An Evening with Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte (1969)
Channel: The Julie Andrews Archive
Date: 2021-06-13

An Evening with Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte


This special features Julie Andrews and Harry Belafonte blending their own unique styles in a wide variety of musical idioms. At the start of the program, the co-hosts decide on a very casual show with a minimum of scenery and props, after their original, formal set falls by the wayside. Having shed their evening attire for more comfortable clothes, Andrews and Belafonte sing "Abergavenny," and are joined by a stage full of red dogs. Next, in a tribute to current singer-songwriters, Andrews sings Joni Mitchell's "Michael from Mountains"; Belafonte sings Mitchell's "Night in the City;" and the pair perform Paul Simon's "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." In the next segment, the duo take their inspiration from a room full of instruments from around the world and perform the following: a duet of "Sakura" accompanied by Japanese koto; a duet of "Mangwene Mpulele," accompanied by African finger piano; Andrews sings "The Pipes of Pan Are Calling" with harpsichord and flute; a hillbilly duet of "Country Pie" with banjo; a duet of "Sweet Water" to sitar accompaniment; and finally, a duet of "Ring Bell." Later segments include the following: Belafonte embarrasses Julie by playing a recording of her as a twelve-year-old, singing in a London review -- and, recalling the English folk songs she would often perform in those days, Andrews sings "I Know Where I'm Going"; discussing the music of his own youth, Belafonte gives Andrews a lesson in calypso improvisation and sings "Man Smart, Woman Smarter"; Andrews presents a map of the U.S. as she perceived it as a child in England; Belafonte sings "Mister Bojangles"; Andrews performs a medley of songs with which she is associated -- "Wouldn't it Be Loverly?" "I Could Have Danced All Night," and "Chim Chim Cher-ee," and is joined by conductor Michel Legrand, who gives her a piano lesson; and, after magically reconstructing their original set, Andrews and Belafonte sing a reprise of "Abergavenny." 

Singer/dancer: Julie Andrews
Singer/dancer: Harry Belafonte
Musical director: Michel Legrand
Produced, directed, and choreographed by: Gower Champion

Aired:
NBC (USA), November 9, 1969 
BBC One London (UK), 16 November 1969

THANK YOU, @harrybelafontetvvideoarchive !!!


Source: https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=nbc&p=98&item=T80:0177


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