‘You Had to Be There’ Director Nick Davis on Getting Martin Short in His ‘Godspell’ Documentary
Nick Davis uses Martin Short’s cast-party tapes to trace how the 1972 production launched six major comedy and acting careers.
- Actor Martin Short provided rare audio recordings of cast parties, sparking director Nick Davis' documentary You Had to Be There, which opened in select theaters Friday.
- The 1972 Toronto engagement paired Short with future comedic legends including Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber, and Andrea Martin. Davis initially questioned how such scathing comedians emerged from a "goofy, sappy, hippy dippy musical about Jesus."
- Cast members became each other's family, with Short and Levy remaining best friends throughout their careers. "It's one of those groups of people that is just really, really tight," Davis said.
- The documentary features raw, intimate audio from cast parties that captures genuine camaraderie. Davis said the film "reminds him of a home movie," as actors speak openly about their personal lives.
- The full title—"You Had To Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution"—reflects the production's massive cultural impact. Davis called working on the film "one of the great gifts" of his life.
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23 Articles
The Canadian "Godspell" Production Stocked With Future Comedy Legends
Martin Short (lightning vest), Victor Garber (striped pants), Eugene Levy (mustache), and Gilda Radner (orange tights) in a 1972 Canadian production of Godspell, the subject of a new documentary. A new documentary revisits the fabled 1972 Toronto Godspell production that launched the careers of Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, and Victor Garber By John Brodie Long before he was Johnny Rose on Schitt’s Creek, Eugene Levy wanted desperatel…
Deltaplex News
‘You Had to Be There’ director Nick Davis on getting Martin Short in his ‘Godspell’ documentary
When Nick Davis arrived for his first meeting with Martin Short, he had no idea if the actor would be down to star in a documentary about the 1972 Canadian production of the musical Godspell. The production was Short's first real professional acting gig. It [...]
‘You Had to Be There’ director Nick Davis on getting Martin Short in his ‘Godspell’ documentary - Regional Media News
When Nick Davis arrived for his first meeting with Martin Short, he had no idea if the actor would be down to star in a documentary about the 1972 Canadian production of the musical Godspell. The production was Short's first real professional acting gig. It paired him with future comedic legends such as Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Jayne Eastwood and Victor Garber. Davis didn't know if Short would be up for a project ce…
MyCentralOregon.com
'You Had to Be There' director Nick Davis on getting Martin Short in his 'Godspell' documentary
Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner, Victor Garber and the rest of the cast of the 1972 Canadian production of the musical ‘Godspell’ appear in this still from the documentary ‘You Had to Be There.’ (Greenwich Entertainment)
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