Billy Connolly: Live in New York (2005) (V)

Writer:

Billy Connolly (writer)

Release Date:

30 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Billy Connolly

...

Himself

Directed by
Steve Brown		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Billy Connolly		writer

Produced by
Steve Brown	....	executive producer
Tom Case	....	line producer
Arnold Engleman	....	concert producer
Arnold Engleman	....	producer
Allen Newman	....	line producer
Chris Petrelli	....	associate producer
Robin Reardon	....	concert producer
Robin Reardon	....	producer
Jeff Rowland	....	line producer
Laura Snelling	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
Rick Siegel

Film Editing by
Billy Sneddon

Sound Department
Alan Russell	....	dubbing mixer
Ken Travis	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
William Akerlund	....	camera operator (as Bill Akerlund)
Dominic Housiaux	....	concert lighting
Jay Kulick	....	camera operator
James J. Miller	....	camera operator (as James Miller)
Mark Renaudin	....	camera operator
Celeste Rufo	....	camera operator
Rick Siegel	....	lighting consultant
Tom Ucciferri	....	camera operator
Ron Washburn	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Jonathan Field	....	on-line editor
Tim O'Brien	....	colorist

Music Department
Billy Connolly	....	music arranger
John McCusker	....	music arranger

Production Companies

• Rambling Man
• Tickety-boo
• Two Hands Entertainment
• Vision Video (VVL) Ltd.
• Westbeth Entertainment

Distributors

• Rykodisc (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (UK) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Masque Sound  sound equipment
• PRG Lighting  grip and lighting equipment

Runtime:

UK:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Certification:

Ireland:15 | UK:15 | Australia:M | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Town Hall - 123 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Rambling Man

Trivia:

After three decades of touring the USA this is Billy Connolly's first concert filmed in America.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: (#4.170)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

The Cuckoo

Disappionting effort from my Favourite Comedian

No one could argue that Billy Connolly has had a good career in regards to his stand up comedy career. It's just a pity that this DVD could well be his last. Recorded in the unfamiliar setting of a New York Theatre we watch Billy Connolly engage with his New York audience. We observe 90 minutes of old and new material some of it taken from his Live 1994 DVD. To be honest the performance is half hearted and only rarely attains glimpses of a comic genius working. I don't think it's got anything to do with material being unfunny but the energy levels normally associated with a Billy Connolly Stand up gig aren't there and we get the feeling that Billy Connolly is like every other person in their 60's feeling their age.

The crowd do not help matters. They are boisterous and noisy during the performance and Connolly appears to be having a really bad night with keeping his audiences attention. It does not help that right on at the beginning when he is just settling into the performance he is interrupted by latecomers to his show. At one stage this happening would have been the start to a great night. But instead of putting them down in his traditional way Connolly reverts to a skit about the theater being built on a Native American trail and that's why people are walking all over the place. It doesn't go anywhere. At times he makes a breakthrough particularly during the last story but it is sadly a case of too little too late. He has one great story about a party his roadies had on tour but it is really filled with ideas that amount to nothing.

They say comedians lose their edge when success comes their way and that is why many of them move into film and television and some would apply this to Connolly. But to be fair Connolly has proved them wrong with many of his tours and it is just a pity that this show was recorded in the aftermath of his hasty retreat back to the states after some unsavory comments about the late Ken Bigley. Maybe his confidence has taken a severe battering on account of this. This could well explain his decision to record the concert in New York and not in his native U.K. homeland. I need not remind fans of the outrage caused by his Bigley comments. So recording in an environment that is a first and looks to be boisterous and hostile probably prevented him in presenting his best performance. Or maybe he really is feeling his age. All in all not what I expected from my favorite comedian but has a few skits to entertain but not enough to hold my attention long enough. A disappointing 3 out of 10.