Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Following the successful 1998 video release of Cats comes another Andrew Lloyd Webber blockbuster musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and it's a savvy choice. It hasn't been represented on film before, it's short enough (78 minutes) to present without cuts, and it has the star power of former teen icon Donny Osmond, who played over 1,800 performances across North America. Rather than record a live performance, Cats director David Mallet conceived Joseph as a film, though one that is based strongly on codirector Steven Pimlott's 1991 London revival and relies more on camerawork than venturing beyond its stagelike sets.

Lloyd Webber's first project with lyricist Tim Rice was originally written in 1968 as a school cantata; accordingly, this film uses a framing sequence of a school recital, with an audience of clapping, singing kids and members of the faculty playing the roles. The Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, and Elvis. Osmond is perfect in the title role, with a strong voice and winning persona, while London stage veteran Maria Friedman performs well in the central role of the narrator. Richard Attenborough appears (and sings a little) as Jacob, and Joan Collins makes a brief, nonsinging cameo.

Joseph certainly isn't revolutionary musical theater, but if you view it as a kids' show, it's a silly good time (though there are poignant moments too). Parents should note, however, that this production might warrant a little discretion due to one suggestive scene and some risqué costumes. --David Horiuchi

1 Fun and VERY enjoyable
The cast was exceptional, especially Donny Osmond. He was born to play this role and his voice only seems to impove with age. The different musical styles only served to make the production more interesting...you never knew WHAT you might get! I think Joan Collins was born to play Potiphar's Wife as surely as Donny was born to play Joseph!

As for what someone a few reviews down said:
"The narrator, Maria Friedman, had a very good voice, but it was odd that she was in nearly every scene."

She was in nearly every scene BECAUSE she was the narrator. It wasn't odd at all. She was the one telling the story.

2 Andrew Lloyd Webber Does It Again
After seeing Jesus Christ Superstar, I was sure this was going to be good. That proved to be right. When they played the song at the beginning "Any Dream Will Do", it didn't really fit in, but when they played it later, I understood it more. You would have to have known the story of Joseph to have been able to see what was going on.

There were a few scenes that I would not have wanted my 9 year old brother to see, like the costumes in the Potiphar's wife scene, or the people wearing only chain mail around Pharoh's throne. The narrator, Maria Friedman, had a very good voice, but it was odd that she was in nearly every scene. The songs were amazing, and I had one stuck in my head within 15 minutes of the movie.

The Pharoh as Elvis scene was, to say the least, modern, but it had a very catchy tune. My favorite song was "Go, Go, Go Joseph" which was full of energy.

I would recommend this movie to everyone, but you may want to watch it before showing it to a younger audience. But overall, it was a very good musical, and I wish that I didn't have to return it to the rental store.

3 Well....
See, I watch this with my little sister a lot. She LOVES it. And I kind of like it too, but I have a few problmes with it. The Potiphar scene threw my off. My sister is only 5, and it wasn't too bad for her because she had NO IDEA what was going on. I just told her that Potiphar's wife was just trying to kiss Joseph and Potiohar was like "Hey, you! Get away from my wife! Go to jail." I would like the see the students' [the "audience"]face when they were watching the scene. Seriously, they really shouldn't of made the scene look so...audultish. She should not of tooken off Joseph shirt and pants and they shouldn't of threw him on the bed and they also should not have shown the part where all the people around the bed were all...[I don't want to say it] with each other. In the bible, it wasn't like that. The wife just said "Sleep with me" and Joseph said no and ran away then the wife just told on him. That's all.No need for all of that.

When I first saw this video, I thought that it was terrible with all the costumes and scenes and stuff. But it had to grow on me from watching it so many times. It's a great musical. I can be fixed. Case closed.

4 Fun
I see the family values types are caught in a bind. A sexed up children's show based on the bible. They're tying themselves in knots at Netflix trying to get themselves out of that one. I'm an Atheist and I loved it, bible, sex or no. I did not buy this DVD, I rented it. Pharaoh's song was rewritten (by ALW himself? his production company put out the flick, so I suppose so), and I infinitely preferred the original. And they hoked up the country tune "One Less Angel in Heaven" to the point that the melody was lost. Yuk! These 2 flaws will keep me from buying it. But one time through, it was wonderful. Unlike Evita, it followed the original perfectly, the music is divine, written (1st show as everyone in the know likes to point out) before Lloyd Webber lost his miraculous gift for melody. And boy did this show have melody. I recommend it for young, old, Jew or Heathen. Christians can watch too. It had color, life, clever lyrics (rife with false rhymes, Rice was no Larry Hart), and a couple of knock-outs in the leads, the narrator and Joseph. They were wonderful (everybody else was good too, only nobody else had much to do). And Donny Osmond was sexy and beautiful in the loin cloth (underpants) he wore through the last 2/3 of the show!

5 GOOD PORTRAYL OF STORY OF JOSEPH-EVEN IF CORNY AT TIMES
I was lucky enough to see JOSEPH in Toronto with Donny Osmond in '93, and thought it was great. Then I got the VHS edition, and tought it was great, again. Especially when you consider that this started out as a 20 minute conerto, and ALW kept adding to it. As far as the costumes, consider the the times and the circumstances. As far as the reviewer who said this was a Christian story. Re-read your bible, since this story is over 400 years BEFORE THE EXODUS of the HEBREWS from Egypt, and is a JEWISH story, as related in the book of Genesis, the 1st book of the TORAH!(This review refers to the Stage Production in Toronto and the VHS edition)

6 One of the best musicals that I have seen in a long time
I rented this movie through the library. I wanted to see what it was like. I fell in love with Donny Osmond as Joseph. I also really liked Maria Freidman as the Narator. She had a very strong voice for the role, and sounded better than anyone else that I have heard. I love the music, and I love the costumes, and the stage sets. I give this movie a five star rating and can't wait for Andrew Lloyd Weber to make a movie of Phantom. If he does, It better have Michael Crawford as the Phantom, cause otherwise I will not be buying it.

7 Great way to have fun...songs stick with you for days!!!
"Joseph" may seem like it's geared towards children but there is a lot of viewing pleasure ready for adults. One of the things i've been reading is that people are complaining about the costumes in this biblical story. I decided to write a review to inform everyone that if you've ever read the bible it is completely loaded with sex and otherwise risque situtations. The costumes are really only portraying that and it's silly to give this movie a bad review because of them.

8 LOVED IT!
My daughters (6&7) love "Joseph" as do I. The music is great and it's a great way to introduce musical theater to the younger audience. One caution though. Joan Collins' outfit is a little suggestive as is the scene where she begins to take off Josephs clothes. But for little ones, I think its totally over their heads and goes by really fast. I wouldn't let that hold you back from letting them experince this dvd. Donny Osmond is a fabulous Joseph. Our family would love to see him do this on broadway again.

9 Lloyd Webber missed the boat...
Visually, the film was very good. I would have liked it to be filmed in front of a live audience, seeing that much of the energy comes from the audience. There was something missing without the live excitement. Osmond was the natural choice for Joseph. He has a strong presence and amazing voice. He looks pretty good too. Maria Friedman was a HUGE letdown. Don't get me wrong. I've seen her do other things and she's an amazing performer, but is simply wrong for the role of the Narrator, visually and vocally. Back in '97, I was living in London and I was told that Linzi Hateley (originated the role of the Narrator in the 1991 London revival, was Olivier nominated, and played it for the entire run) was going in for a screen test. I have no idea as to why she wasn't cast. She's beautiful, extremely talented, and deserved to have her performance of the Narrator archived for the world to see. ***I just found out that Linzi Hateley was actually originally offered the role of the Narrator but was unable to do it due to her pregnancy with her first child*** Another good choice would have been Donny Osmond's original right-hand Narrator, Janet Metz. She would have been a joy to watch. Also, Kelli Rabke would have been good. I also heard that pop singer Tina Arena was originally cast as the Narrator for the film. I don't know why she backed out or was replaced. She would have been better than Maria Friedman. As I said before, the film production was well done, but since the Narrator sings practically 75% of the show, the casting of Friedman virtually ruined it for me. She is best put in shows like Sondheim's Passion, and more dramatic, operatic/broadway roles. I love her, just not in "Joseph."

10 Imperfect, but still terrific fun!
Donny Osmond, it would seem, was born to play this part. Both vocally and in the acting department, he raises the bar for every other Joseph out there. He captures the character's naivete and simultaneous intelligence pitch-perfect, his dazzling smile embodies the character's undying optimism, and his lovely clear tenor is perfectly suited to the singing role. I personally did like the Narrator quite a lot. She's quite funny, and her voice is very pretty. It's true that she's not belting the high notes very strongly - her vocal stylisms are more operatic than the average Broadway soprano, but I think it makes her interpretation unique and adds a quiet intensity that is normally not found in the role.

There are some flaws. For example, I found the Mrs. Potiphar scene unnecessarily graphic. Though Ms. Collins looks gorgeous for her age, and acts the part with irascible charm, her costume is largely a flesh-colored leotard with a few strategic bunches of purple sequins. It looks as though she's nude and wearing pasties. The entire instrumental sequence of that scene, which in the stage version is usually just an over-the-top "seduction" scene, is replaced here with a simulated orgy. I always cover my 6yo's eyes during that part. ;) I also agree with the other reviewers who said that the Baker and the Butler were really lifeless and sang terribly, and Jacob was expressionless throughout. His version of "distraught grief" was to stand there slightly slack jawed. Really pretty boring.

But these will not deter anyone from thoroughly enjoying this video again and again, and there are many aspects of the production that will forever set the standard. The eleven brothers were priceless, and all had very good chemistry with each other, the Narrator and Joseph. They also all clearly had incredible voices. The costumes were spectacular and colorful, the musical arrangement is the best I've ever heard in this show, and the pacing is compelling and consistent. The Pharaoh slays me every time - his comedic timing and appropriately overdramatic expressions coupled with his gorgeous baritone are just sublime perfection for the role. And Donny will make you grin right back at him.

In short, it's a very, very strong production that surpasses every stage version I've ever seen, and it is extremely faithful to the spirit of Webber's vision.

11 Great visually, severely lacking musically
If I could somehow take my CD of Joseph and line it up with this video, I would love this video. Joseph is excellent, but everyone else is only so-so. Scratch that. Everyone else is pretty bad.

Visually, this was fun to watch. There's one good part in "Joseph's Coat" where the brothers (I think it's the brothers...) grab the bottom of the coat and twirl it around so the bottom half forms a color wheel of sorts. The kids running up on stage is creative, but a bit cheesy. The sets are fantastic, but clearly are designed to keep the movie grounded in its Broadway musical roots.

Also, it's difficult to explain in text, but the kids in the audience look dispairingly cheesy. They have these fake smiles plastered on their faces and generally look dumb. It would not surprise me to find that the kids choir was originally from a Broadway cast and thus accustomed to overaccentuating any sort of movement.

The Narrator is really not very good. I can't explain why, but it just doesn't work.

Potiphar is fairly good, but he spends so much time speaking his lines instead of singing them that you hear very little of what sounded to be an excellent voice.

Jacob is weak. Even if the character is an old man, the part deserves to be a fairly strong singer.

The first "Poor, Poor Joseph" (when he was tossed into the pit) was visually very amusing. Very funny, but the Narrator singing it was still not great.

Donny Osmond is really the only character that seems to grasp that the movie should be presented as a movie, not an overly articulated and video-taped Broadway musical.

(Please understand that I'm mentally playing through the video as I write this)

"Go, Go, Go Joseph" was presented as an interesting disco party. I'm not sure of the original intentions, but that scene was enjoyable. The Butler and the Baker however were again let-downs.

The French accents in "Those Canaan Days," although affected by all of the brothers and Jacob, were not very good. There was a lot of non-French accent creeping in.

This video is no substitute for seeing it live. I've seen it live twice by both a touring company and a local theater and both were far superior to this video. If you want to listen to the music, I suggest the 1992 Canadian Cast Recording, which also contains Donny Osmond as Joseph.

12 Fun Joseph All the time
I have to agree with other users in saying that Donny does portray a great Joseph. However I've never heard a weaker performance by a narrator. For a true treat to the ears check out the cast recording starring Michael Damian and Kelli Rabke. Kelli puts out the best performance as the narrator in this recording that i've ever heard. I've watched the video, listened to many of the cast recordings and seen the show live countless times and none of the performances stand out in my mind as beautifully as Rabke's and Osmand's. What a treat it would be to see and hear the two of them together instead of the weak performance of the narrator in this video. I have to give the video five stars for creativity though. Recording the show as a performance to a grade school was a great way to easilly incorperate the children's chorus without them looking out of place or loosing screen time in the shadows of the stars.
Overall the video is well worth seeing especially as a precurrser to seeing the live show.

13 Dazzlingand Shimerring
Wow! I really dont have regrets when i bought this film, it's truly fantastic. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber has done it again like what they did from the 'modern' version of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' The film was filled with dazzling performances and colourful visuals especially their costumes and the set! Not to mention its hit music like the full swing groove of 'Go Go Go Joseph' wonderfully choreographed by the casts and comical song 'Jacob and Sons'. Casts led by Donny Osmond did a great job of performing 'live' in this film. Sound is spectacular and music was a hip!

14 Great show for family
I was recently going through my movie collection and remembered how much I enjoyed this one. I was originally given it as a lone, but quickly knew I had to own it for myself. The music is very entertaining, the message in conveyed clearly and is an appropriate movie for kids of all ages. the only reason I gave this four stars was the sound quality of the DVD isn't so great. You really have to crank your set up to hear everything good. Otherwise, this is a great buy!

15 Totally grows on you!
I got this for my dad for Father's Day because he was wearing his vhs version thin. My dad loves the DVD and it has grown on the rest of us. Donny Osmond is spectacular, and Maria Friedman is great as a narrator (she puts a lot of comedy into it). I was able to actually find the CD music soundtrack for this DVD at the Really Useful Group in the UK. Amazon doesn't carry it, but they maybe they will if enough people ask for it. My dad's only complaint of the DVD is that the sound settings are hard to configure. We weren't able to figure out if it was the recording on the DVD or our machines (the background singing was totally faded out). I'm not sure what the discussion on the provocative clothing - if your child does jazz/tap, they'll understand that it's just a costume.

16 A Bit Risque!
I was never a big fan of Donny Osmond. But after seeing this DVD, it has changed my opinion of him. I can't imagine a role more perfectly suited for him. Nor can I imagine anyone else who could've done the role as well! Apart from the excellent songs, there were more than a couple of scenes which would NOT be appropriate for kids younger than teens. So enjoy the movie, but use your judgment in deciding to share it with your younger kids. Without the risque scenes, it would've been a 5-star.

17 Great Movie!!! �
I have the video but not the DVD I would buy the DVD but it is in WIDESCREEN and I HATE WIDESCREEN! I agree with a lot of you I love the music but some of the costumes was a little much. I wanted the soundtrack (the CD) to be like the movie (I mean the motion picture) instead of the Original Canadian Cast Recording.

18 brilliant
All memebers of our family liked it a lot
All members from age 3 to 33:)
My three years old daucher keeps singing: Potiphar had had a few cares, he was one of Egypt's millioners.
I doubt she understand what she's singing but performance and music are amazing.

19 Amazing
All memebers of our family liked it a lot
All members from age 3 to 33:)
My three years old daucher keeps singing: Potiphar had had a few cares, he was one of Egypt's millioners.
I doubt she understand what she's singing but performance and music are amazing.

20 Ver y Good
THe music is wonderful and most of the actors and actresses do very fine jobs of portraying these characters from the bible. THe kids are also really cute. Some of the costumes are a little strange and it might have been better not to use such bright and showy of costumes (the less is more approach), but everything other than that is excellent.

21 Doesn't do the show justice
I have read many of the reviews of this movie/DVD and I think every single one of you who rate this movie above a 3 have probably not seen the actual production and are very VERY ignorant

I was in the Toronto production of Joseph with Donny Osmond in 1997 (I performed in the last live show he ever performed) and this movie sucks. There will never be a better Pharoh as Jonny Seaton. Also, in the live production the wigs and makeup actually looked real. Donny IS Joseph for all you people who thought his performance was lacking (I performed with two different actors playing that role, and saw several others believe me I know!) Since there is no intermission in the video I understand why thy had to cut the entreact, but the key ingredient which would have made this video is the Megamix. In the live production the megamix was a crazy dance partyish thing that had highlights of every song in the show (the megamix was used for curtain calls) and it was one of my favourite parts of the show!!! Also, the children played a much bigger role in the stage production. I also felt the singing wasn't as good as I had hoped. Another point is the moments of humour created between the conducter and the brothers during canan days is missing. I believe what made this movie draggy and boring was the fact that it wasn't taped live - You have prerecorded music which you are lip syncing too, there is no way you could possible have the same energy and expression as when you are doing it live. This movie was just lacking the Theatre charm. Personally, those of you who like this movie fine, like it, but I wish this was just a tape of a performance - sure there's no flashy special effects but at least it would be the production as most of us theatre people love.

P.s. I would have given this movie a rating of 1 star, but a bad movie is better than no movie!!

And just a quick reply to a review I read: for your information Any Dream Will Do is suppose to be at the beginning, not the end. The ending version is a reprise - don't be ignorant.

22 Fun flick
Catchy music, interesting staging, and Donny actually does a good job as the biblical icon Joseph.

23 Great show, bad moments.
I didn't like it the first time I saw it, but I gave it a second chance and LOVED IT!!!!!! The problem? SOME COSTUMES ARE TOOOOO SHOWY. I mean, I can understand the whole Mrs. Potiphar and Joseph thing, but the way to leggy apachi dancer wooing scene. Now was THAT necessary? Anyway, it is better for 8 and up, but it was a really good movie.

24 This movie stinks!
I've seen this play performed in several youth stage programs and I loved it. I saw this movie and was deeply disappointed. The singing was alright but everything else about the movie was horrible. The directing was bad and the characters seemed to be making fun of the story instead of portraying it as a true event that actually happened. After seeing it I feel that the rating should be at least PG-13 because of the many sugestive scenes and revealing costumes. If you are thinking of buying the movie I suggest you rent it first.

25 A Stellar Performance from A Stellar Cast
This is the absolute best DVD production of all of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals. The performances of the cast are excellent with special mention of Donny Osmond's outstanding performance who plays Joseph. The music is good, the interpretation of this biblical story is unconventional, sincere, comical, and yet sad at the same time. Your sympathy is obviously for Joseph but you find yourself being a little more understanding of his brothers' actions.

I love the way the show is presented with its opening commencing in a classroom and then you are transported into the world of Joseph, his brothers, and the people of Isreal and Egypt, and then you are brought back into the classroom at the end again. This was done I presume to give the audience an awareness that the advent of this play was really in a school and of course Webber brought it to the world.

This production gives something for people of all ages to enjoy. My 8 year-old nephew cannot stop watching it and while this production may not follow the bible to the tee, it is a great way of introducing a biblical story to a young child. For an adult, you will appreciate the performances, the songs and the simplicity in which the show is presented but yet you finish watching it with a sense of awe and utter enjoyment.

If you love musicals, this is a must-have. You will have no regrets.

26 Love it, love it, love it!
This movie is not a standard issue Hollywood production. It has a very good humor, it has both general and musical culture, it has a delightful artistic play. I was very cautious about this movie in part because of religious topic, and in part because of some reviews here at Amazon. I've got it three days ago and I already viewed it three times.

First, they took the Bible story, and what usually happens there is that producers screw it up. Hypocrisy, fake pathos, sugar-coated heroes, and operetta-style villains often make biblical movies hardly bearable. Remember Disney's "Prince of Egypt"? Not here! Here there are none of such atrocities against the viewer. Joseph is not a semi-god or an angel, and his brothers are not accomplished criminals. You can understand how he'd got them to do what they have done. On another hand, creators of the movie did not flipped everything over either. What Joseph's brothers have done becomes understandable, but still wrong. Being able to survive such a delicate balance is already a huge accomplishment, but here is more.

The music and singing is excellent. Of course, if you are accustomed to Britney Aguilera and nSync, you may found it difficult to follow. This is a modern opera - it does matter what they are singing, and it's not rhythm-based drum solo either, it's melodic. But if you understand good music you will be delighted. Even some little imperfectness, when happens, is carefully measured and serves its purpose. Anyway, well, that's Webber, he does know what he is doing.

27 I DONT LIKE THE SINGING
The movie is bad. They sing the entire time and it sounds horrible. There were a few things that were good, but overall the movie was bad. The plot was fairly good, but I just can't stand the singing. The movie would have been better without the singing.

28 Good....... for a musical
For a musical, this movie wasn't bad. I didn't really like the whole musical thing but the songs were catchy and and none of them were alike. The play had a great variety of music like Hip-hop, Country western, Elvis style, and many more. The plot of this movie was predictable but good. I liked the idea of the school set, and the teachers being the actors. In conclusion I belive that this movie is good.

29 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
I liked how they had so many different types of music that they sang. And I liked how they had all of the kids singing too. Another thing that I liked was that the teachers were the acters.

30 Pretty good...
To me, the video was ok, but it wouldn't exactly be a preference to me. It was comical in some parts, and the plot flowed smoothly. I didn't like the fact that is was a musical, but I believe it portrays the theme very well. And in the musical sense, there are songs for just about any type of music fan. They have everything from slow ballads to upbeat disco. The best song was probably when the pharoah imitated Elvis. I would highly recommend this movie to you musical fans out there, and even some others.

31 Joseph and the Amzaing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amzaing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an interesting movie. I enjoyed watching the creativeness in the costums. I thought it was a good movie to learn more about eygpt in a fun way. It was fun listening to the singing and the diffrent songs. It was a neat concept how all the teachers were a part of the play. The actors made this movie a good movie for kids and adults. I would give this movie four stars. I hope you will enjoy this movie too.

32 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a great movie that keeps you interested with all its classy music selections. I thought it was a really neat concept how they started with all the teachers sitting on the stage and all those teachers had parts in the play. I really enjoyed all the different kinds of music they played. From Jazz to Elvis they were all very good! This is a great movie for kids to adults. I would recomend it to everyone!

33 Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a very entertaining movie. I really enjoyed the way they displayed the scenes and the costumes of each character. The actors were very creative with their lines and parts in the movie. I also enjoyed the way the actors brought other people from everyday life into their parts as their specific character. A big example of this was how the pharoah had many Elvis qualities in his character. In conclusion, I really enjoyed this movie and it will always be a classic.

34 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is very creative and classy. Anybody who likes some kind of music will at least find one song that they like in this movie. Even though it seems a children's movie, it is very interesting even to adults. In this movie, there is never a dull moment. The narrator keeps you interested for the whole movie. The costumes in the movie are awesome, very colorful, and creative. My favorite part of the whole movie was the part where the pharoah acted like Elvis. Another very creative and catchy song was "Go Go Go Joseph." I give this movie 4 stars and think that everybody from adults to children should watch it.

35 Joseph
I liked the part at the end where Jacob came to Egypt to see his son Joseph. The costums were also very good. The songs were pretty cool too.

36 Ok movie, but....
This is an OK movie. The movie was pretty funny at times. I thought the sets were very cool. I don't really like the all the singing in the movie. It would have been better if this movie only had a few scenes with songs. The songs were catchy, and I don't really like that. They had a ton of music types in the movie, like country, rap, Elvis, etc. The acting was also good. I would really only recommend this movie to someone that likes singing or musicals.

37 Exciting and Thought Provoking..
Those two words sum up my feeling on this film. Thought my review is one of the hundreds here ^.^ I thought i should share my thoughts on this film which has moved me in a new direction.
First of all, this is a GREAT family film, ok....the scene with Mrs. Potiphar is a bit *bizarre* and it does seem to imply something more.... (But i think one of the best parts of movies like this are scenes like that, ones you can watch early in life and then look back when your older and go YIKES! lol..) ok..going on..-four words- MARIA FRIEDMAN KICKS #%@#!!!! She ties this whole production together and has an amazing chemistry with the rest of the cast, the thought provoking part is with this(chemistrys like the one between the Narrator and Joseph is very dangerous to a fanfiction driven 15 year old spazzy teenage girl^.^)
Anyway, my little cousins LOVE this movie and watch it whenever I come over(me being the big Maria Friedman fan). Donny Osmond is wonderful as Joseph, especially during "Close Every Door" and Benjamin Calypso (we understand how hard it must have been to not laugh during that) Robert Torti is a hysterical pharaoh, and everyone just is sensational!! This is a definate DVD to add to you collection!!!!!!!!!! Spread the colored coatness!!!!!

38 Anybody got any Tylenol?
Hmmm....how to sum up "Joseph And The Not-So-Amazing Technicolor Screamcoat?" Well, it stars Donny Osmond, Joan Collins, and a bunch of singing five-year-olds. How much more proof do you need that this is a complete waste of existance?

It starts off with a bunch of screaming little kids running around in an auditorium, presumably at an elementary school. This goes on for about fifteen minutes. Really. This was enough to give me a headache. Then again, considering how the rest of the movie went, I would've been happier just watching that for the next two hours.

Why do I hate it? Well, for one thing, THERE IS NOT ONE SPOKEN LINE IN THE WHOLE THING! EVERYTHING - YES, EVERYTHING - IS SUNG!!! Yes, I know this is a "musical" - but even "Grease" has regular spoken dialogue. Also, the makeup and acting - it could not possibly be the least bit cornier. The whole production looks like the kind of dream you'd have after eating some old enchiladas you found in the back of your fridge. What an insult to everyone and everything.

Do I really need to continue going on about how bad this movie is? I think not. Just don't watch it, and you won't need to run to your local drug store and pick up ten cases of Advil.

Snoochie Boochie Noochies!

39 sound is good, not perfect
I bought this the other day for my daughter's 9th birthday. I was a bit worried about the sound after reading some of the other comments here. Well, I am no audiophile, but there is definitely something not quite right about the sound. But at worst, it sounds to me at times as though the visual and audio are a tiny bit off-sync, so that you lose the impression that you're actually watching them sing. Not often, but it's noticeable. And I agree with other comments about a number of the costumes being too suggestive.

Having said that, my daughter loves this DVD, and we also got the original Broadway cast CD, so we are all Joseph, all the time (for now).

40 Give me my DVD, my amazing DVD!
There are some actors/actresses who were born to play certain parts, e.g., Yul Brunner and the King of Siam. Well, Donny Osmond IS Joseph! After seeing this, I cannot imagine anyone else playing Joseph so well, and so poignantly. Donny has the truly perfect voice and charisma for this role. I've have seen brief clips of other stage performances, and have heard the other stage soundtracks, and they just don't have it! One important thing that seems to be lacking in the previous encarnations is an enthusiasm for the role, something that comes through loud and clear with Donny Osmond. There simply is no other "Joseph" than him. He is truly an underrated performer.
It was great choice to film this as a "movie" on sets, rather than just filming a stage show. While that would have been interesting, especially to those who had seen the play, it would not have done justice to it the way this did and would not have allowed for the varied staging that is evident here. The casting is excellent in my opinion, although I understand from several friends who saw the Stage Production here in Boston back in 1996(ish), the Stage Elvis (Johnny Seaton) and Narrator (Janet Metz) had a higher level voice control and stage "presence" than is so evident here ("simply awesome" us how one friend put it), the two certainly turn in stellar performances and their performances are entertaining and riviting. They both have quite good voices, and Pharoah really morphs with Elvis!
Given that this play was, at least originally, staged with children in mind, the costuming is a bit on the risque side, and could certainly have been done without.
Andrew Lloyd Webber also missed an excellent opportunity that might be missed on most people as far as history and factual storytelling goes. When approached by "Mrs. Potiphar", Joseph actually ran away from her, leaving "his outer garment behind", and she then falsly accused him of attempting to rape her,which is really why Potipar was so enraged. This would've added a whole other dimension to the song "Potiphar" and made his false imprisonment all the more "unjust", which in turn, would have added to the poignancy of Donny's best song in the show, "Close Every Door", but, hey, that's Hollywood! ONE WARNING! This will leave you singing and humming the songs for weeks and weeks on end!
Donny Osmond will never again wear that "Amazing Coloured Coat" but as long as you own this DVD, he'll never really take it off for the last time!
By the way, don't pass-up the CD featuring Donny Osmond from this Stage Tour. It is simply awesome! In many areas, the tempo and pacing of the songs is better than in this DVD. They make a truly wonderful set!

41 JOSEPH JOSEPH IS IT REALLY YOU
I wondered if a family oriented movie, Joseph - King of Dreams that also had a pro religious theme could come out of Dreamworks. Like wouldn't you be suspicious if the present day Disney management did a pro-religious movie?

But, J-KOD the cartoon movie is not bad. Certainly i think they made a worthy movie. Only thing is that my kids didn't like it as much as I did. Given the choice, they preferred Joseph and TATDC starring Donnie based on the long running play. And they prefer this version, not because Dreamworks dropped the ball, but because the music is just awesome by comparison.

Check out the cartoon version by dreamworks as a rental. then checkout the movie based on the play.

42 "Give me my colored coat, my amazing colored coat!"
Brazil has no musical comedy's tradition and there are few opportunities for us Brazilians to keep in touch to what Americans and British wonderfully create in terms of musical plays. So I do consider myself lucky for finding the Los Angeles cast original soundtrack of "Joseph..." in a CD store nearby, some years ago. I had no reference at all about the play but the previous works of Weber & Rice ("Evita" and "Jesus Christ Superstar") that were staged in Brazil some decades ago. My wife and I became unconditional fans of "Joseph..." and eventually bought this DVD in order to see "on stage" all those songs we deeply love. We got really impressed with the splendid work we purchased: Donny Osmond is a perfect Joseph, Maria Friedman is a fascinating Narrator and the whole cast shows such an enthusiasm in their performances that it is impossible not to fall in love with this film version of the play. I strongly recommend it as an excelent purchase for the whole family.

43 Introducing musicals to kids
Joseph is a wonderful way of introducing your child to musicals. This musical has so many ways of reaching the child inside all of us. My mother gave this VHS to my child as a birthday present. We watch it at least once a week if not every day if my child could. The length of this musical is such that it keeps even really young children entertained for it's duration. My child now sings some of the songs and has asked her music teacher in school to get a copy. Thank you Mr. Webber and Mr. Rice.

44 This is awesome!
I know people complain of Maria Friedman, but it's still goood because she at least gets the facial expressions right. Although the shortest proffesional musical I've ever seen, it's one of the best I've seen. Donny Osmond is the perfect Joseph, and I love the cast in GO GO GO Joseph. Worth buying, especially the dvd for its DTS capabilities.

45 Good production, poor sound
This is a fun staging of a fun show. Certainly not deep, thought-provoking theater, but a fun little show nonetheless. However, I must echo the sentiments of those reviewers who said the sound on this DVD leaves much to be desired. The sound level on the vocals is extremely inconsistent, with some soloists being nearly inaudible. In fact, the sound on this disc is so poor I must grudgingly encourage buyers to opt instead for the VHS version, which doesn't have this problem.

46 JOseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Two college friends (Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber)got together to write a light musical for a school project and years later it becomes an international hit with productions being mounted everywhere from small elementary schools to lavish Broadway extravaganzas. Who'd a thunk it? But this DVD is able to give the viewer both the flavor of seeing that "Next Door Neighbor" in the local production as well as all the glitz that broadway has to offer. The staging is superb, beginning in a small English scholl auditorium, we are rapidly transported to Broadway and back again (With enough stops in between to give any travel agent a dizzy spell). The acting and singing are superb, with the most unlikely of "Teachers" finding their way into the Biblical story of Joseph. The staight-laced piano/music teacher is transformed into a bomshell of a seductress (Joan Collins). The Headmaster becomes the head of the house of Isael, Jacob (Richard Attenborough), And that former Teen Idol , and now Game-Show host, Donny Osmond, is wonderful in the Title role of Joseph. And you'll never guess what character shows up to to portray the Pharoh (Pharoh, isn't another name for "The King") The story is artfully narrated by the singing and acting Talents of that star of the London stage, Maria Friedman. Entertaining for all ages, do not miss the opportunity to see the transformation of this moving Biblical story into a thouroughly Entertaining piece of theater that has a message fo everyone.

47 Absolutely Incredible!
This DVD is adored by everyone in our house. My 8 and 4 year-old girls sit through the whole thing, totally entranced and my 2 year-old son gets through 20+ minutes (a minor miracle). For myself, the songs are very catchy and each is a different genre. I enjoyed seeing the celebrities like Sir Richard Attenborough and Joan Rivers but the 11 brothers really steal the show. Donny Osmond has an incredible voice and really shines in this adaptation of the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. Its a great addition to any DVD collection.

48 The Best of the Best
You are in for a treat. The music, costumes, acting, all outstanding. Donny Osmond is the perfect Joseph. You will laugh, and have an enjoyable time watching this with your family.
The only problem, you get the songs stuck in your head, and you can't get them out. You will be going around singing them constantly. Go Joseph!

49 Singing Good, I think...
Unlike a previous reviewer, I thought that this version had strengths in the vocal area that other versions of the musical were sorely lacking in. While I never saw it personally, I have heard recordings of Laurie Beechman's performance as the Narrator, and I believe that she has a much beefier, full voice. This is the role of a story teller, and I think that Maria Friedman serves this purpose much better than almost all of the previous narrators. Of course, Donny Osmond is a wonderful Joseph. However, there are areas where he can do better. But, all in all, he did a great job, and I was very happy with his performance.

I think that this is a wonderful version of the musical. It is presented beautifully, and I don't at all think it is lacking vocally.

50 Love, Love, Love It!
A really fun, interesting show! We saw the Broadway version, and this is pretty close. Although based on the bible story, the show is not preachy... kids and adults alike will love it! You'll be humming the songs long after the show is over. Fantastic acting, great plot, interesting sets. Absolutely a great show!

51 Joseph is great!
I really liked this musical. The songs were catchy and funny, the dancing was phenomonal, and the acting was pretty good. The only problem I have with it is Mrs. Potiphar. I like the character, but the dress is a bit revealing. They say it is a musical for children, and if I ever show this to my future child, I will make sure he/she doesn't see that part. Also, I thought the narrator didn't have to act ... during her song with the brothers.

52 WAY cool!
PEOPLE! Don't listen to ANYONE telling you that this video isn't good! It's fantastic! I fell in love with Donny Osmond because of this video, and I'm only 13! (Although I'm young, I sing in a music school and in a professional choir, so I know what I'm talking about.) Donny's renedition of Close Every Door gives me chilles down my spine whenever I watch it! He has an AMAZING voice, and he's a very good actor! I wish kids my age would know how to appreciate his talent. The rest of the cast is wonderful too! I love Maria Friedman, Robert Torte, and all of the brothers.

In conclution, if you buy this video, you won't regret it!!!
It will AMAZE you!

53 The greatest movie
Wow this movie is great!!! The songs are amazing. I get them stuck in my head for days.. And the acting is well have i already say great.

54 You people are blowing this way out of proportion...
The only reason I gave this one star is because we all know that people don't read the good reviews, we only read the bad ones.

Well this PRODUCTION of this show deserves at least a 4. For all of you whining about things like the overproduction of the show, keep in mind that this version of this show was produced to appeal directly to children. You're certainly not going to keep the attention of a 4 year old if it looked like it did on stage!

And what's all this complaining about having the children singing and in some of the scenes. Kids enjoy seeing kids! How difficult is that to see???

Okay, I'll definitely agree that the Collins scene is WAY too sexed up. That was a big mistake. I find myself skipping over this scene when I'm watching with my kids. Also, someone mentioned the sound problems on a home theatre and I'm seeing them too.

Look, Realize this, very few stage shows (with the exception of Into the Woods) can be adapted to film with no changes. You're looking at a whole different kind of audience- many of which have never set foot in a REAL theatre. Give them a break, they did a darn good job for what they had to work with.

Oh, and if you're just writing because you don't like the show- give the guy a break, he was in college when he wrote it! I'd like to see one of YOUR first college projects!

Now be nice....

55 A real delight!
What really sets this video apart from other stage productions is that it was obviously directed for a video audience. So many other stage productions (Riverdance, for example) are merely filmed during an actual performance, where the cameras have limited access, the sound is generally poor and the lighting designed for the theater audience rather than the home viewer. Not so with Joseph! This production is clearly directed specifically for the home viewer - it looks and sounds wonderful.

Donny Osmond is a likeable Joseph and Maria Friedman, a huge talent, is absolutely perfect as the Narrator.

The musical, a pop opera, is brilliantly concieved by Rice and Webber. The changes in musical styles to fit the various dramatic moods will bring a smile to your lips (especially the depiction of Pharoh - I won't spoil it if you haven't seen it yet. It's almost laugh out loud funny).

The sets, the production numbers, the lighting, the performances, are all top notch. The video is a "must see" for adults and kids alike.

56 Joseph entertains wonderfully!
I ordered this video to use as a wrap-up for a unit I was doing on musicals with my 3rd and 4th graders. They really enjoyed watching it and absolutely loved the music. For many, this was their first exposure to a musical. There were some parts where the women were very "scantily clad", and that, of course, got a big reaction out of them - I reassured them that the actresses were wearing costumes to make them "look like they're not wearing anything." Even being a pro actor myself, I have little criticism for this video.

57 I love It.
As a person who will probablly never see a real stage show, I love this movie. Donny Osmond is perfect for this roll. "Close every door" is my favorite song. I have the movie and the cd. I believe it is a wonderful movie for children. An introduction to a bible story that makes it fun to learn. Alot of the reviews are being based on the real stage play, but if you've never seen the real play..... It's like reading the book and then seeing the movie. For us who have never seen the play on Broadway, it is a real treat and I'm glad to of had the opportunity to see it on video.

58 Big Disappointment
Anyone who saw the stage production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR RAINCOAT must be disappointed by the movie. The main problem is the staging of it as a play at a school, resulting in unrealistic and cutesy scenes of kids worshipfully smiling at singing adults. The music is good, but the narrator makes faces, and Danny Osmond with long hair and half-shaven looks like he just woke up from sleeping on the street. My advice if you have this video is to close your eyes, and just listen to the music.

59 Osmond's Finest Hour!
Amazing is the first word that comes to mind. The songs are so catchy that every time I watch it I catch myself humming them for the next 3 days. The characters are very well cast, and very funny. The choreography and staging was very well done. Bravo!
My only gripe is those awful blue girls in the Pharoah scene. . .they look disgusting. Get rid of them, and put a little more clothing on Mrs. Potiphar and her girls, and I think this would be a a 5 star musical, and one that I would even aspire to audition for myself sometime.

60 Joseph is Amazing!!
I Watched Joseph And the amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
And I'll Sum it up in one word "AMAZING"!! This is one
of the best Broadway shows that i've seen EVER! the cast
was brillant. Donny Osmond and company was supurb. Buy
This Video or DVD. You Won't be disappointed.

61 Waste of money
One of the few musicals that I regret spending the money on because of the absymal recording quality. The narrator was fairly easy to understand, but some sound track key singers were almost inaudible.

The tunes would have been most enjoyable if the technical quality was acceptable.

As one who enjoys musicals and muscial shows, I was very disappointed in the recording quality and video quality.

62 Something A Little Different.
JOSEPH is an entertaining musical that has a little bit of everything for the entire family. Donny Osmond stars in this video version of the popular musical and he plays Joseph better than just about anyone else. Richard Attenborough portrays Jacob and Joan Collins has a non-singing cameo as Potiphar's Wife.

The music in this play is quite enjoyable and covers a variety of genres from pop to country to calypso. My personal favorite tune is the moving "Close Every Door". The set in the video is rather simplistic, though extremely lavishly decorated and many of the costumes are, well, "interesting".

The show has a couple of great morals (lessons in love and forgiveness) and other than the sexual innduendo and risque costumes in the Potiphar's Wife scene, the video is great for family. However, after watching this video I realized that Andrew Lloyd Webber may never had intended for the story to ever be taken seriously. For example, instead of displaying any of Joseph's noble qualities, he is portrayed as a buffoon until the end of the show. Also I could never quite figure out why all those kids are in the production; they are always distracting and take focus away from the story. After I watched this tape, it occurred to me that was the entire point. These things are subtle and just by listening to the soundtrack or even watching most school and church productions of the show they are nearly unnoticeable. However, they are there. It doesn't take anything away from this delightful musical because God's truth cannot be hidden, but it is something to think about.

63 One word: AWESOME!
I absolutely loved this musical. I only fell asleep once (just kidding). The thing I liked about it is that the songs are very easy to remember and sing. After just hearing it once I was walking around singing some of the songs. Don't be put off because it's a Bible story, it doesn't really have much to do with the Bible and was a great story!

Also, I didn't really like Cats so if you don't either don't exclude Joseph just because of Cats!

64 Good, but could have been better...
Having not watched any production of the show, I was glad when I learned that video format of the show has been released. I initially learned of the show when a cast recording featuring Jason Donovan was released some years ago. With the video format, I was also interested in the performance of Donnie Osmond as Joseph.

However, when I watched the video, I realized that it was not a recorded live performance. The production design has also been changed for cinematic effect. While the production concept was good, it seemed like I was watching a long music video. The video would have been better if a live performance was recorded so that the viewer would have a feeling of 'theater' while watching it (just like the video of 'Jekkyl & Hyde', which unfortunately featured David Hasselhoff, but that's another story). It would have been great if you know that the performers are really singing, not just lip-synching their lines.

65 A Must See
This one is a winner for both adults and children. Wonderful music, wonderful acting.

66 Colorful and Amazing!
Having been disappointed by several filmed musicals, I used to think that musical adaptation for film could hardly work. But this DVD has changed my view and I now believe a good musical can be as great on a small screen as on a big stage.
It is simply amazing how Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber could transform Bible story into contemporary fable. This production amazes me with its wonderful cast, great choreography, and excellent staging. It is truly a dazzling production, fulfilling the satisfaction of your ears and eyes to the ultimate. It certainly has its tricks to attract small kid's attention. My two little boys love it. This is the only show, besides "Power Ranger" and "SpongeBob", which can make them sit through and watch it again and again.
The music score is enchanting (like all Andrew Lloyd Webber music), especially versatile, and full of fun. Donny Osmond is perfect for Joseph and delivers the best "Close Every Door" among all the other Joseph's. Maria Friedman is very good as narrator. Besides her unique voice, her acting is natural and just right for the role. The eleven jealous brothers' comical performance in country, French caf� music, and calypso are marvelous and couldn't be more entertaining. They definitely add a yummy topping to the show. Another masterstroke is the impersonation of pharaoh (King) with "Elvis-the King", which is absolutely brilliant and witty.
My family has been enjoying this DVD since it arrived. The more we watched, the more we love it. We are so deep in love with this joyful show that it's come to the point that every song means, and every nuance matters.

67 Sheer Fun!
What a hoot! I was enchanted! When I brought the dvd home, my husband raised an eyebrow and said "you're going to make me watch THAT?" before turning back to his computer... 15 minutes into the movie, I caught him tapping his feet and whistling along under his breath.

Some of the sexual innuendo had me a little thoughtful, at first, about showing this to my godchildren -- but it's nothing as bad as they see on TV every day, and certainly not enough to make me decide not to show it to them.

Great staging, good choreography, good wardrobe (that had me taking notes, in places, for tribal belly dance costumes). The cast obviously enjoyed themselves tremendously which made the show that much better. This one's a keeper!

68 Bland and Uncolorful Broadway Production.
Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a big disappointment. With a talen such as Donny Osmond, you'd think that it'd be good, but what comes out is a confusing and dark musical with bad sound quality and a terrible ensemble cast. As known, Osmond gives an exceptional performance, but he's the only thing that shines any light into this uncolorful piece of Broadway junk. Also...the reliogious matter and subject really turned me off. Such a goofy and unwanted way to make religion into an expensive musical.

69 viewer in atlanta
Wow! What a fantastic production - it was a hit with my children and us parents. I highly recommend it.

70 Poignant and True, an Musical for a Family...
What can I say about "Joseph"? Well, it's certainly a show that has been added to my personal collection-in both DVD and VHS form! I received it on DVD for Christmas, and I watched it about 4-6 times before I left to go back to school. There's just something about seeing a true story acted out like a fairytale, yet true at the same time, on the screen. I ordered the VHS to show it to my hallmates at school- they've never seen it before! I can't wait to get the VHS in my CPO!

Besides the whole effect, there's just something that Mr. Osmond adds to the musical that I don't think anyone else could offer- the childlike wonder and the sparkle of maturity that comes only from distinguished actors with great experience in the theatre. I think everyone who has seen the video/DVD can agree with me that "Close Every Door" from when Joseph is in prison was written with Donny Osmond in mind- it was pure genious musical scoring by Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber. I have listened to every sample of that song from every soundtrack on Amazon.com, and none of the other Josephs sing it with the same emotion and intensity that Donny does.

I agree that the Mrs. Potiphar's bedroom scene is quite risque, but so is the Elvis scene, if you look at the servant's costumes! This video is meant for the family- and though some of you might not want your children seeing such things on the TV, you have to admit that they'll see it somewhere else later that day on cable TV. My suggestion: Sit down with your children and explain WHY these costumes were used; it's better than them hearing it from anyone else, and they have to learn about it sooner or later.

All in all, six out of five stars- Thank You, Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber!

71 Big Disappointment - Not for small children
I was excited to finally find this title on DVD. I'd seen the show live in Chicago years ago and loved it. We've had the soundtrack on CD (fabulous) for years and it's one of my daughter's favorites. Unfortunately, the video version of this production is significantly different than the live show and, in my opinion, the music is not nearly as good (as the show or the CD soundtrack). Even more disturbing is the addition of several scenes that make this video inappropriate for small children. I can't understand why these sexual innuendos were added, they certainly don't add anything to the story and as far as adult entertainment is concerned they're pretty lame. With just a little effort this could have been a great family video.

72 Big Disappointment - Not for small children
I was excited to finally find this title on DVD. I'd seen the show live in Chicago years ago and loved it. We've had the soundtrack on CD (fabulous) for years and it's one of my daughter's favorites. Unfortunately, the video version of this production is significantly different than the live show and, in my opinion, the music is not nearly as good (as the show or the CD soundtrack). Even more disturbing is the addition of several scenes that make this video inappropriate for small children. I can't understand why these sexual innuendos were added, they certainly don't add anything to the story and as far as adult entertainment is concerned they're pretty lame. With just a little effort this could have been a great family video.

73 Something for Kids and Grown Ups To Enjoy Together
Adults will be less enthusiatic about this stage-to-video production than their kids, but even the most cynical will have to admit that the video is extremely well done: Osmond and company give enjoyable performances, the designs are very clever, and the music has a sing-along feel that every one will enjoy.

74 I fell in love
I got my first taste of this show while channel surfing one evening. I caught just a little bit of the song "Close Every Door to Me" and was facinated. I went online and bought the film right away.
This is a great film for the whole family. Following the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers, the catchy tunes, great scenery and bright colors will keep even the youngest child interested. Donny Osmond is perfect in the role of Joseph and Joan Collins has a brief but funny cameo as Mrs. Potiphar. This is a must see for any musical fan.

75 A sad injustice to a sweet show
I saw this show on broadway as a child. I loved it. I listened to the original broadway cast album over and over and loved it. The songs were charming and smart, the message was honest and true, and the narrator was sung by one of the finest voices ever to grace the American stage. On the stage, the sets were minimalist and simple and supported the cast and story rather than overpowering or outshining them.

This video production of the show sadly misses the spirit of the show and just doesn't have the best people singing it.

This show was originally created to be preformed by students in schools. It was a low budget production that showed off talent and concepts, and splashy production wasn't required or desired. This video version is all splashy production, with very little substance or soul. It's glitzy and glittery and you end up thinking about how pretty it looks rather than feeling involved in the story or the music.

Maria Friedman does a competent job as the narrator, although the role was written for a man and was, I believe, only changed for the female voice for performance by the immortal Laurie Beechman, who is sadly no longer with us. Maria is likeable enough, she'll do. Perhaps if I hadn't heard the role sung by the best, I wouldn't be so critical of her in comparison. Donny Osmond does a good job *acting* the role of Joseph, but doesn't sing it as well as the gentleman who I remember on Broadway. The rest of the cast is, well, *there*. I've seen the DVD twice and I can barely recall any of their faces, so I suppose they could be referred to as *forgettable*.

I do have to admit I was amused by Joan Collins's cameo. As she sings all of one sentence, her voice is not at issue.

I also particularly disliked that they've moved the song "any dream will do" to the beginning of the show. It was written for the end of the show, and doesn't make any sense at the beginning. It's out of context, and also I believe it was intended as an expression of angst and confusion and loss, and yet it's played as a cheerful happy song, which *really* doesn't make sense to me.

This production makes me feel like Andrew Lloyd Webber has forgotten what the show is about.

If there was any other version of this show available on video, I would not have bought this one.

76 An AMAZING show!
I saw JOSEPH a couple years ago and loved it so much that my mother bought the video for me for Christmas, and i have to say the video is nearly as great as the live version. I love EVERY single song. Donny is FABULOUS as Joseph. His voice is amazing and he is gorgeous. I watch this movie all of the time. I recommend if you love musicals to buy this. It is worth every penny.

77 Incredible performance!
Great interpretation of Bible story. The songs are memorable with great tunes. The dancing is lively. Donny Osmond is better looking here than I remembered him from the 'Donny and Marie Show' from way back when. My daughter loves this DVD. We played it daily for about 2 months and my daughter (6 y.o. at the time) memorized all the songs. As a Christian mother struggling to find new ways to teach my children the Bible, this is an excellent and entertaining aide.

78 Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
This movie was so amazing that it blew me away. I absolutely loved it. The music and cast is fantastic. When I want to watch a beautiful musical with great songs and storylines I pop this in to the VCR. Buy It! You will love it!

79 Disappointment
Having seen the play, and loving the colorful, musical presentation of Joseph's story, I was disappointed to see the movie cheapening the theatre experience. The "narrator" is a modern woman who doesn't blend into the story at all, but is present in almost everything. The audience of children are included in the movie which also detracts from the play itself. The performers are talented and accomplished, but the above distractions ruined the experience for me.

80 Great Show for all!
We thought this dvd was simply the best.....our whole family loved the performance.....our kids (ages 4 and 6) loved it - as well as my wife and I. Quite frankly, we do not agree with the comments expressed in the other reviews regarding PG status. We thought the film was 'as good - if not better' than the live performance...we even ran out to get the audio cd for the car. Seriously, our children thought it told a great story while giving a lession about redemption and for giveness...what more can you ask for - we give this an A+++++.

81 ...But could we tone down the razzle-dazzle just a bit?
Okay, yeah they glitz up the play rather more than I'd like, and yeah I'd question some of the costuming decisions (is it REALLY necessary to keep Donny 3/4 naked through 3/4 of the play?) but this is still my favorite musical, the one that introduced me to musical theater, and I won't quarrel with FINALLY having a version I can watch. Despite the drawbacks, Donny is great, the Narrator holds her own, and over-all the video delivers on a fun time, especially for those already familiar with the play or the music. Just be sure to check it first before playing for the kids

82 "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is AMAZING!
After seeing Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic musical "The Phantom of the Opera" on its third national tour, I knew I had to see more of his musicals, so I rented this, popped it into the player, and - WOW! From the very beginning, it simply overwhelms the viewer with fun. The lavish, colorful sets give off pleasant vibes, and you won't be able to stop singing along to the catcy, electric tunes. There are also the tender moments, such as "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door," which give the musical exellent virety and will bring tears to your eyes. Best of all, a laugh is never far off, especially for Elvis fans, who will be pleased to see that the King makes a cameo appearance as the king, Pharoh. Rent this for an exceptionally good time, and be ready for wildness. Much better than DreamWorks' recent direct-to-video animated version, "Joseph: King of Dreams," which was obviously released (just a year later) to compete with this.

83 THE BEST MOVIE EVER!!!!
The title says it all. I have never seen a movie as utterly perfect as this. The characters, mainly Donny Osmond, Maria Friedman, and Robert Torti, are completely and totally enthralling! They all play their parts with such exuberance and life that you will never want to take your eyes off them. The songs are amazingly quirky and catchy-- you'll be singing them EVERYWHERE you go! And the over-all quality is awesome. You will not be disappointed you bought this DVD. Especially take note to watch the Go, Go, Go Joseph behind the scenes documentary. (only available on the DVD) It has a lot of fun interviews and stuff like that that any Joseph fan will not want to miss.

84 thumbs down
All the children magically popping up, some bad makeup, and a few sad tries at being funny is what makes this movie deserve such a low rating. I think they could have come up with a better Joseph than D. O.. I have seen it 6 times in live theater, and every time the show was better than the movie.

85 A worthy effort
This is a pretty good version of one of the funniest musicals I've ever seen. Let's start with the bad: Some of the vocals on this video could have been better. Maria Freedman and Richard Attenborough were not good choices in my opinion. My biggest gripe is that they didn't include the megamix on this video. Now for the good: Robert Torti as Pharoh is really funny. He does an excelent job. Donny does a decent job as Joseph he's not my first pick, but he's not bad at all. The brother's are all really funny (especially during Those Canon Days) If you like Joseph or have kids that you want to get interested in musicals you should get this video.

86 Awesome performance, entertaining, but who's the audience?
I first heard this on a vinyl LP in 1989, so I had memories of what I thought it was to look like (based on the LP cover). It seems to me that things have certainly been "jazzed" up a bit. I think Donny played an excellent Joseph, and Maria Friedman played a pretty good narrator. My biggest qualm was the costumes. I thought it was a bit much for the women in the Pharaoh scenes to wear nothing but fishnet clothes. This is a biblically based story. I'd feel obligated to inform friends (especially those with young kids) about the costumes beforehand. I was a little disappointed to see this in the musical. The entire musical seems geared toward children, but yet the way it is presented may suggest otherwise. The music was like I remembered it, however.

All in all I enjoyed the video. I just felt disappointed to have to tell parents to check it out first when it's a Christian story. The children in the video seemed to be the target audience. Tone down the costumes and the suggestive gestures, and it would get an A+.

87 Awesome performance, entertaining, but who's the audience?
I first heard this on a vinyl LP in 1989, so I had memories of what I thought it was to look like (based on the LP cover). It seems to me that things have certainly been "jazzed" up a bit. I think Donny played an excellent Joseph, and Maria Friedman played a pretty good narrator. My biggest qualm was the costumes. I thought it was a bit much for the women in the Pharaoh scenes to wear nothing but fishnet clothes. This is a biblically based story. I'd feel obligated to inform friends (especially those with young kids) about the costumes beforehand. I was a little disappointed to see this in the musical. The entire musical seems geared toward children, but yet the way it is presented may suggest otherwise. The music was like I remembered it, however.

88 A Favorite Musical
I could watch this movie over and over again! All the songs are so catchy and Donny Osmond makes a great Joseph (he has a really nice voice). Andrew Lloyd Webber is a famous name in musicals, and I think this is one of my favorites.

89 Nice Musical for the Entire Family
I purchased this DVD because I enjoyed the road show so much which also starred Donny Osmond.

Imagine my surprise when my five year old son also enjoyed watching this as well.

The music is good as well as the message. Glad to find this rather rare DVD with content suitable for the entire family!

90 Go Go Go Joseph!!!
"Joseph" is my second fav. Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The first being "Phantom of the Opera." THis is a wonderful musical with great songs that the whole family can enjoy. THere is one scene that breasts can be seen, but that is because of lighting and it only happens for a second. Besides that pure family fun.

91 Fantastic!
The only downside to my buying this DVD is that now I regret that I never saw this show live, especially when Donny Osmond was playing Joseph. I had previously owned a cast recording of this show on CD, which I liked fairly well and listened to occasionally. Now that I've watched this DVD, the cast recording seems flat and dull in comparison. This DVD version is just fantastic! Better voices and so much more energy.

I love all of the cast on this version. Donny Osmond is simply perfect as Joseph, and Maria Friedman is captivating as the narrator. And there are so few musicals like this one, where the music is consistently good. It's just one great song after another. I only wish it was longer!

"Joseph" is good, light-hearted fun and rarely takes itself seriously. It would be appropriate for kids except for the Mrs. Potiphar scene. When my toddler is watching with me, I skip over that bit.

I also enjoyed the behind-the-scenes video that was included in the bonus materials. I was a little bored with the segments on the school productions, but there were other bits that were interesting and fun to watch. I especially liked the part about memorizing all the colors.

I've watched this DVD so many times now that I've nearly got them memorized myself..

92 If you like cats you'll love this video
However, if you found Cats silly and lacking in plot, you'll pass this one by.

It opens well, but as it goes on it just gets silly, and lacks Biblical correctness.

As far as family viewing, some may not appreciate seeing Donny Osmond practically gang raped or Joan Collins nipple costume.

Joseph King of Dreams (a cartoon) is better.

93 Jolly good fun!
This may be a light-hearted children's musical, but I found the production to be, well just SUPERB. The creative use of the children in a school theatre setting, the lighting, the sets and the costumes are very well done. Visually, it is a feast! Yes, there were some risque scenes, that makes me think twice about showing it to children. How come? This is a musical designed for kids? About one of the most moral characters in the Bible. However, there is a control, it's called 'the fast forward button'. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber certainly take the micky out of the Elvis cult by portraying Pharoah as 'The King'. I liked this piece of satire, especially when he rips of his headpiece and shows that 50's hair-style! Musically, the show has plenty of energy and some pathos. Donny Osmond's rendition of 'Close Every Door', is sung very slowly and is full of emotion and feeling. It is the highlight of the show. I felt that Joan Collins did an excellent job as the narrator. Overall, I would say, get it! It is an excellent, colourful production and will become a classic.

94 JOSEPH AND THE DREAMCOAT
"I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL VIDEO AND IT'S FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. IN MY OPINION ANDREW LLOYAL WEBBER HAS HAD A GOOD IDEA AND THIS ISN'T LIKE ALL VIDEOS WHERE ACTORS HAVA A SCRIPT.I ALSO LIKE IT BECAUSEIS A STORY FROM THE BIBLE,SO IT IS VERY ORIGINAL. THE NARRATOR,MARIA FRIEDMAN,HAS A POWERFUL COMMAND OF HER VOICE AND SHE SINGS WITH PASSION,SHE ACTS VERY WELL.I LIKE THEPART WHERE THE CHILDREN SING AND TAKE PART IN THE ACT. THE ACTORS WERE SPLENDID AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE COMBINATION OF THE COSTUMES AND THE WAY OF LIFE OF THOSE DAYS AND THESE DAYS, IS AMAZING. HE PART I LIKED MOST IS THE ONE WHEN JOSEPH IS IN JAIL,BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COSTUMES AND BACKDROPS."

95 JOSEPH AND THE DREAMCOAT
"I THINK IT IS A WONDERFUL VIDEO AND IT'S FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. IN MY OPINION ANDREW LLOYAL WEBBER HAS HAD A GOOD IDEA AND THIS ISN'T LIKE ALL VIDEOS WHERE ACTORS HAVA A SCRIPT.I ALSO LIKE IT BECAUSEIS A STORY FROM THE BIBLE,SO IT IS VERY ORIGINAL. THE NARRATOR,MARIA FRIEDMAN,HAS A POWERFUL COMMAND OF HER VOICE AND SHE SINGS WITH PASSION,SHE ACTS VERY WELL.I LIKE THEPART WHERE THE CHILDREN SING AND TAKE PART IN THE ACT. THE ACTORS WERE SPLENDID AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE COMBINATION OF THE COSTUMES AND THE WAY OF LIFE OF THOSE DAYS AND THESE DAYS, IS AMAZING. HE PART I LIKED MOST IS THE ONE WHEN JOSEPH IS IN JAIL,BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF COSTUMES AND BACKDROPS."

96 "Joseph" is a musical that is heavy on production...and
..a little light on plot...but that does not mean it is not enjoyable. It is very enjoyable and colorful and just a LOT of fun. Donny Osmond is amazing and most of the staging is very much like the touring companies that I saw a year or two ago. The difference is that there is a documentary side that tells about how "Joseph" came about...and how it is very frequently produced in schools (in this case, schools in Britain). Most of us are aware, after all, that "Joseph" is really about forty minutes worth of material..padded out handsomely with production and glitz. It is also nicely paced and very energetic. And, if you need further enticement... Joan Collins is here in several guises..but mostly being her naughty self.

97 A rainbow of fun for the whole family
I first saw Joseph when my middle school put it on. I was a part of the set crew, but as i watch this video, and have further experiences in acting and singing, i wish i had been part of the cast. Ok, so its not the greatest thing Webber has ever done (that would be Phantom), in fact most of it is stolen, but this performance was excellent. Donny Osmond is just the perfect Joseph, the music, stolen or not, was very happy and upbeat (with the obvious exception of "Close Every Door" and "Cannan Days"), what you would want in a family film, and the singing and dancing will make a viewer glow with happiness. It had just about every known color in it, which adds to the fun, especially during "Joseph's Coat." Pharaoh rocks us into the second act very cool-like. The one objection that parents would have, with sharing this video with their kids, is Potifer's wife. I don't think its that bad, its a small part of the production, but if it bothers you, just fast forward through it and enjoy the rest of the show (its followed by the best song in the show). On a final note, the costumes were fantastic, especially Donny's coat (I only wish i could buy a coat like that here on amazon).

98 This is Great!!!
This movie is my all time favorite. When I saw the video in the store, I had a gut feeling that I should get it. When I saw it for the first time, I was expecting something like a bad movie with one or two songs to pep it up. I was surprised when the whole thing was a musical, and the dancing has really good choreography. Donny Osmond was really good with the music and the dialogue. My favorite part was the Benjamin Calypso, because if you look carefully at Donny's face during the scene, you will see that he is trying really hard not to laugh at Judah and the dancers. I really would recommend this movie to all of the Donny fans and anyone else who loves music.

99 It really deserves more than 5 stars!
At first i thought the movie was corny with the different kinds of music styles put togeather, but then i heard Donny's voice and all I could think was "I have to buy this movie!" It is now my favorite musical and I can't stop listening to the soundtrack. This movie is a garunteed hit! (And Joseph looks real good in a loin cloth too!)

100 Can't get enough!!!!!
I have seen a few broadway shows in the past, but when I saw Joesph for the first time in Salt Lake City I was blown away. I instantly went out and bought the DVD and every Sunday my family and sit down and watch it togather. The set up with the school kids watching the show in the school auditorium magical and touching. Go Go Donny and I hope to see you in Salt Lake city again.