Liberace: Greatest Songs

Whether considered nostalgia or kitsch, this collection of nearly six hours of performances by pianist Wladziu Valentino Liberace, once the highest-paid entertainer in the world, offers a good retrospective of a unique talent. The material, compiled from an Emmy-winning syndicated TV series from the mid-1950s starring Liberace, suffers from the usual flaws of such a dated source—the black-and-white images are often muddy, while the Dolby Digital sound isn't hi-fi even by the standards of the time. But the musical selections are wide-ranging—from fairly straight renditions of classical works (like a movement from a Beethoven sonata) to adaptations of popular tunes of the day such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and “Sunny Side of the Street” (often with mini-orchestral accompaniment arranged by his violinist brother George, and sometimes given a boogie-woogie beat). Occasionally, Liberace is joined by guest singers, instrumentalists, or dancers, and at times sings or dances himself. And he loves to chat before each piece, at one point even narrating a tour of his house (complete with a brief shot of his mother in her bedroom). But mostly Liberace tickles the ivories, smiling and winking at the camera, and always closing with a bow to obviously canned applause. Although less absurdly over-the-top than in his later years (with props here limited to a tux and candelabra), Liberace's penchant for flamboyance is definitely evident. Viewers can take this as camp or a cherished memento of a bygone era in American entertainment—either way it's recommended. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)