Carol Channing: Larger Than Life

Dori Berinstein's documentary about the titular 91-years-young star serves up a wonderful tribute to a genuine theatrical original. Accompanied through much of the film by her childhood sweetheart and fourth husband Harry Kullijian (who died after filming was completed), Carol Channing makes a fast sweep of her early life, visiting her childhood home in San Francisco, noting her college education at Bennington, and recalling her rather quick ascension through New York's theater scene beginning with the 1948 revue Lend an Ear. Channing's first peak came as Lorelei in the 1949 Broadway show Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (a rare kinescope of her raucous rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend” is included), but much of the documentary is devoted to her triumphant role as matchmaker Dolly Levi in 1964's Hello, Dolly!—which she played more than 5,000 times. Berinstein emphasizes the positive (numerous collaborators and admirers praise Channing's generosity, humor, and strength) and avoids dwelling on the low points (there are few details about her bout with ovarian cancer or her “miserable” 42-year marriage to manager-publicist Charles Lowe). Channing herself carefully averts efforts to discuss the Barbra Streisand film version of Hello, Dolly!, and there is no mention of her grandly eccentric performance in the 1968 Otto Preminger–helmed LSD comedy Skidoo! But Berinstein provides wonderfully rich examples of Channing's brilliance as a singer, comedian, and raconteur (the Today clip of her reducing Gene Shalit to hysterics is infectiously hilarious). DVD extras include bonus featurettes. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)