Your Hosts and Narrators
Fred Astaire Bing Crosby Gene Kelly Peter Lawford Liza Minnelli Donald O'Connor Debbie Reynolds Mickey Rooney Frank Sinatra James Stewart Elizabeth Taylor Directed by Jack Haley Jr. Original Music by Henry Mancini
MGM once proudly claimed they had 'More
stars than there are in heaven", and this
superb musical compilation is more than a
fair attempt to prove that claim.
It kicks off with several variations of "Singing In The Rain", as performed from 1929 - 1950- After this pre-title taster, Frank Sinatra introduces "Broadway Melody"(1929) "Rosalee" (1937 - Eleanor Powell), with a claimed two thousand extras.
Before seeing E. Powell again opposite Fred Astair "Broadway Melody" (1940), we have that singing duo, Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald with "When I'm Calling You"*from "Rose Marie" (1935). Frank Sinatra appears in his first MGM role- "It Happened In Brooklyn" (1947).
The other 'hosts' in
this film are Elizabeth Taylor, James Stewart,
Mickey Rooney, Gene Kelly, Donald 0' Conner,
Fred Astaire, Lisa Minnelli, Bing Crosby, and
they introduce between them "Cynthia" (1947),
"Take Me Out To The Ball Game" (1949), "Good News" (
1947), "Two Weeks
With Love" (1950), "A Date With Judy" (1948), "Suzy"
(1936), "Putting
On The Ritz" (Clarke Gable- see photo below) from "Idiots Delight"
(1938),
"You Made Me Love You" (Judy Garland), "Broadway To
Hollywood" (1933),
"Babes In Arms" (both Mickey Rooney), "Ziegfield Follies"
(1945) with
Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, "The
Barkleys Of Broadway" ( Fred
and Ginger - 1949), "Dancing
Lady" (1933), "The Band Wagon (1953), "Royal Wedding"
(1950 - fabulous seq.),
"Bathing Beauty" (1944),
Million Dollar Mermaid"
(1950 - see top picture!)
"Three Little Words" (1950-
introduces Debbie Reynolds),
"Small Town Girl"(Ann Miller-
1952), "Make Em Laugh" from
"Singing In The Rain", "The
Pirate" (Gene Kelly-1948),
"Anchors Aweigh"(Gene with
Jerry Mouse- 1945) "Broad-
way Ballet" and "Singing In
The Rain" (Both from "Singing In The Rain" 1950), "In
The Good Old Summertime"
(1949 Judy Garland), "The Wizard Of Oz" (1939), "Meet Me In Saint Louis" (Judy Garland
-"The
Trolley Son plus "I Like You" and "The Boy Next
Door"-1944),"Going
Hollywood" ~Bing Crosby - 1933) "Well Did You Ever"
("High Society "-
1956~w, "Hit The Deck" (the Hallelujah finale-1955),"Seven
Brides For
Seven Brothers" ( the Barn dance seq.-1954) and then the climatic ballet
from "An American In Paris" (1951) which concludes the film.
Just in case this is not enough, several scenes are included of the stars during the late Twenties, and the studios famous celebration in 1949 is featured . *(The Indian Love Call).
There is far too much to review in detail from this very collectable film, there is something here for all lovers of musicals, and it works very well despite the fact that approx.20 minutes have been cut. I phoned Bob Lane (Ken Films) in New York and he told me it had been cut to keep the cost down, I don't think many collectors will miss the cut footage as there is a hell of a lot of good stuff left.
The print quality is-excellent, but as one would expect of a compilation spanning this period, is variable. The b/w sequences have a slight magenta tint, being printed on colour stock.
The sound is very good, and the film comes in a special presentation box. Well done Ken Films. Most enjoyable and very highly recommended as entertainment, what a pity these review prints are not free!!!
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Distributed by: Ken Films |
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This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002
