"A
CHORUS LINE" is THE best musical ever presented on Broadway and "EVERY
LITTLE STEP" is a documentary worthy of the show. For some reason if
you have never seen ACL on stage this will be the closet you will ever get to it and, almost as
good. As a stand alone film is certainly is one of the best shown in
theatres this year and the 'extras' on the DVD are phenomenal. They not only take you behind the scenes of producing the revival but they show a lot of where it originated.

For
those of you who don't know--where have you been?--one night in NYC a
group of dancers got together at the suggestion of Michael Bennett to
talk about their lives while he recorded them. He, also, participated.
From all these tapes a milestone in American theatre took place.

I
really don't want to give away too much about this film or the extras
because even if you have seen A Chorus Line on stage or this
documentary in a movie house you will learn a lot that you didn't know.

There is a 15 minute interview with Donna McKechnie who originated the role of Cassie. She goes into her professional and
personal relationship with Michael Bennett who conceived, directed and
choreographed A Chorus Line. She, also, talks about being told that she
will not walk again and certainly will never dance again, because of rheumatoid
arthritis, but proves her doctors wrong and continue on with her
successful career doing more shows, writing a book, making a special
DVD of her cabaret act, choreographing musicals, etc.

In another segment called "Commentary with Directors (of this documentary) Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern and composer Marvin Hamlisch" which runs for about 90 minutes. There is, also, a segment of deleted scenes featuring the original and new Cassies, Sheilas, Vals, Maggies and Pauls. There is a 2 minute theatrical trailer plus an overview by Frank Rich of when A Chorus Line first opened. There are interviews with John Breglio,
Michael Bennett's lawyer and the producer of the revival plus Bob
Avian, co-choreographer, right hand man and the yin to Michael's yang.

A
most telling part is the section on Michael Bennett and his youth, his
teenage years, some of his technique, his not allowing his having AIDS
to get out and a final shot of him getting the Tony Award for A Chorus
Line.

It is shown, using the original
tapes, how much of the book and the lyrics to the songs derived from
those tapes, in most cases word for word. The most telling is Nicholas
Dante's who is called Paul in the show. Using/showing original film of
Sammy Williams playing Paul on stage and the 'new' Paul, played by
Jason, you will hear most of the 8 minute monologue that contains one
of the most heart breaking lines ever delivered on stage, "..my father
turned to the producer and he said 'take care of my son'---that was the
first time he ever called me that"--in the theatre not only could you
hear a pin drop as Paul starts to cry but you hear the audience sobbing
along with him. Thirty years later when Jason delivers that line people
like Bob Avian, who has heard it thousands of times, once again cries,
like I do every time I have heard it on stage or every time I have
heard it on this DVD.

After
watching the 2 hours of extras I wanted more--the directors said they
had filmed over 450 hours for this documentary--I want to see the other
446 hours!!!!

Do yourself a favor and put this DVD on your holiday gift list or buy it for yourself but SEE IT!!!