CAROL CHANNING: LARGER THAN LIFE (MOTION PICTURE)
Summary
This documentary film is about the life and career of the famous Broadway star Carol Channing. The program opens as Channing strolls around Times Square, stopping by Shubert Alley and chatting with some fans, including members of the Tony-winning show "Memphis." Called "the first lady of musical comedy," Channing performs her signature "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," and footage is shown of her singing the song over the years. She explains how originating a part makes it "yours forever" and reminisces about her role in "Hello, Dolly!", which opened in 1964, and composer Jerry Herman explains that he originally wrote the music for Ethel Merman, but once Channing took over the role, he could imagine no one else as Dolly Levi. Bruce Vilanch, Chita Rivera and Lily Tomlin all comment on their memories of seeing the "dazzling" Channing onstage. Channing and husband Harry Kullijian visit her childhood home in San Francisco, where she grew up the only child of Christian Scientist parents and fell in love with the theatre at an early age. She explains that having no siblings led to an expansive imagination, and she talks about running for a place in student government at school and meeting Kullijian at age twelve. She formulated an interest in dance and frequently attended the ballet, also meeting famed singer Ethel Waters, with whom she later established a close friendship. Channing and Kullijian broke up in 1936 as he headed off to military school and she to Bennington College, at which time she also visited the William Morris Endeavor talent agency. She also attended the Tamiment adult summer camp program alongside Betty Garrett, though she was eventually fired by Max Liebman. Shortly thereafter, Gower Champion sought out a third comedienne for his act and came across Channing, and she was hired and soon depicted by artist Al Hirschfeld. She then landed the role of the bubbly, materialistic Lorelei Lee in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." Kullijian explains that he spotted his childhood sweetheart's name on the marquee during a brief shore leave, but just missed seeing her.
Channing then acted in her first film, "The First Traveling Saleslady," which she admits had a "terrible" script, although she did have a kissing scene with star Clint Eastwood (which ended up on the cutting-room floor). She acquired further TV roles from there, and Loni Anderson remembers seeing her and being affected by her charisma. "Laugh-In" producer George Schlatter says that she had irrepressible star quality, playing the "bimbo" very effectively despite her smarts. Vilanch does a Q&A session with Channing, who discusses her uncertain racial background and her first marriage into a large Jewish family, also sharing an anecdote about meeting Sophie Tucker in Las Vegas. Female impersonator Richard Skipper discusses her larger-than-life style, which once caused her to be mistaken for a drag queen herself. Joanne Worley talks about learning cosmetic tips from Channing, who states that doing one's own stage makeup helps one to find the character. Herman then explains that "Dolly" was panned when it premiered in Detroit and they scrambled to improve it, finally finding the "spine" of the show with the number "Before the Parade Passes By." Channing reveals that she long ago surpassed friend Yul Brynner's record of 5,000 performances, but chose not to tell him during his lifetime. She then rehearses for an AIDS-benefit show called "Gypsy of the Year," performing alongside her former "Dolly boys" for the first time in sixteen years. Her co-stars discuss her unfailing work ethic and refusal to take time off, even when diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and Tyne Daly talks about how her disciplined nature contrasts with her ditzy persona. Her third husband and manager Charles Lowe handled her career, though many friends felt he was controlling and "cold and distant" to his wife.
Channing's co-stars and press agent Harvey Sabinson talk about her love for the audience and enjoyment of performing, though she regretfully admits that her son Channing Carson "took a backseat" to her career. Herman notes the need for a carefree show like "Dolly" right after the assassination of President Kennedy, and Channing reminisces about meeting Jacqueline Kennedy and daughter Caroline backstage. She discusses her friendship with Louis Armstrong, who at first thought she had "stolen" his song, and notes that he was given inequal treatment despite his fame. Her stage co-stars remember her exceptional kindness to an ill chorus member even in the middle of a show, and she keeps critic Gene Shalit laughing with a funny story. Despite her television career, her friends note that she was "too large" for films, and the title role in the 1969 "Hello, Dolly!" movie, which was largely altered from the stage version, was given instead to Barbra Streisand, to the displeasure of much of the audience. She appeared onscreen in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967), however, in which her character was memorably shot from a cannon. She displays her various stage costumes and her famous "Dolly" headdress, saying that she became close with Pearl Bailey, who later took on the title role, though Herman says that Channing herself reminds the quintessential Dolly.
Channing and Kullijian discuss their previous marriages to other people and Debbie Reynolds comments on Channing's unhappiness with Lowe. Kullijian reconnected with Channing after learning that he was mentioned fondly in her memoir "Just Lucky, I Guess," and within two weeks of their reunion, they were engaged to be married, and her friends note the "sparkle" that being in love has given Channing. She then rehearses with Chita Rivera and Angela Lansbury for the Kennedy Center Honors and meets with a number of fans of all ages, then heading out to receive a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. The program concludes with Channing and Kullijian reading Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee" together as Channing performs onstage with her "Dolly" cast for the Broadway Cares charity; at her ninetieth birthday celebration, she offers some sage advice on aging well.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 2011
- RUNNING TIME: 1:28:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 107176
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: Documentary; Biography; Theater
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dori Berinstein … Producer, Director, Writer
- B. Harlan Boll … Co-Producer
- Asterisk Animation … Animation
- Adam Zucker … Writer
- Craig Sharmat … Music by
- Loni Anderson
- Louis Armstrong
- Pearl Bailey
- Yul Brynner
- Channing Carson
- Gower Champion
- Carol Channing
- Tyle Daly
- Clint Eastwood
- Betty Garrett
- Jerry Herman
- Al Hirschfeld
- Caroline Kennedy
- Jacqueline Kennedy
- John F. Kennedy
- Harry Kullijian
- Angela Lansbury
- Max Liebman
- Charles Lowe
- Ethel Merman
- Edgar Allen Poe
- Debbie Reynolds
- Chita Rivera
- Harvey Sabinson
- George Schlatter
- Gene Shalit
- Richard Skipper
- Barbra Streisand
- Lily Tomlin
- Sophie Tucker
- Bruce Vilanch
- Ethel Waters
- Joanne Worley