The Best of Broadway Musicals.

• Author: Rothenberg, Robert S.

In an era of the Broadway stage dominated by English imports that depend more on spectacular scenery and special effects than song and dance, this video is an eye-opener for theatergoers who may have forgotten those glorious years when musical comedy was a distinctively American institution. Culled from film clips from "The Ed Sullivan Show" between 1955 and 1967, it presents excerpts from a dozen of Broadway's most prominent musicals, performed by the stars who made them famous (and vice versa).

Opening with Ethel Merman belting out "There's No Business Like Show Business" in her inimitable fashion, the video proceeds to John Raitt, Celeste Holm, Florence Henderson, and Barbara Cook in formal wear saluting Richard Rodgers (who is conducting the onstage orchestra) with the title song from "Oklahomal," followed by Holm re-creating her show-stopping "I Cain't Say No" from the same show. From that point, Raitt narrates the video and introduces tapes of what were live-on-stage TV performances. Even seen in black and white with sketchy (and, in the case of "West Side Story," rickety) sets, the performances are electrifying.

There is no better advice for viewers than to sit back and enjoy Carol Channing's classic "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"; Julie Andrews' plaintive "Wouldn't...