Kiss Me Kate (Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances)

Starring:Brent Barrett, Rachel York, Nancy Kathryn Anderson, Michael Berresse, Nicholas Colicos, Teddy Kempner, Jack Chissick, Kaye Brown, Nolan Frederick, Colin Farrell (II), Nick Winston, Barry McNeill, Alan Vicary, Andrew Spillett, Duncan Smith, Phillip Sutton, Christopher Stewart (II), Richard Sidaway
Director: Chris Hunt
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Cole Porter, Shakespeare, and 3-D: Not the usual recipe for an MGM musical, but hey--it works. Although it runs hot and cold, this 1953 take on Porter's delightful Broadway smash lets a chewy cast gorge on some terrific songs and show-biz in-jokes. Think of the plot as His Girl Friday in greasepaint: vain star Howard Keel wants to lure ex-wife Kathryn Grayson back to the boards with a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. The movie's weakness is too much Shakespeare, not enough backstage backbiting (and why are two of the best numbers, "So in Love" and Ann Miller's zippy "Too Darn Hot," confined to a prologue?). Then there's the tendency to throw things at the camera--3-D, what hath you wrought? The candy-store color design is great fun, and Tommy Rall and future dance titan Bob Fosse are turned loose for some sensational leaps. Now that's "Wunderbar." --Robert Horton

Description

Fred and Lilly are a divorced pair of actors who are brought together by Cole Porter who has written a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. Of course, the couple seem to act a great deal like the characters they play. A fight on the opening night threatens the production, as well as two thugs who have the mistaken idea that Fred owes their boss money and insist on staying next to him all night.

Customer Reviews:

The Three Leads Are Wonderful!.......2007-04-29

I can't believe I had never seen either the stage or movie version of this famous Broadway musical until now. This 1953 movie is very enjoyable because of the excellent singing, dancing, charisma and acting of the three leads - Howard Keel, Ann Miller and Kathryn Grayson. The supporting cast is fine too with great dancing and comedy bits. The story is far from politically correct (take a look at the "spanking" DVD cover) which makes it seem more than a bit dated and of course the core of the story is taken from Shakespeare. And I am not surprised to read it was originally released as a 3D film since there are lots of time when the actors throw things rather unnecessarily to the audience. Still a must see for all musical lovers.

Oldie but Goodie.......2007-01-11

Why can't they make films like this any more? A wonderful story, a great cast and the songs are timeless. Great for a trip down memory lane!

One of MGM's Best.......2006-11-10

Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, Ann Miller, Tommy Roll, Bob Fosse, Carol Haney, Keenan Wynn, James Whitmore, and music by Cole Porter. "nuff said.
Brush up your Shakespeare!!!!

It's Too Darn Hot!.......2006-08-25

I look at this film and comment to myself, could anyone else but the legendary Cole Porter write such a masterpiece. Mr. Porter was a master with the piano and his lyrics were suave and sophisticated (very much like his personality)His lyris as some would say were ahead of his time, he would suggestively wirte where you knew what he was saying, but not to the full extent of the singer or actor actually coming out and saying it. "Kiss Me Kate" was originally a Broadway show that opened in 1949, only 3 years later did they begin shooting this motion picture that were vehicles for Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel ('Seven Brides for Seven Brothers') The film (in my viewpoint) is one of the grandest musicals of the golden age and I regret that Hollywood does nothing today that live up to these high standards which moguls like L.B. Mayer and David O. Selznick set for us. The film is a true masterpiece and I find it to be almost as good as Porter's flamboyant musical "Anything Goes". You might also want to look in to buying the soundtrack of this picutre along with the 1999 Broadway Revival Cast. Enjoy Porter at his best and you'll be "So In Love" with this picture!

Great Fun, good music, but don't buy the DVD for the extras, there aren't any.......2006-06-29

This is one of my favourite musicals (along with Seven Brides for SEven brothers). A great good natured movie which followed a hugely successful Broadway show of the same name.

Cole Porter's amusing songs set on the background of a stage musical based around Shakespeare's taming of the shrew. In the background are the ex husband and wife (Fred and Lilli - played by Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel) who are reliving their own version of Katherine and Petruchio as they figure out their own failed marriage

This is not a difficult film to watch emotionally, as you can imagine Cole Porter is not Oprah Wingrey. However it is enormoulsy good natured, I love Porter's clever lyrics and Howard Keel and Grayson are extremely good in their roles, A neat supporting cast.

There are a few stretches in some of the songs - I mean how on earth could they really imagine that 'Wunderbar' would be a great song for a shakespearian play set in Italy? Still it fits in and it is fun to watch just how they manage it - and as for teh two gangsters singing, 'Brush up your Shakespeare' rhyming Heinous with Coriolanus!

There are really no extras on this at all - if you hoped for an interview or deleted scenes then forget it, it is the movie, and a few picture scenes with a bit of information on them, nothing that you would want to buy this DVD especially for.

One of the best musicals, lots of fun and a good watch!

Kiss Me Kate (Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances)

Average customer rating:

Another Opening, another show
Flat and mostly overacted
Amazingly well done
Buy the Original Cast (1953) Instead
Misguided concept of a great musical

Kiss Me Kate (Broadway Revival - PBS Great Performances)
Starring: Brent Barrett , Rachel York , Nancy Kathryn Anderson , Michael Berresse , and Nicholas Colicos
Director: Chris Hunt
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00008NFR6
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Amazon.com

Cole Porter's masterwork Kiss Me, Kate was revived in a splashy production that played on Broadway in 1999 then in London, where this version was filmed in front of a live audience in 2002. Broadway veterans Brent Barrett and Rachel York play pompous Fred Graham and feisty Lilli Vanessi, respectively, the couple whose roles in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew mirror their offstage feud. The play-within-a-play format is reflected in a score that has both contemporary '50s songs ("Too Darn Hot") and Bard-inspired stage songs ("I've Come to Wive It Wealthily in Padua"). Other songs such as "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Why Can't You Behave?," "Always True to You (In My Fashion)," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" are among Porter's best-loved melodies and wittiest lyrics. Nancy Anderson and Michael Berresse (the lone principal still remaining from the Broadway revival cast) sing and dance up a storm as the secondary couple Lois and Bill, and Teddy Kempner and Jack Chissick steal scenes as the gangsters. Recommended for fans of musicals, though it's not the most family-friendly choice due to gender conflicts and stereotyping. --David Horiuchi

Description

The first Broadway revival in nearly 50 years of the musical comedy masterpiece by composer Cole Porter and book writers Sam and Bella Spewack not only enchanted critics and delighted audiences, but went on to triumph as one of the biggest prize winners of the 2000 season. Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare, this hilarious romp recounts the backstage and on-stage antics of two feuding romances during an out-of-town tryout for a musical adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. Sparkling with 18 classic Cole Porter songs including "Another Op'nin', Another Show," "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Always True to You in My Fashion," "Too Darn Hot," and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" this is Broadway musical comedy at its irresistible best. Directed by Michael Blakemore, this Tony winner for "Best Revival" stars Brent Barrett, Rachel York (Victor/Victoria), Nancy Anderson and Michael Berresse as the squabbling couples whose offstage disputes entangle them with a pair of song-and-dance gangsters and a pompous U.S. army general.

Customer Reviews:

Another Opening, another show.......2007-01-10

I remember seeing Alfred Drake ant Patrice Munsel in this show as a young child. I also have the Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson Movie version from 1953 and though I love that version, this one feels better to me. It is a well produced video of a live production of the latest revival of this delightful production. Brent Barrett plays Graham/Petruchio with just the right amount of acerbic wit, Rachel York is a delightful Lilli Vanessi/Kate and the chemistry betwen the two of them is fantastic. Teh rest of the cast is supurb.

Flat and mostly overacted.......2006-04-22

I had higher expectations when I purchased this DVD.
I was not disappointed technically but I was EXTREMELY disappointed with the acting as a whole and with the uneven singing of Rachel York. She couldn't seem to decide whether she wanted a pop, jazz, or traditional musical theatre sound. Her voice was all over the place. Furthermore, I found her character very annoying...she was screechy and not at all vunerable. I preferred Kathryn Grayson's performance in the movie as she managed to be vunerable, witty, and charming, as well as screechy, demanding, and somewhat tyrannical. Truly, I could barely watch this entire video and at the end I could have cared less if Fred and Lilli got together. I think that was the most powerful statement for me.
The production was acted (or directed) with a lot of mugging and so much of it was over the top. Can today's directors PLEASE leave something for the audience to think about and figure out themselves? Everything need not be a commentary!
I wish I had seen Marin Mazzie because I heard she was incredible. Rent this before buying it or better yet do what I did and buy it used. It hardly cost anything and that is what is it worth.

Amazingly well done.......2006-03-09

I first watched this performance on PBS Great Performances. It is amazing. I'm very happy to finally find a complete version of the stage show on DVD. Rachel York does a top-notch performance in the leading role. The rest of the cast is up to par. There have been other reviews that say the music is dated, or other such nonsense, but do not pay heed to them. Premiered in 1948, the musical is based on The Taming of the Shrew (Shakespeare), and the music and lyrics are done by Cole Porter. Sometimes referred to as his masterpiece (which I agree with), the production never drags or disappoints. The lyrics are extremely witty (a trademark of Porter). The music keeps you humming along for days.

Buy the Original Cast (1953) Instead.......2006-01-05

IMHO, none of the cast could hold a candle to the original with Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, etc. These shows are all about the music - if the music doesn't make it, the whole production isn't worth two cents.

Misguided concept of a great musical.......2005-03-27

My enjoyment of the PBS telecast was just fitful. The production itself
was just breathtaking - faithful to the time period, expensive, detailed and
colorful. The costumes were of a quality one rarely sees anymore -
imaginative designs, the attention to detail, and color coordination was all
beautifully done.
The two stars, Brent Barrett as Fred/Petruchio and Rachel York as
Lilli/Kate, are both movie-star handsome, exceptional in this regard, and
looked their parts to the hilt. York especially looked like a 1940s lady of
the theatre, while Barrett really does look like a matinee idol.
I was far less pleased with their performances and singing. It's not
that I don't doubt their talents; they obviously have star quality. But
whose idea was it to have Fred and Lilli behave like spoiled, bratty, whiny
children? The kind you see on TV sitcoms - immature, silly, and really,
really dumb-acting. These two were quite unsavory, ridiculous, even
unsympathetic characters. Everything was way over-the-top. Furthermore, all
of the constant mugging, overacting, eye-rolling, excessive broadness and
exaggeration of expressions wore thin after a short while. Rachel York
repeatedly screamed, shrieked, yelled, caterwauled and went beyond behaving
like a mere shrew: the show turned into The Screaming of the Shrew. This
Lilli had no sophistication, class, dignity, warmth, irony or even
wit...even her sarcasms and irascibilities were all wrong, too
teenage-princessy...she was a high-decibel harpy and little else.
Brent Barrett was a little better, but he still came across like an
excitable high school kid. Fredric Graham should be a aspiring-classical
actor type - albeit vain, hammy, insecure and prone to an inflated sense of
his own-alleged greatness; but a child he's not. Fred should reek of
Martini and Rossi-smoking-jacket-cigar savvy and larger-than-life
sophistication, yet edgy, rattled in a way only overambitious actors can be.
It's strange, seeing Barrett, this tall, athletically built,
distinguished-looking actor, made to behave like an overgrown teenager...
sort of like one of those men depicted in sitcoms...childish, foolish-acting
and an irritating air-head. Even his speaking voice (as used here), when
under pressure, cracks and acquires that puberty-falsetto (think Tom Cruise
when he yells). He's not anywhere believable as an aspiring classical
actor.
I had even more misgivings about York's and Barrett's singing. Yet I
can't blame them exactly; very few people on Broadway nowadays exhibit the
kind of fundamental classical training that was obligatory at one point. I
couldn't tell whether York knew what she was doing; her singing displayed a
combination of pop vocal crooning, along with some jazzy inflections - yet
there were hints here and there of some operatic leanings. As a result, none
of her songs coalesced properly; it seemed as if each register, wherever the
song in question took her, revealed a different kind of stylistic realm.
Barrett, again, was a little better, but he too lacks a truly fundamental
technique. The middle part of his range seems natural and easy, but the
higher he goes the tone spreads and sounds constricted all at once; you
can't take a pop voice production of tone and expect it to bloom properly.
Moreover, Barrett was often afflicted with a troubling vibrato. From what I
can hear, when he speaks properly, there is quite a beautiful, resonant
voice in there somewhere, but he's misusing it at practically every turn.
A digression: watching Howard Keel in the film version, I'm more
convinced than ever that his performance as Fred/Petruchio is THE classic
embodiment of the role in every way. Keel was among singers, an
outstanding, instinctive actor, and brought to the role the kind of
distinction it required. It did not hurt that he was tall, distinguished
and imposing (he looked great as Petruchio, so Shakespeareanly dashing).
Keel's Fred Graham was ultra-masculine, exaggeratedly vain, ambitious and
yet somehow mature and imbued with depth; Barrett didn't even begin to
convey these latter qualities. And Keel's voice - deep, vibrant, correctly
produced and gorgeous in tone quality, was one of the best of its kind for
the baritone leading-man roles to be had. His accounts of the songs are
matchless.

More troublesome though, was how York and Barrett interpreted their
songs. Even the simplest melodies were tugged, pulled, underlined and bent
out of shape, as though to make the audience understand every little
inflection, and bring across the mood with all these exaggerated
"espressivo" effects... but all these gimmicks and schticky touches ruin the
songs. "I Hate Men" was the most idiotically overacted spectacle I've ever
witnessed. "Wunderbar" is a beautiful melody whose words are parodical: yet
the tune in its beauty should be retained and preserved. York and Barrett
tried to make the song the magical moment it can be, but their voices did
not blend, and the song failed to surge as it should (as Alfred Drake and
Patricia Morison made it so). Ditto for "So in Love," (still a bit
overemotive and swoony by York) though it was mercifully spared from being
mangled in this production (Barrett came closest to producing the most
moving moment near the end in this tune). For the most part though, most
of the songs as performed here didn't work for me...Porter's music was
poorly represented (the voices didn't serve the score) and Porter's lyrics
were banged up and slammed in every which way AND loose.
One of the pleasures of the two original cast albums (the first in Mono,
the second done especially for the then-new Stereo era) was Lisa Kirk's Lois
Lane/Bianca. Kirk brought a special brand of street smart babe-sexy
sultriness to the role, helped by that deep, knowingly sensual timbre she
owned. Her renditions of Lois's songs are dynamite, are Broadway classics,
and what's more, made the role into a real character, not just the secondary
comedy lead. It made for a terrific contrast to Patricia Morison's
high-minded lady of the theatre voice and personality.
Nancy Anderson in the PBS telecast was made to embody a completely
different Lois altogether...and I hated it. Lois was here into a
nasal-voiced, dimwitted kewpie doll. She spoke and sang in a pinched,
"dum-dum girl" tone, and so the songs failed to come to life.
The rest of the cast did fine...the "Too Darn Hot" number was
wonderful, spicy, insinuating and catchy. But it serves little point in
analysing the other factors, because the main elements were too compromised
for me to enjoy the show as a whole.

Classic Musicals Collection - The Cole Porter Gift Set (High Society / Kiss Me Kate / Les Girls / Broadway Melody of 1940 / Silk Stockings)

Average customer rating:

Honest personal opinion on the Cole Porter Gift Set
two musicals missing in this box set !!!!!
At last, 5 remastered Cole Porter Musicals now on DVD!!
Why Not 'Begin the Beguine' with this GREAT Collection?
Why Not 'Begin the Beguine' with this GREAT Collection?

Classic Musicals Collection - The Cole Porter Gift Set (High Society / Kiss Me Kate / Les Girls / Broadway Melody of 1940 / Silk Stockings)
Starring: Bing Crosby , Grace Kelly , Frank Sinatra , Celeste Holm , and John Lund
Director: Charles Walters , George Sidney (II) , and George Cukor
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00008WQ9L
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Amazon.com

The Cole Porter Collection provides an overview of the swellegant songwriter's witty lyrics and well-known melodies through five MGM musicals. The black-and-white Broadway Melody of 1940 features the brilliant dancing of Fred Astaire (in his MGM debut) and Eleanor Powell (in her fourth Broadway Melody picture). By the 1950s, we recognize the splashy colors that would become MGM's distinctive style in four pictures inspired by familiar sources. Kiss Me Kate (1953) is the adaptation of the Broadway musical, starring Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson as the couple whose offstage feud mirrors their roles in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The best of the batch, High Society (1956), stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra in a musical update of The Philadelphia Story, while the 1957 films Les Girls (with Gene Kelly, Kay Kendall, Tania Elg, and Mitzi Gaynor) and Silk Stockings (with Astaire and Cyd Charisse) retell Rashomon and Ninotchka, respectively. Favorite songs in the set include "Begin the Beguine," "I Concentrate on You," "Wunderbar," "So in Love," "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," "Well, Did You Evah?", "You're Sensational," and "All of You." The films boast sharp transfers, making-of segments hosted by legends such as Cyd Charisse and Ann Miller, vintage shorts and cartoons, and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (except Broadway Melody, which is in satisfactory mono). --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Honest personal opinion on the Cole Porter Gift Set.......2006-07-16

I was very disappointed and feel that the only DVD worthwhile in this set is "High Society"--that deserves 5 stars! The other DVDs lack the quality and better-known Cole Porter song content. I would recommend buying High Society by itself, which, ironically, was my initial intention.

two musicals missing in this box set !!!!!.......2003-05-04

Great box, great musicals too, all remastered. Meanwhile, I don't understand why "Kiss Me Kate" is not letterboxed as I have a widescreen version of this movie on laserdisc. "Panama Hattie" and most of all, "The Pirate" are not included in this box set, why ?

At last, 5 remastered Cole Porter Musicals now on DVD!!.......2003-05-04

This review is mainly about the DVD presentation of these MGM musicals, "Cole Porter Collection" box set. The movies are ALL CLASSICS and worth the price of admission.

First of all I must congratulate Warner Brothers Home Video for their outstanding job in putting together this 5 DVD Cole Porter musical set!!! This 5 Musical box set have all been digitally remastered both picture & sound. The black/white picture quality is outstanding, the TECHNICOLOR pallet is eye popping/vivid, and the sound is crystal clear. There is an abundance of film related extra features included for each film too. Cole Porters music is at its best throughout this collection.

Qualifying Statement: I have a Home Theatre including; a 55" 16:9 WideScreen HDTV with a Progressive Scan DVD player/recorder and a Dolby ProLogic Surround System. My movie library consists of over 500 DVDs, mostly remastered & preserved in their original theatrical presentation release (full screen or widescreen anamorphic aspect ratio).

NOTE: FULL SCREEN - 4:3 (1:33 to 1 ratio) made for tv or films released before 1953. WIDESCREEN (movies made after 1953 to compete with television) - 4:3 LETTERBOX (horizontal top & bottom black bars on tv, add left & right vertical black bars too on 16:9 WideScreen HDTVs) adjusted for any aspect ratio 166/185/225 to 1 etc. It is still letter box.) ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN IS THE ONLY TRUE HDTV 16:9 PRESENTAION. This format automatically adjusts to the television being used. To get the High Definition picture the DVD MUST BE ANAMORPHIC & ENHANCED FOR 16:9 WIDESCREEN TELEVISIONS!!!!!!!!

Now in SUMMARY: Full Screen - "BROADWAY MELODY OF 1940" starring the best tap dancing duo of all time Fred Astaire & Eleanor Powell. This in my opinion is the best musical of this box set. The picture & sound quality is absolutely astounding. The dancing and Porters music is the best!!!! The musical film finale "Begin the Beguine" is fantastic. The extra features include; Ann Miller hosts a background documentary Cole Porter in Hollywood: Begin the Beguine (great info), Our Gang (Spanky etc)episode "The Big Premiere", Behind the Scenes Notes and trailer. This is a Black/White Full Screen film. What a musical. this film alone is worth the price of admission. "KISS ME KATE" starring Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller. This 1953 TECHNICOLOR DOLBY 5.1 musical is beautiful to watch and the stars voices are wonderful. The dancing choregraphy of genius Hermes Pan is outstanding, with young dancers,Bob Fosse, Carol Haney and Ann Miller. Extras include; Ann Miller hosts Cole Porter in Hollywood: Too Darn Hot, Music Track Only, Vintage documentary short "Mighty Manhatten, New Yorks Wonder City", Behind the scenes notes and trailer.

ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN - "HIGH SOCIETY" Cole Porters 1956 musical remake of the 1940 comedy hit, "The Philadelphia Story". This time starring Grace Kelly (her last film before marrying the Prince of Monaco), Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. This is my second favorite of this box set. The screen play, the music and the stars are perfectly cast. Note: Crosby & Kelly make the "True Love" duet and it becomes a gold record. This TECHNICOLOR widescreen remastered picture presentation is better than the original theatrical release with Dolby 5.1 sound. Porters songs are at their best. We even have Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong jiving too.
Extras include; Celeste Holm hosts Cole Poter in Hollywood; True Love, Premiere Newsreel, Audio-Only radio ads featuring Crosby, Kelly & Sinatra, Millionaire Droopy Cartoon, behind the scenes notes and trailer. Don't miss "HIGH SOCIETY" with the regal elegant beauty of Grace (actually wearing her real engagement ring - what a rock), the crooner Crosby and Old Blue Eyes Frank this is an outstanding delight to watch and listen too!!!! "SILK STOCKINGS" - Porters 1957 musical adaptation of Garbos "Ninotchka" - starring Fred Astaire & Cyd Charisse. This TECHNICOLOR WIDESCREEN DOLBY 5.1 presentation is beautiful to watch and provides us with their last MGM musical. Extras include; Cyd Charisse hosts Cole Porters in Hollywood: Satin and Silk, 2 vintage musical shorts - Paree, Paree (1934 singing Bob Hope) and The Poet and Peasant Overture (presenting the MGM orchestra), behind the scenes and trailer. "LES GIRLS" this 1957 musical starring Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall and Taina Elg. Directed by George Cukor this Widescreen Technicolor Dolby 5.1 DVD is beautiful to watch but is the least known of Porters musicals. Extras include: Taina Elg hosts Cole Porters Hollywood: Ca C'est L'amour, vintage cartoon - Flea Circus, behind the scenes notes, trailer.

If you are a Cole Porter fan or you love musicals, this DVD box set is for you. Warner Brothers has done a marvelous job preserving, restoring and digitally remastering these films. A complete delite.

I recommend at a minimum rent "BROADWAY MELODY of 1940" and "HIGH SOCIETY" these 2 musicals are a must for your DVD library. Overall I love this box set. Enjoy.

Why Not 'Begin the Beguine' with this GREAT Collection?.......2003-04-24

Cole Porter was one of the greatest composers of all time and this a wonderful salute to him. The DVDs in this collection are:

Kiss Me Kate: A wonderful story of how two ex-spouses in a musical adaption of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" act the same offstage as they do on.
Starring: Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ann Miller

The Broadway Melody of 1940: Wonderful Dance Numbers, Great Stars, Flamboyent Costumes, IT'S GREAT!
Starring: Fred Astaire, Elenore Powell, George Murphy

High Society: It's the musical remake of "The Philidelphia Story". Am ex-husband trys to re-marry his soon-to-be married e-wife, Tracy, and along come the SPY magazine reporters to dig the dirt on Tracy's new wedding.
Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra

Silk Stockings: The musical remake of "Ninotchka". A film producer uses Paris and himself to try to charm a hard-cut envoy.
Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige

Les Girls: Th story of a showman and his Les Girls as each girl tells their story.
Starring: Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall

In my opinion, I think that the not-well-known Cole Porter's "The Pirate" with Gene Kelly and Judy Garland should be in this boxset INSTEAD of "Les Girls".

Why Not 'Begin the Beguine' with this GREAT Collection?.......2003-04-24

Cole Porter was one of the greatest composers of all time and this a wonderful salute to him. The DVDs in this collection are:

The Broadway Melody of 1940: Wonderful Dance Numbers, Great Stars, Flamboyent Costumes, IT'S GREAT!
Starring: Fred Astaire, Elenore Powell, George Murphy

Silk Stockings: The musical remake of "Ninotchka". A film producer uses Paris and himself to try to charm a hard-cut envoy.
Starring: Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Janis Paige

Les Girls: The story of a showman and his Les Girls as each girl tells their story in court.
Starring: Gene Kelly, Mitzi Gaynor, Kay Kendall