Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Watch now on the Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com/original-cast-album-company
An excerpt from Stephen Sondheim’s commentary on D.A. Pennebaker’s ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM: “COMPANY” (1970), the holy grail for both documentary and theater aficionados that is now available to watch on our streaming service, the Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com/original-cast-album-company
In 1970, right after the triumphant premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY, the renowned composer and lyricist, his director Harold Prince, the show’s stars, and a large pit orchestra all went into a Manhattan recording studio as part of a time-honored Broadway tradition: the making of the original cast album.
What ensued was a marathon session in which, with the pressures of posterity and the coolly exacting Sondheim’s perfectionism hanging over them, all involved pushed themselves to the limit—including theater legend Elaine Stritch, who fought anxiety and exhaustion to record her iconic rendition of “The Ladies Who Lunch.” With thrilling immediacy, legendary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker offers an up-close view of the larger-than-life personalities, frayed-nerve energy, and explosive creative intensity that go into capturing the magic of live performance.
From Christopher Nolan on FOLLOWING to David Bowie on THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, unlock the behind-the-scenes secrets of your favorite movies with more commentaries on the Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com/commentaries
Enjoy the best moments from the over forty years of the Criterion commentary in this playlist, with new videos arriving weekly: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd0WKGexn9FAdCRP0pWcgC2BrYhwlYhZu
Watch now on the Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com/original-cast-album-company
An excerpt from Stephen Sondheim’s commentary on D.A. Pennebaker’s ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM: “COMPANY” (1970), the holy grail for both documentary and theater aficionados that is now available to watch on our streaming service, the Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com/original-cast-album-company
In 1970, right after the triumphant premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY, the renowned composer and lyricist, his director Harold Prince, the show’s stars, and a large pit orchestra all went into a Manhattan recording studio as part of a time-honored Broadway tradition: the making of the original cast album.
What ensued was a marathon session in which, with the pressures of posterity and the coolly exacting Sondheim’s perfectionism hanging over them, all involved pushed themselves to the limit—including theater legend Elaine Stritch, who fought anxiety and exhaustion to record her iconic rendition of “The Ladies Who Lunch.” With thrilling immediacy, legendary filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker offers an up-close view of the larger-than-life personalities, frayed-nerve energy, and explosive creative intensity that go into capturing the magic of live performance.
From Christopher Nolan on FOLLOWING to David Bowie on THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH, unlock the behind-the-scenes secrets of your favorite movies with more commentaries on the Criterion Channel: criterionchannel.com/commentaries
Enjoy the best moments from the over forty years of the Criterion commentary in this playlist, with new videos arriving weekly: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLd0WKGexn9FAdCRP0pWcgC2BrYhwlYhZu
