This material is odd. The story of an atrocious stage mother told for laughs half the time, and for annoyance the other half. It's very stagebound. And there's A LOT of flab in the story. It has the usual problem of presenting an annoying character; How do you do it without actually annoying viewers? Mama Rose is pushy, and annoying, and dumb. Oooh a footlights storyline; Will it feature that hoariest of hoary gimmicks; someone stumbling across an empty stage and pouring their heart out to an empty theater? ugh, count on it. Though the lyrics are early Sondheim, he doesn't have a chance with this indefatigable-human-spirit corn.
Finishing this movie was a burden, as the appeal of watching a dragon lady, interrupted by very lousy child vaudeville numbers, could not be detected by this viewer. They found about fifteen minutes in the whole thing to spend on Natalie Wood (you know, the title character!?) Though Rosalind Russell is dubbed, it's not a bad vocal match. For the worst dub job ever, pop 'Band of Angels' into your DVD player, and watch Sidney Poitier improbably transform from his gentle nasal-pitched self to basso-profundo Paul Robeson for his spiritual.
Finishing this movie was a burden, as the appeal of watching a dragon lady, interrupted by very lousy child vaudeville numbers, could not be detected by this viewer. They found about fifteen minutes in the whole thing to spend on Natalie Wood (you know, the title character!?) Though Rosalind Russell is dubbed, it's not a bad vocal match. For the worst dub job ever, pop 'Band of Angels' into your DVD player, and watch Sidney Poitier improbably transform from his gentle nasal-pitched self to basso-profundo Paul Robeson for his spiritual.