They simply don't make them like they used to....and by "them", I mean real Broadway stars the likes of Carol Channing. In this documentary about her life, she refers to the Theater as sacred and for once, her actions back up her words. She missed only half a performance as Dolly Levi due to food poisoning. Half a performance after giving thousands upon thousands upon thousands of performances in HELLO, DOLLY! She brags about beating her dear friend Yul Brynner's record for 5000 in THE KING & I. I have always enjoyed Carol Channing, but after watching this endearing documentary, I am now hopelessly in love with her and consider her to be an American Icon. I defy you to watch this and not wish desperately for the opportunity to hug her at the end of it. To hear not only her own stories but to also hear her championed by the people who have worked with her. The most moving moment in the film is when she is reunited after 16 years with 10 chorus boys from her final appearance on Broadway in HELLO, DOLLY! They are joining her for a special appearance at the 2010 Gypsy of the Year Event in NYC. These men sit around a table and discuss how for 18 months on the road and on Broadway, she was the definition of a Leading Lady. They emotionally tell how Ms Channing knew that one of the Ensemble Men was ill from HIV and in the middle of a performance, she stopped to take care of him backstage and reassure him that the Show will be waiting for him when he is ready to return. This film follows Ms Channing as she returns home to San Francisco with her first love and current husband to reminisce about her childhood. It follows the trajectory of her career from GENTLEMAN PREFER BLONDES to HELLO DOLLY to THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and then to her current fight to keep the Arts in public schools. You see her interacting with fans who stumble upon her in Shubert Alley. You see her in rehearsals for the Kennedy Center Honors Salute to Jerry Herman. Appearances from Debbie Reynolds, Tyne Daly, Bob Mackie, Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Lily Tomlin, Barbara Walters, etc wax eloquently about Ms Channing. The film ends with her appearance at Gypsy of the Year where she is greeted with a heartfelt and well deserved standing ovation. Carol Channing is a true legend whose love for the theater came and still comes before anything else. My personal favorite moment in the film was Carol in Shubert Alley looking at the posters for the current running Broadway Shows. She sees the poster for MARY POPPINS and loudly declares "Who dares to play Julie's role?" She and this lovely tribute are absolutely priceless.
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