The Mikado [VHS] [1992]

I have to say it is a disappointing transfer. It looks like a straight copy from a VHS tape - but probably isn't. There seems to have been no attempt to restore the master, and the whole thing looks quite deteriorated, and full of artefacts. The ABC have recently issued the Australian Ballet film of Don Quixote from the 1970's and they detail a lot of restoration which had to be done. Apparently, it was saved in the nick of time, just like the masters of "My Fair Lady". That hasn't happened here. It is comforting that as it is now on DVD some sort of permanence (100 years they say) has been assured. However, if this vital part of the D'Oyly Carte history is not restored and better preserved then we shall all be the sorrier.The box contains no information as to the aspect ratio or to the sound. It appears to be about 1.77:1 but is not enhanced for 16:9 widescreen TV's. The sound, although coming from 2 channels sounds mono to me.That's all the down sides. The up sides is that it is good to see it again in widescreen without the clipping required for 4:3 transfers. One gets the whole picture. It's faults as a record of the D'Oyly Carte have been well documented, however I feel it stands head and shoulders above the competition on DVD available in Region 1: The 1939 film with Martyn Green, the Australian Opera and the Stratford (gasp) versions.It is a dream cast in many respects: Donald Adams, Valerie Masterson, Philip Potter, John Reed, Kenneth Sanford and the delectable Peggy Ann Jones - who could wish for more? Thomas Lawler, Christene Palmer and Pauline Wales are also terrific. The main fault is in the direction and concept. It is neither fish nor foul. It is neither live performance (like the AO or Canadian ones) or re-thought for film (like the 1939). It would have been better had the performers been allowed to do exactly what they did on stage, and with a live audience. There are some phoney contrivances (like Pooh Bah talking to Pish Tush) just for the camera. However, dear John Reed as Ko Ko appears to be the least constrained by the medium. His performance is a comic delight.Worth supporting and worth getting, despite the negatives.

This is a performance of the Mikado which was filmed in Golders Green Hipperdrome just after it had stopped being a commercial theatre and just before the theatre was taken over by the BBC. The cast are stalwarts of the D'oyly Carte company in one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular opera's. The performances by the soloist, especially Valerie Masterson, are to be treasured. This opera is performed in a traditional way as laid down on the foundation of the company at its inception. If you like your opera's done as the composer intended rather than at some modern producers whim which even the audience have difficulty with then you will enjoy this. I found myself singing along with some of the better known musical numbers. It is a very enjoyable performance.

VHS to DVD with no enhancements. Picture is very poor in places and the sound is not great. The acting is a little wooden as theatrical performances should not be filmed so closely. However it is the only “modern” recording I could find of the Mikado. It is still a joy.

This is a fairly straight record of the D'Oyly Carte with some of its greatest performers, filmed on the stage of the Golders Green Hippodrome just after it closed. Foremost are Kenneth Sanford as the definitive Pooh Bah and Donald Adams as the Mikado (his performance of 'My object most sublime' dominated the stage and it is wonderful to see it again here). Valerie Masterson sings Yum Yum beautifully and of course she went on to great things. Philip Potter as Nanki Poo sings well as ever , although his spoken voice is rather gratingly 'posh (I suppose as befits the son of the Mikado) - I don't remember this on stage. John Reed overdoes it as Ko Ko - but it is a good record of how he played this and every other part. If you like him, you'll like him! In my view, Martyn Green is much better on the earlier film. However, this is a wonderful memory from a golden age of D'Oyly Carte, and the slightly poor sound and picture quality is more than made up for by the overall performance. Incidentally, an earlier reviewer is quite right - this was originally a cinema film and the changeover dots are very obvious - themselves nostalgic now!

Having read comments that the vdieo to DVD transfer was poor I still went ahead and bought. It has not been digitally enhanced etc...but as a historical record of the Doyle Carte it is wonderful. If the audio is put through a decent system the sound is very acceptable and whilst one might be  The Mikado [DVD ]critical of the production, as distinct from watching on stage, it still manages to capture the original Doyle Carte atmosphere and the facial expressions of the performesr, John Reed especially, are really good to see in close-up. I am happy that I have bought it.

The newer productions for current standards of good Blu Ray players are nowhere as good. So I prefer this one though I wish it could make the best of my Blu Ray player's capabilities.

I thought this was a most enjoyable performance, the suitable solemnity which makes G&S such fun to watch.

I wanted a good quality video recording (with subtitles) and this is not it. It is indeed a good performance, but it is copied directly to DVD from an ancient film record, low resolution image and scratchy. Sound quality is like a 1930s movie; poor frequency response, distortion, crackles, pops and hum. Had I known what it would be like I would not have bought it. There are lots of good modern audio recordings with rich sound reproduction but very few on DVD; whereas seeing the performance adds so much to it. I would like to see it made clearer at the point of sale when a recording was originally made. It is expensive for what it is. Disappointing, and will probably remain unwatched. My fault for not paying more attention to the negative reviews.