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Mark Bakker · Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject: MGM Musicals

It seems to be quite a while since Warners released anything of note as far as MGM musicals are concerned.

We were spoiled for a while with the SE's of 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Easter Parade', 'Band Wagon', 'Wizard of Oz' among others. It must be over a year since a musical from the MGM vaults has been released on DVD.

I'm certainly hoping that Warners will get around to producing SE's of two of my favourite MGM musicals 'Show Boat' and 'On the Town'. I have DVD versions of both of these lovely films, released a few years ago. Unfortunately the picture quality is not great and the films certainly deserve something better.

It would also be good to see some of those very colourful and fun Esther Williams films on DVD. I'm sure Esther still has loads of fans who would just love to see her in her swimsuit once again!

On a positive note i'm really looking forward to Fox's Alice Faye collection, being released in February - a few i have never seen in this collection including 'The Gang's All Here'.

Mark Bakker
Bristol
United Kingdom

JoelCairo · Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: MGM Musicals

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

I agree it's strange that Warners have not yet released any of Esther Williams' films, especially since she figured so promininetly in the populat "That's Entertainment" series which subsequently inspired several TV commercials. Another odd thing about that series is that iy never once featured the Oscar-winning song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" - from Esther's "Neptune's Daughter." Go figure !

Yes, the Donald O' Connor musicals deserve consideration too. Buy maybe this will all happen in time. Just think of how long it has taken to get all the Fred and Ginger films.

JoelCairo · Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject:

Going off on a tangent for a moment, I remember many, many years ago the National Film Theatre ran an MGM season, and showed some rare movies. One starred Gene Kelly and most certainly was not a musical! It was called The Black Hand and was visually the darkest film I have ever seen. It was so dark you could hardly see what was going on! I recognise that it is a most atypical Gene Kelly movie, but I would love to see it again and would gladly buy a DVD of it.
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Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Yes I remember this film quite well. Back in 1976 when I was working with Gene Kelly in Los Angeles, he mentioned this film as one that he enjoyed doing. It was about the early days of the Mafia and much of it was based on fact. He made it right after "On The Town," but it was not a particularly successful film and MGM wasted no time in getting him into another musical "Summer Stock" - which was Judy Garland's last film for MGM.

Curiously, Gene's biggest grossing film was not a musical. It was a
swashbuckler "The Three Musketeers" (1948) which made more money than "Singin; In The Rain" - the film with which he is most associated.

JoelCairo · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:06 pm Post subject: New MGM musicals box set

Warners in America have announced a new box set of MGM musicals including The Pirate, That's Dancing, Words and Music and two Double Feature discs: Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson in That Midnight Kiss and The Toast of New Orleans, and Fred Astaire in Royal Wedding and The Belle of New York.

Warners say that each film has been restored and remastered from original elements. Apparently there will be some outtakes as well.

High quality DVDs will make all these movies interesting to me but the prize is The Pirate which I've always felt was underrated. I read in one of the various Cole Porter biographies that Judy Garland did not like the score, but I do!
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I've met plenty of hard-boiled eggs in my life, but you, you're twenty minutes!

Rego · Joined: 27 Sep 2005 Posts: 67 Location: London

This really does look interesting Very Happy

here is a link with the details of the set

http://www.tcm.com/movienews/index/?cid=160224

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Thanks, Rego, for bringing this to our attention. This selection will fill the gaps in many collections. Personally, I can bypass the Mario Lanza pics ( although I'm sure some fans will welcome them ). I think I would have preferred such negelected films as "I Love Melvin" and "Small Town Girl."

But by and large this will be a welcome release.

JoelCairo

Ken Barnes · Host Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 548

Thanks, Joel, for bringing this to our attention. There was only one Esther Williams and I'm sure Warners will benefit greatly from this overdue box set.

JoelCairo · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:43 pm Post subject:

Warners have recently announced their latest box-set of musicals: Classic Musicals From The Dream Factory Volume 3.

This will include some much sought-after rarities including, I'm delighted to say, Deep In My Heart. There will apparently be nine movies all of which are new to DVD and which, so Warners assure us, have been restored from the original elements. The nine movies are Hit the Deck, Deep In My Heart, Kismet, Broadway Melody of 1936, Broadway Melody of 1938, Born to Dance, Lady Be Good, Nancy Goes To Rio and Two Weeks With Love.

The box-set will be on sale on April 8th, 2008.

I can hardly wait.
_________________
I've met plenty of hard-boiled eggs in my life, but you, you're twenty minutes!

JoelCairo