DVD available at Amazon.com
The Pirate
Director:
Vincente Minnelli
Cast:
Judy Garland….Manuela
Gene Kelly…Serafin
Walter Slezak….Don Pedro Vargas
Gladys Cooper….Aunt Inez
Warner Home Video presents The Pirate. Screenplay by Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich. Running time: 102 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: June 11, 1948.
Words and Music
Director:
Norman Taurog
Cast:
Mickey Rooney….Lorenz Hart
Tom Drake….Richard Rogers
Cyd Charisse….Margo Grant
Judy Garland….Herself
Gene Kelly….Himself
Lena Horne….Herself
Warner Home Video presents Words and Music. Screenplay by Fred F. Finklehoffe. Running time: 120 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: Dec. 31, 1948.
That Midnight Kiss
Director:
Norman Taurog
Cast:
Mario Lanza….Johnny Donnetti
Kathryn Grayson….Prudence Budell
Keenan Wynn….Artie Geoffrey Glenson
Warner Home Video presents That Midnight Kiss. Screenplay by Tamara Hovey & Bruce Manning. Running time: 96 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: Jan. 23, 1950.
The Toast of New Orleans
Director:
Norman Taurog
Cast:
Mario Lanza….Pepe Abellard Duvalle
Kathryn Grayson….Suzette Micheline
David Niven….Jacques Riboudeaux
Rita Moreno….Tina
Warner Home Video presents The Toast of New Orleans. Screenplay by Sy Gomberg & George Wells. Running time: 97 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: August 24, 1950.
Royal Wedding
Director:
Stanley Donen
Cast:
Fred Astaire….Tom Bowen
Jane Powell….Ellen Bowen
Peter Lawford….Lord John Brindale
Keenan Wynn….Irving Klinger/Edgar Klinger
Warner Home Video presents Royal Wedding. Screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner. Running time: 93 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: March 23, 1951.
The Belle of New York
Director:
Charles Walters
Cast:
Fred Astaire….Charlie Hill
Vera-Ellen….Angela Bonfils
Marjorie Main….Mrs. Phineas Hill
Kenenan Wynn….Max Ferris
Warner Home Video presents Royal Wedding. Screenplay by Robert O’Brien & Irving Elinson. Running time: 82 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: Feb. 22, 1952.
That’s Dancing!
Director:
Jack Haley Jr.
Cast:
Liza Minnelli….Host
Gene Kelly….Host
Mikhail Baryshnikov….Host
Sammy Davis Jr….Host
Ray Bolger….Host
Warner Home Video presents That’s Dancing. Screenplay by Jack Haley Jr.. Running time: 93 minutes. Unrated. Theatrical release: March 23, 1951.
Warner Home Video presents Classical Musicals From the Dream Factory: Volume 2. Seven movies on 7 DVDs. DVD release: July 24, 2007.
At one time in Hollywood, a musical movie wasn’t treated as a freak of nature at the cinema. Those cinemas of the past projected as many musicals as a modern megaplex screens remakes of ’70s horror flicks. During this era when cast members could break into song and dance numbers without much prompting, MGM was the hot studio. This boxset collects another six of their gems and one retrospective documentary.
The Pirate is as dashing as its title suggests. The teaming of Judy Garland and Gene Kelly under the direction of Vincente Minnelli with the music of Cole Porter doesn’t disappoint. Manuela (Garland) is supposed to marry Don Pedro Vargas, the most powerful man on a Caribbean island. She has a crush on Macoco, a legendary pirate. She’s never met the pirate, but she swears he’s nearby. Before the wedding, Serafin (Kelly) and his traveling performers arrive. He ends up hypnotizing Garland into thinking that he’s really Macoco. This allows Judy to break free with the “Mack the Black” musical number. Kelly puts his physical dance style to use as he bounds across a pirate ship with his rhythmic crew. There’s also an amazing “Be a Clown” dance with Kelly and the Nicholas Brothers. For the finale, Kelly and Garland perform the song in duet with full grease paint. The Pirate is an underplayed musical that deserves your attention if you enjoy Singin’ In the Rain and anything featuring Judy Garland.
Words and Music puts a Hollywood spin on the troubled Lorenz Hart and his partnership with Richard Rogers. Hart (played by Mickey Rooney) comes off as a bit of a wayward genius. While Rogers dilligently comes up with the music, Hart has lyrics scattered through various magazines. We see how they came up with “Manhattan,” “The Lady is a Tramp” and “Blue Moon.” The movie is star studded with great musical moments from Mel Torme, Lena Horne and Perry Como. Gene Kelly turns Apache to deliver “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.” As it turns out, a majority of this film is a lie. Hart wasn’t close to being Rooney’s character. He was more self destructive than the Hayes Code permitted. Plus he was gay and not merely a guy who couldn’t find the right girl. But if you can chuckle at these dramatic alterations, you’ll be charmed by the performances. Judy Garland breaks out “Johnny One Note.” She and Rooney put on a show with “I Wish I Were in Love Again.” But the true scene stealer is Lena Horne’s rendition of “Lady Is a Tramp.” If you rewatch Words and Music, odds are you’ll be using chapter skip to avoid the emoting.
Fred Astaire gets a double feature treatment. Royal Wedding is perhaps his most famous non-Ginger Rogers performance. Instead of finding a new woman, Fred’s two big numbers feature a coat hanger and gravity defying hotel room. The plot revolves around Astaire and Jane Powell being a sibling dance team going to England to perform during Princess Elizabeth’s wedding. Powell has finally fallen in love and there’s fears that the act might be coming to an end. That’s enough plot for Astaire to dance around. The prime moment of the film is when he returns to his hotel room and proceeds to dance up the walls and across the ceiling. Director Stanley Donen and his crew make this look seamless. Nowadays this would be done with CGI and blue screen, but you still wouldn’t have the smooth moves sliding off Astaire’s shoes. Kenann Wynn plays twin roles on both sides of the Atlantic. The Belle of New York has Astaire playing a rich playboy in Manhattan who falls in love with a Salvation Army worker (Vera-Ellen). The big effect is Astaire dancing into the nightsky as his heart is overwhelmed by passion. The two eventually swap roles with Astaire taking a real job while Vera-Ellen lets her hair go down. The story is as light as Astaire’s twinkle toes.
Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat with painful visions of Luciano Pavarotti acting in Yes, Giorgio? You shouldn’t have those same side effects after seeing Mario Lanza, the original opera singer turned matinee idol. That Midnight Kiss and The Toast of New Orleans are his first two films. It’s easy to see why the girls in Heavenly Creatures worshipped Lanza as a saint. He was as handsome as his voice. Both movies team him up with Kathryn Grayson as that woman who elevates his talent. That Midnight Kiss was the debut of Mario Lanza playing a character close to his own background. Mario plays a singing truck driver in South Philly who conquers the Opera world. A few years later, America would crazy over a singing truck driver named Elvis who would make movies with That Midnight’s Kiss‘s director, Norman Taurog (Blue Hawaii and G.I. Blues. Toast of New Orleans also sounds like a future Elvis movie with Lanza playing a fisherman who sings his way to the top. As in the first one, his success is helped by Grayson. When the two duet, you’ll want to have the speakers at that perfect level. David Niven plays an agent who is involved with Grayson. He realizes that the duet chemistry between Lanza and Grayson might make him a solo act. This is an agent’s worst nightmare: how much of his clients’ 10 percent can mend a broken heart?
That’s Dancing guides us through the history of cinematic choreography. The producers get clips from tons of movies so you’re not bogged down in just MGM numbers. Gene Kelly acts as a host along with Liza Minnelli and Sammy Davis Jr.! This is a really good tasting plate for folks new to musicals. You’ll want to have a notepad nearby so you can write down what titles you need to order up next. You might wonder why Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” is included in the clips. The short played in an Los Angeles theater before it hit MTV. John Landis and Michael Jackson were hoping it would qualify for a Best Live Action Short Oscar. But June Foray, the voice of Rocky the Squirrel, was in charge of the short nominations and claimed the running on MTV disqualified it. But it was cinema before it became music video. While the clips are immortal, the new segments are cheesy 80s moments including Gene Kelly taking in the break dancing.
Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 2 is better than the first boxset. The Pirate is a revelation of MGM grandeur. This is a movie that doesn’t get beaten to death in cinema survey classes. It’s a film you’d see in the intermediate course. The double features of Maria Lanza and Fred Astaire are essential viewing for those who adore them. Words and Music is a classic denial biopic, but at least the music can overshadow the drama. If you crave more than one musical per Oscar season, this is a great collection to keep a tap in your toe and a tune on your tongue.
The DVD
VIDEO:
The movies are presented in 1.33:1 full frame. That’s Dancing! is 1.85:1 anamorpic. The color transfers look stunning and add spark to the performances.
AUDIO:
The soundtracks are Dolby Digital Mono. It would have been nice if they’d been remixed for our modern home audio systems. That’s Dancing! has a 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround. The levels are good enough so that you shouldn’t have to change the volume when they strike up the orchestra. The subtitles are in English and French.
EXTRAS:
The Pirate
The Pirate: A Musical Treasure Chest (18:57) explains how this movie was actually a box office dud. There’s plenty of talk about Garland’s troubles during the filmming.
You Can’t Win (7:52) is a Pete Smith Specialty featuring Dave O’Brien. He’s not able to get any rest. He’s attacked by a door to door salesmen. There’s a great scene where he creates the ultimate cigarette lighter.
Cat Fishin’ (7:42) is a Tom and Jerry cartoon. The cat and mouse take their chase routine down to the lake.
“Mack the Black” Stereo Number (3:48) gives you a chance to hear Judy doing her show stopper in right and left channels.
Audio Outtakes (17:01) has the studio recordings of “Love of My Life,” “Mack the Black” and “Voodoo.”
Roger Edens’ Guide Tracks has the demo versions of five songs from the soundtrack.
Radio Interviews (8:58) has Dick Simmons interview Gene Kelly for On the Town and Judy Garland for The Pirate. It’s wonderfully scripted so don’t expect any real insight from either performer.
Theatrical Trailer (2:22) shows how much energy was in this film.
That Midnight Kiss
Sports Oddities (8:19) is a “Pete Smith Specialty” featuring trick ice skaters, bowlers, surfers and spring board divers. Ever see a guy get a strike with a square bowling ball?
Senor Droopy (8:20) is a Tex Avery directed cartoon. Droopy takes on a nasty bull and a cheating champion matador at the Chili Bowl to win the heart of Lina Romay. They mix live action into the end.
“One Love of Mine” Outtake (2:40) is Mario and Grayson sharing a duet on the stage during a rehersal. The audio sounds like it was lifted off an acetate.
Theatrical Trailer (2:39) pushes Lanza as the singing truck driver who struck it big. The focus is on the music and Lanza’s amazing voice.
The Toast of New Orleans
Mario Lanza: Singing to the Gods (58;24) is a recent documentary about the tenor.
Modern New Orleans (7:58) Is a Traveltalk short. It’s great Technicolor footage of the Big Easy around 1940. They show off the latest buildings including the Huey Long Bridge. There’s a great night shot of Canal Street.
Old New Orleans (8:38) is a Traveltalk that focuses its exterior shots on the older landmarks of the city. There’s more French Quarter footage. A guy in a devil costume serves up the coffee.
Theatrical Trailer (3:05) reminds us how we discovered Mario Lanza. They let Lanza act and talk in the preview instead of merely bowling us over with his voice.
The Belle of New York
Musiquiz (8:58) is a Pete Smith Specialty that quizes the audience on music trivia. Can you hear the audience screaming out answers? They also break out odd instruments.
Magical Maestro (6:30) is another absurd Tex Avery cartoon. An out of work magician gets his revenge on an opera star when he uses his magic wand to conduct the orchestra.
“I Wanna Be a Dancin’ Man” Alternate Scene (4:15) gives us a second version of Astaire spreading the sand for the soft shoe action.
Theatrical Trailer (3:09) has Vera-Ellen sold as the naughty girl. They also promote Ma Kettle as being part of the cast.
Royal Wedding
Private Screenings with Stanley Donen (53:09) is a conversation between Robert Osborne and the director that aired on Turner Classic Movies. If you like the movies of Donen, this is essential viewing. Osborne knows how to bring out the best tales from Donen without rushing the director.
Royal Wedding: June, Judy and Jane (16:19) is the behind the scenes documentary. It’s explained how the film is based on an incident in Fred Astaire’s life.
Droopy’s Double Trouble (6:49) was directed by Tex Avery. This time everyone’s favorite somber dog introduces Drippy, his strong twin brother.
Car of Tomorrow (6:18) contains Tex Avery’s vision of the automotive future.
“Ev’vy Night At Seven” Outtake (3:14) is strange since it’s missing the dialogue track. But after a minute the music kicks in.
Fred Astaire and Jane Powell MGM Promotional Radio Interview for Royal Wedding (4:51) is a scripted chat about the film.
Trailer (2:42)
Words and Music
A Life in Words and Music ( 20:07) gives us a clue about the real life of Lorenzo Hart that was white washed for the film. Amazingly enough MGM didn’t want to make a movie about a gay alcoholic. Best part is when Richard Rogers’ daughter mentions Werewolf in a Girls’ Dormitory.
Going to Blazes (21:11) is a Theatre of Life short was shot with the Los Angeles Fire Department. It documents what goes on when the fire fighters receive a call. It warns the folks about smoking in bed.
The Cat That Hate People (7:00) is another Tex Avery cartoon. A cat complains about all the evil things people do to him. The cat blasts himself off to the moon to get a little peace.
Outtakes (13:26) includes a reconstructed versions of the opening “Lover” and “You’re Nearer” with Perry Como singing both songs.
Audio Outtakes (19:59) has the studio tracks for “Falling in Love with You/You Took Advantage of Me,” “I Feel at Home with You,” “Manhattan,” My Funny Valentine,” “My Heart Stood Still, ” “On Your Toes” and “Way Out West on West End Avenue”
Theatrical Trailer (3:34) is star packed.
That’s Dancing
Introduction by Gene Kelly and Jack Haley Jr. (2:51) has the two talk about what they want people to take away from their documentary. They want us to experience the joy of dancing. Gene hopes dance teachers use the film to inspire their pupils.
Invitation to Dance (5:50) is a behind the scenes of a Kim Carnes video. This is pure video cheese watching Kim flaunt it. The video is a bit fuzzy. Plus there’s more interview footage with Haley and Kelly. They also show a gathering of many folks in the film.
The Search (2:15) deals with Haley’s hunt for the right dance footage. Kelly is shown selecting clips.
The Cameras Roll (2:15) shows how they shot the new dance sequences and narrators introductions.
The Gathering (2:18) has the greatest living legends of dance meet up for a meal and group photo. Amazing to see Fred Astaire, GInger Rogers and John Travolta hanging out. Plus we hear a little more from Sammy Davis Jr.
Theaterical Trailer (1:32) has a lot of motion.
