Carol Channing: Larger Than Life (Showtime)

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 8:03pm

Hello. I managed to see the last 45 minutes of this documentary: "Carol Channing: Larger Than Life". Oh my goodness...it's fabulous. She is so funny and poignant. It is a treat for theatre fans. For those of you who have Showtime...check your listings for showtimes. I think I may have to buy the dvd. It is that good! from rC in Austin, Texas
Carol Channing

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/16/12 at 8:05pm

Here's the Showtime link. from RC in Austin, Texas
Carol Channing: Showtime

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:22am

1. I love Carol Channing
2. Saw the documentary from Netflix and recommend it
4. WTF is with that crazy hair of hers?

A 'pig tail' sprouting out of the top of her head? Was she aware this was a visual program and not for radio? Why wouldn't her publicist tell her it looked crazy? She is a wonderful woman. She is smart, talented and intelligent but I don't think this made her look like any of those qualities especially to younger people who do not know who she is.

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:33am

I saw it yesterday as well and enjoyed it. It's not much of a documentary but it is still fun.
Does anyone know about Channing's relationship with her son, Chan Lowe? He is quite an accomplished editorial cartoonist with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in Fort Laurderdale.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:36am

Well, he doesn't mention his Mom's name in his bio...what little there is of it. One of the things that struck me about the documentary is when Debbie Reynolds was literally in tears, as she described how the estranged husband of Carol stole her massive theatre memorabilia and sold it. If anyone knows about a husband fleecing a wife, it's Debbie. from RC in Austin, Texas

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:41am

The moment with Debbie Reynolds made a huge impression on me as well.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:50am

A terrific little movie. Made me love Carol even more. I, too, was moved by Debbie's moment. You hardly ever see her get worked up over anything, so it was quite jarring.

[Will42]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 8:55am

Those kinds of films are massively entertaining. I believe they are making one about Elaine Stritch at the moment (that must be something) and I hope someone makes one on Debbie Reynolds and Angela Lansbury while they still can.

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work was great as well and completely transformed the image of Rivers to me.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 9:14am

thanks for the Joan Rivers recommendation - Netflix has it - added it.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 9:18am

Another especially emotional scene is when the 1994 cast members of the "Hello Dolly" revival talk about one of their cast mates who was very ill at the time. In the middle of the show, Carol inquires about his well being. What a lady! from RC in Austin, Texas

[morosco]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 9:25am

Another couple of documentaries well worth watching:

Goodnight, We Love You - The Life and Legend of Phyllis Diller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP0mXwcIQEU

The Life of Reilly (Charles Nelson Reilly)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3G-envKrYk

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 10:51am

Does anyone know if it'll be rerun on Showtime anytime soon?
Thanks.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 1:30pm

If you're referring to the Carol Channing documentary, it is being shown again today. Click on to the Showtime link to find specific dates and times. RC in Austin, Texas

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 1:46pm

I also agree, it really isn't much of a documentary but more of a profile on Carol Channing. Though it skips quite a bit on her life and career, it does have some nice things in there.

Saying all that, I fully recommend trying to view the actual DVD incarnation as it includes an extensive amount of interviews that were NOT included in the actual documentary and which are fantastic: Jerry Herman talking about the Opening Night performance of HELLO, DOLLY!; Carol Channing talking about Joan Crawford asking her to sing at her wedding a French song; Chita Rivera talking about how seeing Channing on stage inspired her to switch from a ballet career to musical theater, etc. And no, there isn't any further mention of her son aside from the brief mention of him in the documentary. Everyone seems to be fascinated by his exclusion. She admits to her career being first in her life and that he basically grew up in dressing rooms, so that should say enough about their relationship.

All this adds so much more than the actual film itself.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 2:02pm

How would you suggest going about seeing the actual DVD incarnation?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 2:17pm

Its already out on DVD so you can purchase it online (Amazon, etc.) or rent it thru Netflix, which is what I did.

Enjoy!

[ChanceEncounter]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 2:20pm

Will there be a follow-up documentary titled Carol Channing: Older Than Dirt?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 2:23pm

Its actually in production right now. Its current working title is: Carol Channing: Life is Just a Bowl of Raspberries.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 9:36pm

I also thought it rather strange that the son didn't make an appearance in this documentary. It is poignant that she married her last husband, after being apart for decades. That's real love. from rC in Austin, texas

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/17/12 at 10:06pm

I just caught the end of this again. The whole bit about cortisone is priceless, as is the look on Tyne Daly's face.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/20/12 at 9:02pm

I just received my dvd of "Carol Channing: Larger Than Life". There is a bonus section that has about 47 minutes of segments that were not included in the documentary: Bonus Scenes:
1. First Impressions 2. To be "Hirschfelded" 3. Work Ethic
4. Fashion Icon 5. Creating "Dolly" 6. "Hello Dolly" Opening Night 7. On The Road 8. Crew Stories 9. Too Much Coffee 10. A Tough Audience 11. Food 12. Danny Kaye
13. Barbara Walters on Carol 14. Joan Crawford's Wedding
15. Odds and Ends
Gosh, I've learned so much about Carol thru watching the documentary on tv and now the dvd. I can now see how much of a treasure she is to so many of her fans. Wow! I highly recommend that dvd. from RC in Austin, Texas P.S. A funny story about #14. Apparently, Joan Crawford requested that Carol sing at her wedding to Alfred Steele. Carol picks a French song that she doesn't understand, but sings it nonetheless. Apparently, Carole picked a song with lyrics so dirty, that even the French were embarrassed. Funny.

[Wicked Fanatic]

Posted: 7/20/12 at 10:38pm

Thanks RC for recommending this! I watched it last night and loved it! Like you I learned so much and now I'm going to rent the DVD because I want to see the added interviews and learn more.

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 7/20/12 at 11:13pm

I've been aware of Carol Channing for a while. By watching this dvd, I learned so much about her. With very few legends left from the Golden Era of Broadway, it's all the more reason to learn to appreciate her while she's still around. from RC in Austin, Texas

[Charliesgirl]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 2:45pm

I really liked this! I'm not a huge Carol fan but she has worked with so so so many great people and she will always be Dolly. My fav part was when she was walking around NYC and the cast of Memphis came out of the theater and saw her <3

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/24/12 at 4:30pm

I think it's okay for me to share the fact that Carol's son was estranged from her at the time the documentary was being done. Happily, there's been a reconciliation and they are both working on strengthening their relationship.