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Mack the Knife (Musical Hell Review #102)
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00:00.2
00:07.1
00:07.1
This episode is brought to you by Black Butler: Parody of the Phantomhives, a Black Butler abridged series/parody.
00:07.2
00:14.2
00:14.2
And by Midnight Musicals. Welcome to the podcast
musical undergound, coming in early 2021. Thank you.
musical undergound, coming in early 2021. Thank you.
00:39.3
00:46.5
00:46.5
The Golan-Globus catalog covers a wide variety of genres,
but low budget tends to sum them up very nicely.
but low budget tends to sum them up very nicely.
01:49.7
01:55.0
01:55.0
The works of Brecht are often defined by their
political commentary or the criticism of the bourgeoisie.
political commentary or the criticism of the bourgeoisie.
02:02.0
02:07.4
02:07.4
and utilizing transgressive theater tropes like
breaking the fourth wall or minimalist aesthetics.
breaking the fourth wall or minimalist aesthetics.
04:49.2
04:56.2
04:56.2
Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin both went hard on this song in their own ways and transformed it into a jazz standard.
04:56.2
05:04.6
05:04.6
This movie never takes it farther than a vague mass of Victorian destitutes doing a little step-step-step-touch, and it falls flat.
05:04.7
05:13.7
05:13.7
URCHINS: [singing] Just a jackknife / Has Macheath, dear /
And he keeps it / Out of sight.
And he keeps it / Out of sight.
05:16.5
05:22.2
05:22.2
who takes a break from his usual murder-ballad-inspiring
activities to elope with young Polly Peachum.
activities to elope with young Polly Peachum.
05:26.0
05:31.9
05:31.9
and her father, who runs London's beggars' guild
and comes down hard on any unlicensed panhandlers.
and comes down hard on any unlicensed panhandlers.
05:31.9
05:37.4
05:37.4
MR. PEACHUM: You don't actually preach this blithering
nonsense in public, do you? It's unprofessional.
nonsense in public, do you? It's unprofessional.
05:49.9
05:56.4
05:56.4
as he's not keen on Polly marrying in general and especially
not keen on her marrying Macheath specifically,
not keen on her marrying Macheath specifically,
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06:10.2
06:10.2
MR. PEACHUM: He is a murderer, a thief. One of
the most notorious crooks in all of London.
the most notorious crooks in all of London.
06:16.6
06:22.4
06:22.4
DIVA: Elsewhere, Polly has changed into her
wedding gown, or possibly the wedding cake.
wedding gown, or possibly the wedding cake.
06:25.4
06:30.7
06:30.7
She's a bit disappointed to realize a stable has been chosen
as the venue for the ceremony and reception.
as the venue for the ceremony and reception.
06:30.8
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06:36.9
But a few stolen goods and enough candelabra to decorate
Liberace's house make the place suitably romantic.
Liberace's house make the place suitably romantic.
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06:48.6
06:48.6
A royal red carpet shall be unrolled beneath you and
the palatial furnishings will be here any minute.
the palatial furnishings will be here any minute.
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07:13.0
07:13.0
Mack is very firmly in anti-hero territory and Juliá never lets you forget this is an immoral cold-blooded killer you're looking at.
07:13.0
07:18.2
07:18.2
It probably worked a lot better on stage than in this movie,
but I can see what he's going for.
but I can see what he's going for.
07:18.2
07:23.9
07:23.9
A drunk priest is brought in to officiate.
Roger Daltrey is brought in to break the fourth wall.
Roger Daltrey is brought in to break the fourth wall.
07:33.3
07:40.0
07:40.0
Tiger and Mack served together in India, so the former
has long been in the habit of winking at the latter’s criminal doings.
has long been in the habit of winking at the latter’s criminal doings.
07:40.0
07:45.9
07:45.9
And the two of them have a duet celebrating the
questionable glories of military service.
questionable glories of military service.
08:04.8
08:10.5
08:10.5
The premise of The Threepenny Opera is that it is a
work by, about, and for the lower classes,
work by, about, and for the lower classes,
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08:21.0
08:21.0
A certain amount of grittiness is expected. Presenting this material in the manner of, say, “Moulin Rouge,” would defeat the purpose.
08:25.3
08:32.2
08:32.2
“Cabaret,” for example, is a very well-choreographed movie
that has all the grimy used aesthetic of a dive club
that has all the grimy used aesthetic of a dive club
08:35.1
08:42.5
08:42.5
This movie features badly framed shots of clumsy dancing
performed on a handful of drab, poorly lit sets.
performed on a handful of drab, poorly lit sets.
08:42.6
08:49.3
08:49.3
The B-movie aesthetic can be fun, cheesy, and
even inventive. But it’s definitely not here.
even inventive. But it’s definitely not here.
08:49.3
08:57.0
08:57.0
But more frustrating than the shabby visuals is the way the
film glosses over the themes and subtext in the material.
film glosses over the themes and subtext in the material.
09:32.2
09:37.9
09:37.9
DIVA: Likewise, later on, we have an extended group
number that’s mainly about the futility of existence
number that’s mainly about the futility of existence
09:49.7
09:54.5
09:54.5
DIVA: Tiger Brown can’t stay long, but he
assures Macheath that any attempts by Peachum
assures Macheath that any attempts by Peachum
10:00.9
10:07.2
10:07.2
Meanwhile, Polly goes back home to reckon with her parents and
sing about the reasoning behind her choice in husband,
sing about the reasoning behind her choice in husband,
10:10.1
10:16.4
10:16.4
ROGER DALTREY: Oh, the way the moon kept shining on
/ The night was nice for rowing and this girl was gone.
/ The night was nice for rowing and this girl was gone.
10:20.6
10:27.7
10:27.7
His side commentary doesn’t add anything and he’s always popping up in scenes where he’s definitely not wanted or needed.
10:32.9
10:38.2
10:38.2
it’s no wonder that Polly is eager to quit her parents’ house.
In her absence, Mrs. Peachum,
In her absence, Mrs. Peachum,
11:04.5
11:08.1
11:08.1
ALL: [singing] The world is bad / The men are
glad / That there is nothing / More to add
glad / That there is nothing / More to add
11:19.1
11:23.9
11:23.9
to discover her leader of the criminal underworld
husband has done criminal activities.
husband has done criminal activities.
11:24.0
11:29.6
11:29.6
But she decides to stand by her man, and Macheath
decides it wouldn’t hurt to lay low for a bit.
decides it wouldn’t hurt to lay low for a bit.
11:29.6
11:34.7
11:34.7
So he gives Polly a crash course in running the business
and she proves to be a quick study.
and she proves to be a quick study.
11:48.1
11:53.7
11:53.7
DIVA: Elsewhere, Mrs. Peachum has found a possible mole in Mack’s regular Thursday night girl, Jenny Diver.
11:53.7
12:01.7
12:01.7
Jenny tentatively agrees to help turn her lover in but is conflicted
about it and comes into work all distressed and mascara-runny.
about it and comes into work all distressed and mascara-runny.
12:01.7
12:08.2
12:08.2
Her coworkers encourage her to spill her beans
and she obliges via sin #5 – “Pirate Jenny.”
and she obliges via sin #5 – “Pirate Jenny.”
12:08.9
12:16.8
12:16.8
JENNY: [singing] By noontime the dock is all swarmin’ with men, / Comin’ off of that ghostly freighter.
12:17.6
12:25.8
12:25.8
They're movin’ in the shadows where no one can see,
And they're chainin’ up people and bringin’ ‘em to me.
And they're chainin’ up people and bringin’ ‘em to me.
13:36.2
13:41.5
13:41.5
DIVA: Their fond reminisces are cut off by the noisy
arrival of the police to take Mack into custody,
arrival of the police to take Mack into custody,
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13:46.4
13:46.4
Their efforts to do so quickly go south as
Macheath takes the commanding officer hostage,
Macheath takes the commanding officer hostage,
13:59.0
14:04.1
14:04.1
There is so much wrong here. It looks like it was
shot by the light of a dying cell phone.
shot by the light of a dying cell phone.
14:10.3
14:13.6
14:13.6
And I’m pretty sure they’re just running through
the same two sets over and over again.
the same two sets over and over again.
14:23.5
14:28.5
14:28.5
DIVA: So now Macheath is in jail, but the guard is
amenable to bribery, so it’s not all bad.
amenable to bribery, so it’s not all bad.
14:28.5
14:33.5
14:33.5
Also, he gets to lecture the other inmates on how
life is much easier when you have money.
life is much easier when you have money.
14:47.2
14:55.4
14:55.4
Tiger Brown shows up and he’s all tormented that his bestie is
behind bars, but Mack is not willing to listen to his apologies.
behind bars, but Mack is not willing to listen to his apologies.
15:24.2
15:30.0
15:30.0
MACHEATH: Look at me! Have you no tenderness, my dear Lucy, seeing your husband in such circumstances?
15:59.3
16:05.1
16:05.1
POLLY: Me you call a stupid cow? [singing] Look at you!
You are so pitiful, imagining you’re beautiful!
You are so pitiful, imagining you’re beautiful!
16:05.7
16:10.8
16:10.8
DIVA: Honestly, I have less of an issue with
the entire context of this particular number
the entire context of this particular number
16:24.5
16:29.7
16:29.7
DIVA: Polly storms off, and Mack sweettalks Lucy
into seducing the warden and getting his keys.
into seducing the warden and getting his keys.
16:29.7
16:36.2
16:36.2
Lucy agrees because she’s stupid in love and also because
she needs him around to prove her child’s legitimacy.
she needs him around to prove her child’s legitimacy.
16:38.2
16:42.0
16:42.0
so he does the sensible thing and goes right
back to the place he was caught last time
back to the place he was caught last time
16:44.1
16:48.9
16:48.9
and informs Jenny that he’ll be hiding out in yet
another love nest he has near the docks.
another love nest he has near the docks.
17:00.6
17:05.8
17:05.8
Having betrayed her lover into the hands of the law, Jenny
goes over to the Peachums’ place to get her ransom.
goes over to the Peachums’ place to get her ransom.
17:11.4
17:16.9
17:16.9
Another catfight seems about ready to break out before
Mr. Peachum comes in and fires a warning shot.
Mr. Peachum comes in and fires a warning shot.
17:26.9
17:32.3
17:32.3
DIVA: Before Peachum can act on this new piece
of information, the police raid him instead.
of information, the police raid him instead.
17:37.1
17:42.5
17:42.5
– but Peachum counters by threatening to unleash his
horde of beggars on tomorrow’s coronation festivities.
horde of beggars on tomorrow’s coronation festivities.
17:42.6
17:46.0
17:46.0
MR. PEACHUM: There’ll be hundreds of thousands
just like ‘em, all with a different disease.
just like ‘em, all with a different disease.
17:50.0
17:55.2
17:55.2
Oh, you’re right, you’re right. It doesn’t seem fit
the queen should be greeted by such creatures.
the queen should be greeted by such creatures.
17:55.3
18:01.2
18:01.2
DIVA: As forcing London’s citizens to confront the poverty in
their midst would be the undoing of society as we know it,
their midst would be the undoing of society as we know it,
18:06.0
18:13.3
18:13.3
The next morning, he’s slated to be hung at 7 o’clock sharp,
and the warden has set his bribery price at £1,000.
and the warden has set his bribery price at £1,000.
18:28.5
18:33.4
18:33.4
DIVA: But by the time 7 rolls around, Macheath
has transitioned into the acceptance stage
has transitioned into the acceptance stage
18:54.9
19:03.8
19:03.8
MACHEATH: [sing-shouting] The crooks, the whores,
the cathouse owners, that shoos by day and pimps by night,
and yes those dogs in uniform!
the cathouse owners, that shoos by day and pimps by night,
and yes those dogs in uniform!
19:22.3
19:30.5
19:30.5
DIVA: Now, this twist ending, in which Macheath is suddenly pardoned by the newly-crowned Queen Victoria and granted a land and title,
19:30.6
19:37.1
19:37.1
presumably so he can commit crimes against his fellow man in a socially acceptable fashion, is true to the source material.
20:11.1
20:16.0
20:16.0
Bertolt Brecht firmly believed that theater should
always hold the audience at arm’s length,
always hold the audience at arm’s length,
20:20.5
20:25.4
20:25.4
So it’s perhaps appropriate that Mack the Knife
never lets you forget what you’re watching,
never lets you forget what you’re watching,
20:37.1
20:44.4
20:44.4
So, the court of Musical Hell orders the team of Golan and
Globus to spend an eternity reading the work of Ayn Rand.
Globus to spend an eternity reading the work of Ayn Rand.