Movie addicts like me owe a debt of gratitude to Jerry Herman for giving us our anthem, “Just Go to the Movies,” a song from one of his many musical productions. And now, with the splendid documentary, Words and Music by Jerry Herman, we have the opportunity to celebrate the life of this legendary composer and lyricist while enjoying highlights from his other outstanding theatrical accomplishments. 

“Just Go to the Movies” may not be mentioned in director Amber Edwards’ entertaining film, but her documentary boasts wonderful scenes from such Broadway hits as Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. What a treat it is to see stars like Angela Lansbury, Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Mary Martin, George Hearn and Michael Feinstein belting out Herman’s endearing and infectious songs!

Among my favorites here are Angela Lansbury’s spirited rendition of  the Mame title song, George Hearn emoting as well as vocalizing “I Am What I Am” from La Cage aux Folles , Pearl Bailey putting her unique stamp on “Hello, Dolly!”, and the La Cage cast’s rousing emotional rehearsal of “The Best of Times Is Now.”  

My biggest surprise? Those enticing scenes from Mack and Mabel, a musical I wasn’t aware of before seeing this film. How I wish I’d seen it on stage!  Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters co-starred as Mack Sennett, a filmmaker called the “King of Comedy” back in the early movie years, and Mabel Normand, one of the stars he featured in his motion pictures. The numbers presented here really intrigued me. It’s hard to believe this musical flopped. Go figure.

Also fascinating to see and hear are the interviews with Lansbury, Channing, Hearn and Feinstein, who all seem to greatly admire Jerry Herman . And why not? Herman created the words and music for some of Broadway’s most popular shows -- even though he never learned to read or write music.

Personally, Jerry Herman earned a special place in my heart mainly because of two songs: “Tap Your Troubles Away” (I’ve always found tap dancing better than Zen) and, as mentioned before, “Just Go to the Movies.”  While doing shows with the Mesa College Musical Comedy Troupe, every time we sang and danced to “Just Go to the Movies” (from A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine), my spirits were lifted by Herman’s lyrics advising everyone “to let some shadows appear on the screen” whenever “your life appears a bit lean.”

I absolutely love one of the delightful DVD bonus features included with this documentary, for it shows that Jerry Herman’s immense talent emerged early-on. “Put on Your Dancing Shoes,” from his 1955 college musical, is definitely a winner! Also included as bonus items are the complete "Hello Dolly!" number performed by Carol Channing and the original cast as well as "Before the Parade Passes By" with Jerry Herman accompanying Ethel Merman on the piano.

No doubt about it, watching Words and Music by Jerry Herman offers “the best of times” for musical theater fans.   

(Scheduled for release by PBS Home Video on January 1, 2008; not rated by MPAA. To order this DVD, call 1-800-PLAY-PBS or visit shoppbs.org.)