer: Miss Minnelli (as Christina)

Production Management
Kenneth Utt	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Ganapoler	....	assistant director

Art Department
Ben Chappel	....	lead developer
Brian Santalone	....	art implementation
Ying Zhou-Hudson	....	graphic artist

Sound Department
Bob Fine	....	sound re-recording mixer
Christopher Newman	....	sound (as Chris Newman)
Andy Potvin	....	sound consultant: 2000 reissue
Phil Ramone	....	audio designer

Camera and Electrical Department
Roger Sandler	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
George Newman	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Mark Nowicki	....	colorist: 2000 reissue
Trudy Ship	....	assistant editor
Irving Rathner	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Nick Beljic	....	soundtrack construction: 2000 reissue
Ralph Burns	....	musical arranger
Billy Byers	....	musical arranger
Richard A. Crawford	....	soundtrack construction: 2000 reissue
Fred Ebb	....	original musical material by
Greg Faust	....	soundtrack construction: 2000 reissue (as Gregory Faust)
Jack French	....	conductor
Marvin Hamlisch	....	musical co-ordinator
Herb Harris	....	music contractor
John Kander	....	original musical material by
Mort Lindsey	....	musical arranger (as Mort Lindsay)
Peter Matz	....	musical arranger
Robert Rieger	....	soundtrack construction: 2000 reissue
Fred Werner	....	musical arranger
Fred Werner	....	musical supervisor
Jim Young	....	soundtrack construction: 2000 reissue
Andrew Kazdin	....	music producer (uncredited)

Other crew
Bob Fosse	....	choreographer
Phil Friedman	....	stage manager
Neil Meron	....	presenter: 2000 reissue
Liza Minnelli	....	presenter: 2000 reissue
Louise Quick	....	assistant choreographer
Nicholas Sgarro	....	script supervisor (as Nick Sgarro)
Deanne Wenble	....	production assistant (as Deanna Wenble)
Craig Zadan	....	presenter: 2000 reissue
Diana Cofresi-Terrero	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Leslie Kriesel	....	copy editor (uncredited)
Brian Lee	....	technical director (uncredited)
Bill O'Donnell	....	program director (uncredited)

Thanks
Barbara Crandall	....	special thanks (2000 reissue)
Richard Eisenberg	....	special thanks (2000 reissue) (as Rick Eisenberg)
Alan Ett	....	special thanks (2000 reissue)
Jim Hardy	....	special thanks (2000 reissue)
Bob Heiber	....	special thanks (2000 reissue)
Irene Lawler	....	special thanks (2000 reissue)
Paul Rutan Jr.	....	special thanks (2000 reissue) (as Paul Rutan)

Production Companies

• Singer (presents)
• Bob Fosse Fred Ebb Production, The
• A Flora (production)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Showtime Networks (2006) (USA) (TV) (restored version)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (UK) (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Showtime Entertainment Television (2006) (USA) (DVD) (collector's editon)
• Showtime (2006) (USA) (all media) (presents: Restored version)

Other Companies

• Lyceum Theatre  theater
• Halston  costumes: Miss Minnelli's Clothes by
• Chace Production  soundtrack reconstruction: 2000 restration
• HTV  post production services: 2000 Restration (as HTV, Inc.)
• King Media Services  DVD authoring: 2006
• Showtime  presents (restored version)
• Triage Laboratories  laboratory services: Restoration 2006

Also Known As:

"Liza with a 'Z' Collector's Edition" - USA (DVD box title)
"Liza with a 'Z' Restored. Remastered. Remarkable." - USA (DVD title)

Runtime:

USA:55 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U (video) (2006)

Company:

Singer

Trivia:

Another song, "Mein Herr" from Cabaret (1972) was filmed, but due to time constraints of broadcast TV, this did not make it into the final show. All that remains of this number is a fair quality work print and is included as an extra on the DVD.

Goofs:

Continuity: During "Money, Money, Money" Liza's silver necklace disappears and re-appears a few times.

Quotes:

Liza Minnelli:I have found for a long time people still have been calling me "Lisa." Wrong! My name is Liza. It has a "z" in it. For example, someone might come up to me and say, "Hello, Lisa, how are you?" And I'd say, "Fine, but my name is Liza." Or someone would come up and say, "Oh, Lisa, what a nice hat you have on." And I'd say, "Thank you very much, but my name is Liza, and that's my hair."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Great Performances: Dance in America: From Broadway: Fosse" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Bye Bye Blackbird

Minnelli Near Her Peak In Fosse-Staged T.V. Special

Although she received considerable attention for stage and film work, throughout the 1960s Liza Minnelli was best known as the daughter of legendary Judy Garland. In the early 1970s, however, Minnelli began to emerge as a distinct talent in her own right, and her Best Actress Oscar win for CABARET put her over the top. In the wake of the film's success, she re-teamed with director Bob Fosse for an hour-long television concert. Titled LIZA WITH A Z, the program was a critical and ratings smash--but television programing is a transient sort of thing, and soon the show was relegated to the vaults. It was not seen again for more than thirty years.

Seen today in the remastered Showtime DVD release, LIZA WITH A Z gives you a very clear idea of what all the fuss was about. It is impossible to watch Minnelli without comparing her to Garland, and it is true there is some actual basis for comparison: the sense of humor, the energy, the intensity are very similar, and from time to time Minnelli's vocal phrasing echos Garland. All the same, the comparison will only take you so far; even when performing such Garland-esquire material as Jolson's "My Mammy," Minnelli is distinctly herself.

Her glitchy body language becomes an asset for director and choreographer Fosse, who used it to such great effect in CABARET and repeats the effect here--and who backs Minnelli with a solid chorus of dancers performing his own demanding, highly eccentric work. When Minnelli blasts out "Ring Them Bells" or down-shifts to a tightly controlled "Bye, Bye Blackbird," Fosse's dancers are memorable indeed.

Whether it's a new take on Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" or a piece specifically written for her such as "Say Liza," Minnelli never gives less than one hundred percent. Even so, there are one or two lapses in the material. In hindsight, such selections as "I Gotcha" and "Son of a Preacher Man" are not really the best possible choices--but even so she works hard to sell them, and while you may question the choice of song you never question her talents.

Of particular interest is the "time capsule" quality of the show. Although she had many later successes, Minnelli was somehow never able to keep her career on a consistent track; LIZA WITH A Z catches her at the crest, before one bad decision too many took its toll. The same "time capsule" quality applies to Fosse's staging; it is also distinctly early 1970s--and when Minnelli steps out in an aggressively pink Halston dress it couldn't be any other period.

The remaster is quite good, and the DVD comes with a number of interesting extras, including Minnelli's audio track and bios of both Minnelli and Fosse; the deluxe DVD edition also includes the audio CD. Recommended for Minnelli and Fosse fans.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer