DVDizzy Forum

Last night, I ordered both widescreen Anchor Bay VHS versions (Mostly to get an order up to $25 so's I could get free shipping - the two tapes combined were less than any free shipping-eligible DVD's being sold on Amazon, so I opted for the VHS tapes instead. I have a DVD recorder and Anchor Bay tapes will not give me any copy-protection issue.) and I was wondering what differences, if any, there are between the Anchor Bay roadshow VHS and the Disney DVD release.

The Disney DVD is a wee bit longer as it includes overture, intermission, and exit cards/music cut from the Anchor Bay Roadshow DVD. However if you were to get the theatrical cut (The one I saw for years on Disney VHS) you would see a loss of about a half hour of footage.

-Skyler

So the Anchor Bay version doesn't have any of the intermission, overture, etc. at all? That's kinda poopy, but oh well. It's cheap, that's all that matters.

I bought both the roadshow and the theatrical version Anchor Bay tapes. I'd like to have both, if only for posterity and completion's sake.

Thanks for the help!

Jeez. I can't remember which version I owned on the Anchor Bay VHS. I'm pretty sure I had one. Eventually, I ended up getting both of Anchor Bay's DVD versions, because I really LOVE that movie and consider it totally excellent and underrated. Anyways, I later bought the Disney DVD and passed on my Anchor Bay Roadshow to my sister. I kept the theatrical version Anchor Bay DVD though. To me, they seem like two different movies due to one having the father going off to join the military in the end. I'm not even sure which version I opt to watch more often, since I haven't watched it in a while (too much other stuff to do). But, I love the theatrical version because that's how I first saw the movie for years on Disney. Anyways, one thing I seem to remember about Anchor Bay's versions is that they didn't have the Walt Disney title at the beginning, which I was upset about.

I've actually never really seen the film, but I can't imagine it wouldn't be enjoyable in either version. And fortunately, both of my tapes have shipped and are on their way to me. I'll make them into a 2-Disc special edition and such. Find some vintage Disney home video ads and such to add as bonus material - I can add the section of the Walt Disney Comedy And Magic Revue VHS tape devoted to the film as a bonus feature on one disc anyway.

A most unusual turn of events! Turns out my Road Show Edition VHS is a DVD. Not complaining - it's the exact same thing I wanted, just already on DVD as opposed to having to record it to DVD from VHS - but it's funny! Got the widescreen theatrical version VHS yesterday, though, and have already made a DVD of it with vintage Disney home video promos and such preceding it, plus a few bonus materials.

If the only difference between Anchor Bay and Disney is an entr'acte and exit music, I'll be more than happy to just stick with this one. It only cost me $6.

After watching the movie (Road Show version), I can't understand why it's been relegated to the middle of Disney's totem pole. They didn't duplicate Mary Poppins, but why would we want them to anyway? We already had Mary Poppins, and it can't be duplicated. The Happiest Millionaire has some issues - like how come the brothers only exist for one musical number and are then never mentioned again? The score isn't the best the Sherman Brothers ever came up with, but it's not junk - the Sherman Brothers don't make junk. It's a little long, but well-paced and well-developed, which justifies a longer length. And it's fairly well-cast. Lesley Ann Warren made this film debut a few years after her big national debut in CBS's telecast of Rodgers And Hammerstein's Cinderella, but there's a lot of difference. Her performance in Cinderella is actually quite painful to watch at times due to overacting and simply trying way too hard to come across as wide-eyed and innocent, while she has quite a bit more subtlety here. Also, her singing vocals are less shrill and harsh here. Plus who doesn't love seeing legends like Fred MacMurray, Greer Garson, Geraldine Page, and Gladys Cooper strut their stuff? (It's a real hoot to see Page and Cooper coolly trade barbs in "There Are Those." I have a true appreciation for classy bitchiness.)

I have to praise the Anchor Bay transfer as well. Even in its non-anamorphic state, colors were nice. The print had some flaws, but things were crisp and clear for the most part. (On a sidenote, I've actually made my own single-sided single-disc DVD5 anamorphic DVD. Not what a professional anamorphic DVD9 would be, but considering nobody's bothered to make one - not even the House Of Mouse themselves - it's quite nice. Plus, if I get a 16:9 TV again, I won't have to blow it up to remove bars and lose way too much information on all four sides.) Even the theatrical VHS tape is fairly good for a VHS tape, although my tape could have been in better shape.

EDIT: GAH, forgive me! Haven't been paying attention, didn't realize I'd replied three times in a row. I swear I'm not a spammer.

I love the roadshow version of The Happiest Millionaire (1967) but I do think it’s one of the Sherman Brothers lesser efforts.
Fortuosity and Bye Yum Pum Pum are the only songs I find truly memorable.
I think the real problem is the story which to me isn’t very engaging.

Musically, as Disney live action musicals go I’d rate it behind:

Mary Poppins (1964)
Song of the South (1946)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Pete’s Dragon (1977)
Summer Magic (1963)
Babes in Toyland (1961)
The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band (1968)