Evita Les Miserables Gypsy

Synopsis

Box set containing three popular musicals. In 'Evita' (1996), Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's stage musical is brought to the big screen with Madonna starring as Eva Peron. The film opens with the news of Eva's death in 1952, and her life story is told in flashback and song, narrated by Ché (Antonio Banderas). Born into poverty, Eva travelled to Buenos Aires with tango singer Augustin Magaldi (Jimmy Nail) at the age of 15, and became in turn a model and actress. She then became involved with politician Juan Peron (Jonathan Pryce), campaigning for his release when he was imprisoned by the authorities. Freed by the people, Peron then became president of Argentina, with Eva as his first lady. In 'Les Miserables' (1998), in nineteenth century France, convict Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson) is paroled after nineteen years' hard labour in prison. He assumes a new identity, becoming a prosperous factory owner, but he is pursued by Javert (Geoffrey Rush), formerly a guard at Valjean's prison, who is obsessed with exposing him. Valjean meanwhile attempts to reunite Fantine (Uma Thurman), a former factory employee who is now dying, and her daughter, Cosette. When Javert tricks him into revealing his true identity, Valjean is forced to flee with Cosette to Paris. Here he becomes embroiled in the revolution, and the vengeful Javert is still hot on his trail. In 'Gypsy' (1993), Bette Midler is the ultimate stage mother, dragging her kids around from theatre to theatre in search of star billing. When the stripper at one venue fails to turn up, one of Mama Rose's daughters, Louise (Cynthia Gibb), is asked to perform. Thus begins the career of the Queen of Striptease, Gypsy Rose Lee.