Victor Victoria (1995)

Set in 1930s Paris, a penniless English soprano (Julie Andrews) is taken under the wing of a gay nightclub performer (Tony Roberts). He comes up with the idea to have her masquerade as a male female impersonator. The idea works and she becomes the toast of Paris but problems arise when she finds herself attracted to a visiting American gangster (Michael Nouri) from Chicago. Based on the 1982 film of the same name (itself based on the 1933 German film VIKTOR UND VIKTORIA) and directed by Blake Edwards, Matthew Diamond and Goro Kobayashi. With the exception of Shady Dame From Seville, all the film's songs were retained and eight new songs added. Henry Mancini passed away the year before it opened on Broadway so Frank Wildhorn finished the score. It's easier to adapt a stage play to film but when a film (which is a visual medium) is adapted for the stage, it loses much of its fluidity. Most of the new songs aren't much but there are three musical moments not from the film that shine: a tango between Andrews and Rachel York as Nouri's moll, a duet between Nouri and Andrews called Almost A Love Song and a new song for Andrews, Living In The Shadows. While a faithful adaptation of the film (perhaps too faithful), it's lacks the film's elegance and charm. The choreography is by Rob Marshall who would later turn film director (CHICAGO, INTO THE WOODS). With Gregory Jbara as Nouri's bodyguard (who steals the show) and Richard B. Shull.