Diva Las Vegas
Encyclopedia
The Divine Miss "M" takes center stage at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas
for this performance of raucous music and comedy show. Featuring Ms. Midler's signature mix of heavenly singing, bawdy comedy, and brazen costumes, Diva Las Vegas is proof that Midler has the right to refer to herself as 'The Divine'. Features the songs: The Rose
, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
, From A Distance
, Friends, Wind Beneath My Wings
, Stay With Me, Do You Want To Dance? and many, many more.
This wasn't a full tour for Bette, but only a one-stop concert at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
which was meant to be filmed and aired on television. HBO
released this as a TV special and it aired on January 18, 1997. They re-aired it again a few weeks later on February 2, 1997.
Bette's daughter Sophie von Haselberg appears for a short time during the song Ukelele Lady. She is sitting with the rest of the cast and musicians on stage playing a ukulele and singing the words.
(1.33:1) and the sound was recorded in Dolby Digital
. On the DVD of this concert film, there is English subtitles, an animated menu screen with scene selections, but there are no bonus materials on the disc.
The concert runs for 123 minutes (2 hours and 3 minutes) in total - including credits.
The DVD was not rated with an MPAA rating, but some releases are rated with an "M" for mature audiences (undoubtedly due to strong language and sexual innuendos).
To date, the special has not been officially released to home video in the US. A PAL VHS was issued in Europe, followed by a region 2 DVD. Most recently, a PAL DVD for regions 2-6 was included in a 2009 UK reissue of The Best Bette
.
MGM Grand Las Vegas
The MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
for this performance of raucous music and comedy show. Featuring Ms. Midler's signature mix of heavenly singing, bawdy comedy, and brazen costumes, Diva Las Vegas is proof that Midler has the right to refer to herself as 'The Divine'. Features the songs: The Rose
The Rose (song)
"The Rose" is a pop song written by Amanda McBroom and made famous by Bette Midler, who performed it in the 1979 movie, The Rose. Since then it has been covered by a variety of artists.-Bette Midler version:...
, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was a major hit for The Andrews Sisters and an iconic World War II tune. This song can be considered an early jump blues recording...
, From A Distance
From a Distance
"From a Distance" is a song written in 1985 by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold. Some think this song was inspired by a PF Sloan song of the same name. Gold was working as a secretary at the time for Home Box Office and writing songs in her free time...
, Friends, Wind Beneath My Wings
Wind Beneath My Wings
"Wind Beneath My Wings" is the title of a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. They recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to musician Bob Montgomery. Montgomery then recorded his own demo version of the song, changing it from the mid-tempo version he was given to a ballad...
, Stay With Me, Do You Want To Dance? and many, many more.
This wasn't a full tour for Bette, but only a one-stop concert at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
which was meant to be filmed and aired on television. HBO
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
released this as a TV special and it aired on January 18, 1997. They re-aired it again a few weeks later on February 2, 1997.
Bette's daughter Sophie von Haselberg appears for a short time during the song Ukelele Lady. She is sitting with the rest of the cast and musicians on stage playing a ukulele and singing the words.
Musicians
- Bobby LyleBobby LyleBobby Lyle is a jazz, soul jazz, and smooth jazz pianist. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee but grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota in a home near the corner of Park Avenue and 32nd Street. His father, reportedly, was a sports writer for the Star Tribune newspaper.He had his first gig at 16 and...
– Piano and Keyboards - Buzz FeitenBuzz FeitenHoward "Buzz" Feiten is a North American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and session musician.He is best known as a lead and rhythm electric guitarist, and for having patented a unique, scientifically designed tuning system which re-configures its stringboard / neck for more accurate tonality...
– Guitar - Danny Jacob – Guitar
- Reggie Hamilton – Bass
- Larry Cohn – Keyboards
- Rayford Griffin – Drums
- Lenny Castro – Percussion
- Lynn MabryLynn MabryLynn Mabry is an American vocalist. She got her start in Sly and the Family Stone, along with Dawn Silva. In 1977 she joined P-Funk . The following year Mabry and Silva became the original Brides Of Funkenstein, releasing their first album Funk Or Walk. Lynn became pregnant and left the band in 1979...
– Vocals - Carol Hatchett – Vocals
- Melanie Taylor – Vocals
- Rhae Ann Theriault – Vocals
- Marc ShaimanMarc ShaimanMarc Shaiman is an American composer, lyricist, arranger, and performer for films, television, and theatre. He is perhaps best known for writing the music and co-writing the lyrics for the Broadway musical version of the cult John Waters film Hairspray, for which Shaiman won Tony and Grammy...
– Additional Music
Crew
- Marty CallnerMarty CallnerMarty Callner is a director. His primary work is with music videos. Marty has directed work from such popular artists as Cher, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith and has work recorded back as far as 1977 and as recent as 2009. He has been nominated for 7 Emmys, 3 DGAs, and 1 CableACE Award...
– Director/Producer - Madalyn Minch – Writer
- Bruce VilanchBruce VilanchBruce Vilanch is an American comedy writer, songwriter and actor. He is a six-time Emmy Award-winner Vilanch is best known to the public for his four-year stint on Hollywood Squares, as a celebrity participant; in the entertainment industry he is best known as head writer for the show...
– Writer - Lon Weyland – Writer
- Bonnie Bruckheimer – Executive Producer
- Toni BasilToni BasilAntonia Christina Basilotta , better known by her stage name Toni Basil, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, filmmaker, film director, choreographer, and dancer, best known for her multi-million-selling worldwide #1 hit "Mickey" from 1982.-Early life:Basil was born Antonia Christina...
– Choreographer - Troy Okoniewski – Editor
- Jeff U'ren – Editor
- Robert De Mora – Production Design/Costume Design
Set list
The set list is according to the DVD chapter stops (28 in total). The soundtrack to this concert film has a different tracklisting and is much shorter in length.- Viva Las VegasViva Las Vegas (song)"Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and recorded by Elvis Presley for his Viva Las Vegas film vehicle of that year...
- Opening Fanfare
- Friends
- I Look Good
- Miss Otis RegretsMiss Otis Regrets"Miss Otis Regrets" is a song by Cole Porter from 1934. It was first performed on stage by Douglas Byng in Hi Diddle Diddle, which opened October 3, 1934 at the Savoy Theatre, London...
- Las Vegas
- Spring Can Really Hang You Up the MostSpring Can Really Hang You Up the Most"Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" is a popular song with lyrics by Fran Landesman, set to music by Tommy Wolf.-Notable recordings:*June Christy - The Song Is June! *Chris Connor - Double Exposure with Maynard Ferguson...
- Bed of Roses
- The First Wives ClubThe First Wives ClubThe First Wives Club is a 1996 comedy film, based on the best-selling 1992 novel of the same name by Olivia Goldsmith. Narrated by Diane Keaton, it stars Keaton, Goldie Hawn, and Bette Midler as three divorced women who seek revenge on their husbands who left them for younger women...
- You Don't Own Me
- The 70's
- The RoseThe Rose (song)"The Rose" is a pop song written by Amanda McBroom and made famous by Bette Midler, who performed it in the 1979 movie, The Rose. Since then it has been covered by a variety of artists.-Bette Midler version:...
- Burlesque - Pretty Legs (& Great Big Knockers)
- Burlesque - Rose's Turn
- Las Vegas Interlude
- Drinkin' Again/MacArthur ParkMacArthur Park (song)"MacArthur Park" is a song by Jimmy Webb, originally composed as part of an intended cantata. The song was initially rejected by The Association. Richard Harris was the first to record it, in 1968; the song was subsequently covered by numerous artists. Among the best-known covers are Donna Summer's...
/Infomercial/Call MeCall Me (Blondie song)"Call Me" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie. Released in 1980, "Call Me" topped the singles charts in both the US and the UK .... - Boogie Woogie Bugle BoyBoogie Woogie Bugle Boy"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" was a major hit for The Andrews Sisters and an iconic World War II tune. This song can be considered an early jump blues recording...
- Bigotry/Bridge Over Troubled WaterBridge over Troubled Water (song)"Bridge Over Troubled Water" is the title song of Simon & Garfunkel's album of the same name. The single was released on January 26, 1970, though it also appears on the live album Live 1969, released in 2008. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970, and stayed at...
s/In The NavyIn the Navy"In the Navy" is a song recorded by American disco group Village People released in 1979. It was the last top 10 hit for the group in the United States.-Background and writing:...
/The Greatest Love of All - New York, New YorkTheme from New York, New York"Theme from New York, New York" is the theme song from the Martin Scorsese film New York, New York , composed by John Kander, with lyrics by Fred Ebb. It was written for and performed in the film by Liza Minnelli...
- Ukelele Lady
- From a DistanceFrom a Distance"From a Distance" is a song written in 1985 by American singer-songwriter Julie Gold. Some think this song was inspired by a PF Sloan song of the same name. Gold was working as a secretary at the time for Home Box Office and writing songs in her free time...
- Do You Wanna Dance?
- To Comfort You
- Stay With Me
- Wind Beneath My WingsWind Beneath My Wings"Wind Beneath My Wings" is the title of a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley. They recorded a demo of the song, which they gave to musician Bob Montgomery. Montgomery then recorded his own demo version of the song, changing it from the mid-tempo version he was given to a ballad...
- Cast Introductions
- The Glory of Love
- Closing Credits
Technical Aspects
The concert was filmed in full frameFull frame
In cinematography, full frame refers to the use of the full film gate at maximum width and height for 35 mm film cameras. It is sometimes also referred to as silent aperture, full gate, or a number of other similar word combinations. It is the original gate size pioneered by William Dickson and...
(1.33:1) and the sound was recorded in Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital is the name for audio compression technologies developed by Dolby Laboratories. It was originally called Dolby Stereo Digital until 1994. Except for Dolby TrueHD, the audio compression is lossy. The first use of Dolby Digital was to provide digital sound in cinemas from 35mm film prints...
. On the DVD of this concert film, there is English subtitles, an animated menu screen with scene selections, but there are no bonus materials on the disc.
The concert runs for 123 minutes (2 hours and 3 minutes) in total - including credits.
The DVD was not rated with an MPAA rating, but some releases are rated with an "M" for mature audiences (undoubtedly due to strong language and sexual innuendos).
To date, the special has not been officially released to home video in the US. A PAL VHS was issued in Europe, followed by a region 2 DVD. Most recently, a PAL DVD for regions 2-6 was included in a 2009 UK reissue of The Best Bette
Jackpot: The Best Bette
Jackpot! The Best Bette is a compilation album of recordings by American singer Bette Midler released on September 23, 2008...
.