Last November, MPI Home Video celebrated the holiday season with pop, film, and television star Pat Boone and his family with the release of a double feature DVD: Pat Boone & Famlly - Christmas and Thanksgiving Specials. Now, MPI is continuing the series with the Boones' Springtime and Easter Specials.
When Pat began his series of specials for ABC-TV under the aegis of executive producer Jerry Weintraub in 1978, his daughter Debby had recently ascended to superstar status with the era-defining smash hit "You Light Up My Life." Debby was given solo spots on the variety specials, and joined in the splashy production numbers with her sisters Cherry, Lindy, and Laurie, and her parents Pat and Shirley, who sadly passed away in January.
In the tradition of the day, stars were plucked from the ABC constellation to appear with the Boones. The springtime special features appearances by Parker Stevenson (The Hardy Boys Mysteries), Dick Van Patten (Eight Is Enough), as well as The Unknown Comic (The Gong Show) and the legendary George Burns, then basking in the success of the Weintraub-produced 1977 comedy Oh, God! on the big screen. Musical highlights include Pat's tender rendition of Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher's "You and Me Against the World" as sung to his grandson, Debby and Parker's duet on Randy Newman's wry "Love Story," and a family sing-along of the classic "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher."
For their Easter special, the Boone family welcomed Ted Knight of Too Close for Comfort and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, as well as Katherine Helmond (Soap, Who's the Boss), who sadly passed away last month, and comedian John Byner. The family roller skated on location in Los Angeles while singing "Ease on Down the Road" from The Wiz, Debby was featured in the joyful solo "Thank Heaven For You" and the Boone girls performed the ebullient Sweet Charity showstopper "If My Friends Could See Me Now." They joined their parents for the emotional finale of "Let There Be Peace on Earth."
MPI's DVD, due in stores today (March 12), boasts bonus features including The Boone Girls in Performance ("Bless the Beasts and Children," "The Lord's Prayer" (1970s pop version); Pat's Irish medleys with Maureen O'Hara, Carmel Quinn, and The Kingston Trio; and Patriotic Songs from Pat Boone's Chevy Showroom! This festive DVD from Pat Boone and Family is available now at Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Link TBD!
Janet mcconnell says
I love Debby Boone an her family God bless