Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1999)

A humourously musical retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph.

Director:

David Mallet

Writers:

Tim Rice (book), Michael Walsh

Stars:

Donny Osmond, Maria Friedman, Richard Attenborough

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Clancy	...	Issachar
Shaun Henson	...	Napthali
Martin Callaghan	...	Asher
Sebastien Torkia	...	Dan

Storyline

In this filmed adaption of the long-running musical, we see the story of Joseph, son of Jacob. The favoured son, he is betrayed by his jealous brothers and sold into slavery and driven to Egypt. Though beset with adversity, Joseph perseveres through wit and faith and becomes the governor of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh. This all the sets the scene for when he meets his brothers who have come to Egypt to purchase food.

---

Plot Keywords:

released in 2000 on usa | slavery | pharaoh | lifting male in air | lifting someone into the air | 

---

Taglines:

Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Classic Family Musical

---

Genres:

Musical

---

Details

Official Sites:

The Really Useful Group

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 April 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Great Performances: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Really Useful Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Several of the cast members were already veterans of the musical. Nicholas Colicos, Michael Small, Amanda Courtney-Davies and Wayne Fowkes all played the same roles at the London Palladium in 1991 (with Patrick Clancy playing the same role as well as the Baker). And in the Broadway production in 1993, Robert Torti and Gerry McIntyre also played the same roles as here. Donny Osmond himself had also played Joseph several times in U.S. tours. Also, all the sets and costume designs are based on the Los Angeles version.

---

Goofs

When the narrator is eating the drumstick, it flips around between shots.

---

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...

---

Crazy Credits

Ending credits feature clips of each actor with real name listed and then of that actor in his/her character with that name listed as well. The credits of each of the 11 brothers appear in the same order as they are mentioned during the 'Jacob & Sons Song' scene: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Naphtali, Isaachar, Asher, Dan, Zebulun, Gad, Benjamin, Judah

---

Connections

Version of VeggieTales: The Ballad of Little Joe (2003)

---

Soundtracks

Song of the King/
Pharaoh's Dream Explained""
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Performed by Robert Torti, Donny Osmond and Company

User Reviews

Amazing

Let's make it clear that Joseph is the special one: a musical that's colorful. Maria Friedman has a beautiful voice and owns the role of Narrator. She also shares a wonderful duet with Donny Osmond as Joseph. The wide variety of musical styles for each number is enchanting: ragtime, country-western, calypso, rock'n'roll ala Elvis, French chanson, etc. My favorite musical segment was the 'Poor, Poor Joseph' parts added into several of the songs with great harmony from the ensemble. The eleven brothers are fabulously diabolical and leaves the viewer wanting to see more of them. The only objectionable, albeit quick scene could be with Mrs. Potiphar (Joan Collins) where the costume and acting is quite risqué. But it's all right there in the Bible "Chapter 39 of Genesis"... Except for the part where they don't mention God, the show, in general, does stay true to the Biblical narrative. A dazzling movie of many colors!