Amazon.com essential video: This one-hour HBO concert captures one of America's singular talents at an important crossroads. Bette Midler had just 'gone legit,' after receiving her Oscar nomination for The Rose and appearing in a few--quality not withstanding--feature films. This is the time between Midler's outrageous nightclub act of the '70s and her 'Wind Beneath My Wings' sentimental journey of the late '80s. In other words, the Divine Miss M is fiercely alive from the opening number, appearing onstage in a red dress that is actually square, of all things. Director Thomas Schlamme fills the breaks between songs with jazzy, artist 'things' (paintings, animation), which are not needed--we miss Midler's personal antics with the crowd. However, musically, the concert delivers the goods including a comic salute to disco, a song about her favorite physical assets, or the drop-dead, emotional wallop that ends the tape, 'Stay with Me Baby.' The finale shows us a singer who blends performance and acting so naturally, we know we have a genuine original here. --Doug Thomas
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Rating: - When, oh when will this be out on DVD??
Superb! Run, do NOT walk to purchase this - performance art at Bette's best!! I'm wearing out my VHS of this as I type!~
Rating: - Better than Divine Madness
For those of you who have seen Bette's 1980 release, Divine Madness, this is much better than that performance which was marred by Bette's sickness and a dark coloring. THis concert is mainly a redeeming video of Bette as I call it which allows her to clear up the somewhat failure of Divine Madness. Here Bette sings many songs off The Rose soundtrack as well as her 1983 album that had just come out at the time the concert was filmed called NO FRILLS. Bette sings well here and the 1980s New Wave feel can be seen here as there are many strange elements to the performance. However, Midler does sing and perform well i.e. The Rose and a cover called LORD, HERE COMES THE FLOOD which is worth buying the video on its own terms. Better than DIVINE MADNESS but not as good as her 1997 HBO concert DIVA LAS VEGAS.
Rating: - BETTE, THE SONGSTRESSES SONGSTRESS!!!!
Bette is truly an international icon!! She is spectacular in "Art or Bust". Bette is captivating, energetic, and fantantic!! You'll go on a roller-coaster of emotions while watching this immaculate piece of art. This video should be renamed "Excellence of Bust". And, of course, she never busts.
Rating: - Bette at her best
This one will make you laugh , and it will make you cry. Both. I promise. A spectacular performance. In this concert is Bette at her best, a cross between Barbara Streisand and Janice Joplin, but with her own sense of humor mixed in. The only problem is the bits of old films incorporated into the video. They aren't bad, in fact the one filmed at the United Jewish Appeal is great, but they break up the overall effect of the concert that is the main part of this video.
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- When, oh when will this be out on DVD??
- Better than Divine Madness
- Bette at her best
