By June L.
Apr 23, 2008, 13:33 GMT
There is something so special about the old musicals. These are the films one can watch multiple times, enjoying the colorful costumes, high energy production numbers, and the ballads that have woven their way into our dreams as the songs of love.
The Classic Musicals from The Dream Factory, Volume 3 is a dream set for collectors and those who want to enjoy the old favorites anytime.
Where to begin, this set has such bounties of riches it is difficult to find a starting point. The films and their specials are as follows:
“Hit the Deck” with Jane Powell, Tony Martin, Debbie Reynolds, Walter Pidgeon, Vic Damone, Gene Raymond, Ann Miller and Russ Tamblyn. This is the story of sailors and girls, who meet and fall in love during shore leave. Hit parade tunes by Vincent Youman set the stage for the action.
Special features include a soundtrack remastered in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and 5.0. Pete Smith Specialty Comedy Short The Fall Guy, a classic cartoon, and theatrical trailer. There are also a couple of audio only bonuses for song sequences and Outtake Song.
“Deep In My Heart” Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse, Jane Powell, Jose Ferrer in the story of Broadway piano man Sigmund Romberg. A special moment is the dance number with Gene Kelly and his brother Fred.
Special features include, the remastered soundtrack, an Oscar nominated musical short The Strauss Fantasy, a classic cartoon, outtake songs and an audio bonus song and the theatrical trailer.
“Kismet” with Howard Keel, Ann Blyth, Dolores Gray and Vic Damone. The music of Alexander Borodin was magically worked by Robert Wright and George Forrest into the enchanting Stranger in Paradise, as well as other songs that help tell the glorious story of the beggar poet and his daughter who are caught up in the world of Princes and curses in an exotic Arabian Nights setting.
Special features include the remastered soundtrack, an Oscar nominated short The Battle of Gettysburg, a classic cartoon, excerpts from The MGM Parade TV Series, outtake songs and theatrical trailers of both the 1944 and 1955 productions of Kismet.
“Nancy Goes to Rio” with Jane Powell, Ann Sothern, Barry Sullivan, Louis Calhern, Carmen Miranda and Scotty Becket. Mother and daughter actresses find that they are up for the same role in Rio. With many mixups and hilarious moments, all is arranged to everyone’s satisfaction. Musical numbers with Carmen Miranda are a treat.
Special features include Oscar nominated Pete Smith specialty Comedy short, a classic cartoon and the theatrical trailer.
“Two Weeks With Love” with Jane Powell, Ricardo Montalban, Louis Calhern and Ann Harding and a very young Debbie Reynolds. The Catskills of the early 1900’s is the setting for the story of young love in Busby Berkeley musical staging.
Special features include Robert Osborne hosts TCM’s Reel Memories/ Private Screeings with Jane Powell, vintage short and classic cartoon, and theatrical trailer.
“Broadway Melody of 1936” and “Broadway Melody of 1938” with Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell, and Robert Taylor among others. We have the tap dancing of Eleanor Powell, 15 year old Judy Garland singing Dear Mr. Gable, Buddy and Vilma Ebsen dancing and Jack Benny acting.
Special features include Sunkist stars at Palm Springs, classic cartoons, Oscar winning short That Mothers Might Live and audio bonuses.
“Born to Dance” with Eleanor Powell, James Stewart, and Virginia Bruce. Cole Porter’s tunes and Eleanor Powell’s incredible tap dancing come together in this story of an understudy who gets her big chance.
Special features include a vintage short Hollywood: The Second Step, an oscar nominated cartoon and audio bonuses of Easy to Love and Hollywood Hotel radio program.
“Lady Be Good” with Eleanor Powell, Ann Sothern, and Robert Young. Eleanor plays matchmaker for Ann Sothern and Robert Young as two young and struggling songwriters.
Special features include Vintage FitzPatrick travel Talks on Florida, cartoon and outtake songs.
Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 3 is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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