Today In History: Divine Madness Premiered To Acclaim




Divine Madness is a concert film featuring the uber-talented Bette Midler, which premiered on September 17, 1980. Directed by Michael Ritchie, this film captures Midler’s vibrant live performances alongside her backup singers, the Harlettes, during a series of concerts held in Pasadena, California.

Here are some key details about the film:

Genre: Musical/Comedy
Runtime: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Style: The film showcases Midler’s trademark energy and flamboyant style, presenting her at her “trashiest, flashiest, heavenly best.”
Content: It features a mix of live performances, comedic sketches, and behind-the-scenes footage, highlighting her dynamic stage presence and unique personality.
Cultural Impact: Considered one of the first great concert films of the 1980s, it reflects the vibrant music scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was so good that Bette Midler was even nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

Divine Madness is celebrated not only for its entertainment value but also for its role in solidifying Bette Midler’s status as a major star in the entertainment industry. The film remains a beloved piece of her legacy, showcasing her talent and charisma.

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4 thoughts on “Today In History: Divine Madness Premiered To Acclaim

  1. hey there!!! have you changed something here?

    The resolution looks much better and there are some new visual elements that look gooood!

    XOXO

    P.S: I love you…AND, what about your phone? You just GOTTTA help me… I need to find a Winnie costume for Halloween cause I want to be fabulous for the Halloween party at the Multicultural Bilingual school I’m working for. Apparently it is a big thing there LOL

    1. My phone should be fixed this week. If not, then I’ll have to buy a new one. I haven’t changed anything. There was a new update to WordPress sp maybe it was a bug they fixed.

  2. Wait…I was wrong (gramatically speaking).

    Bette is our Founder Mama ….hahah

    Just delete the other one pleeeeaseeee LOL

  3. DIVINE MADNESS is such a childhood memory for me. I had to wait years to see it and I spent those years dreaming of what it would be like. I’ve shared the long story before of trying desperately to find a way to see this mysterious movie that as a 2nd Grader all I knew was the amazing soundtrack album which I got for Christmas. The film never came to a theater in my little Kansas town…I had just been blown away by “THE ROSE” that previous summer but had no idea about this under publicized (at the time) 2nd Bette Midler movie except the new record that filled the local department store soundtrack album bins! I’ve shared the whole long saga before of finally seeing it when I was in the 6th Grade when my father bought my family a VCR and one video rental store in town actually had it in their catalogue of rentals!

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