Original Cast Album: “Company” — Criterion Collection DVD

Original Cast Album: “Company” from The Criterion Collection is D. A. Pennebaker’s documentary about the 1970 recording session for Stephen Sondheim’s musical. This one-disc NTSC DVD is a fit for viewers interested in Broadway, Sondheim, and the process of making a cast album, with commentaries and other special features listed.

At a glance

Documents the recording of the original cast album for Company after the musical’s 1970 premiere.
Follows Stephen Sondheim, director Harold Prince, the cast, and the orchestra during a demanding studio session.
Special features listed include a restored 4K digital transfer and commentaries with Sondheim and with Pennebaker, Elaine Stritch, and Harold Prince.
The description also lists a conversation with Sondheim, Jonathan Tunick, and Frank Rich, plus audio excerpts.

Price

$14.98Save 50%

Reference price: ~~$29.95~~

Price checked: Nov 12, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Offers a behind-the-scenes view of a Broadway cast-album recording session rather than only a performance recording.
Commentaries and additional conversations give theater and Sondheim fans extra context beyond the main documentary.
The title is presented on a single NTSC DVD, with a listed runtime of 53 minutes.

Technical specifications

17 specifications

Disc and presentation
Format	DVD, NTSC
Language	English
Number of discs	1
Run time	53 minutes
Rating	NR (Not Rated)
Release date	August 17, 2021

Credits and genre
Director	Pennebaker, D. A.
Actors	McKechnie, Donna, Sondheim, Stephen, Stritch, Elaine
Contributors	McKechnie, Donna, Pennebaker, D. A., Sondheim, Stephen, Stritch, Elaine
Genre	Musicals & Performing Arts/Musicals/General, Special Interests
Studio	The Criterion Collection

Special edition features
Restored transfer	New, restored 4K digital transfer, supervised by Chris Hegedus and Nate Pennebaker
Audio commentary	New audio commentary with composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim
Audio commentary	Audio commentary featuring D. A. Pennebaker, Elaine Stritch, and Harold Prince
Conversation	New conversation among Sondheim, orchestrator Jonathan Tunick, and critic Frank Rich
Audio excerpts	Never-before-heard audio excerpts

Dimensions and installation
Dimensions listed	7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches; 2.72 ounces

What to know before buying

Listing details to confirm

The listing describes a restored 4K digital transfer, but this edition is identified as DVD, NTSC. The 4K wording refers to the stated transfer and does not change the listed disc format. The description also mentions additional features, including a Jonathan Tunick interview, audio interviews, a Documentary Now! episode and reunion, English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, and an essay, while the shorter special-features list omits them. Confirm the selected edition’s included extras if any of those matter to you.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Broadway and Stephen Sondheim fans interested in the making of the original Company cast album.
Viewers who enjoy documentary footage of performers and musicians working through a studio recording session.
Collectors looking for a Criterion Collection DVD with listed commentaries and supplementary material.

Less suited to

Anyone specifically seeking a Blu-ray edition or an audio-only cast album.
Viewers expecting a full-length stage performance, rather than a documentary about recording the album.

Original Cast Album: “Company” — Criterion Collection DVD · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.7 / 5 · 343 ratings

5 stars84%84%
4 stars7%7%
3 stars6%6%
2 stars2%2%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes the documentary as enjoyable and particularly appealing to Broadway and Sondheim fans. It also praises the video presentation and its glimpse into how cast albums are recorded, while the predominantly five-star rating distribution is positive but does not establish why every customer rated it as they did. For buyers seeking performance footage or only the songs, the documentary format and 53-minute runtime are important distinctions.

Positive themes

Customer feedback highlights enjoyment and appeal to Broadway and Sondheim fans.
Some feedback praises the video quality and the documentary’s view of cast-album recording.
The aggregate rating distribution is predominantly five-star.

Frequently asked questions

What is Original Cast Album: “Company” about?

It documents the 1970 studio session to record the original cast album for Stephen Sondheim’s Company, with D. A. Pennebaker filming the cast, composer, director, and orchestra.

Is this a recording of the full musical?

The supplied description presents it as a documentary about recording the cast album, not as a full stage-performance recording.

What special features are listed?

The listing includes a restored 4K digital transfer, two audio commentaries, a conversation among Sondheim, Jonathan Tunick, and Frank Rich, and audio excerpts. A longer description names further extras, so check the selected edition if a particular feature is important.

What disc format is listed?

The product details identify the edition as DVD, NTSC, with one disc and a 53-minute runtime.