Red Skelton

Starring:Red Skelton
Studio: Platinum Disc
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

ESTHER WILLIAMS! Just in time for the Summer...looks like another winner from Warner!
Music, water, & comedy combine in a great film collection
Instant Entertainment...Just add water
Finally, Esther makes the dive into DVD

Esther Williams Collection, Vol. 1
Starring: Esther Williams , Lucille Ball , Red Skelton , Cyd Charisse , and Van Johnson
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 2 (The Pirate / Words and Music / That's Dancing / The Belle of New York & Royal Wedding / That Midnight Kiss & The Toast of New Orleans)
Lucille Ball Film Collection (Dance Girl Dance / The Big Street / Du Barry Was a Lady / Critic's Choice / Mame)
On the Riviera
The Doris Day Collection, Vol. 2 (Romance on the High Seas / My Dream Is Yours / On Moonlight Bay / I'll See You in My Dreams / By the Light of the Silvery Moon / Lucky Me)
Can-Can

ASIN: B000PC8AL4
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Customer Reviews:

ESTHER WILLIAMS! Just in time for the Summer...looks like another winner from Warner!.......2007-07-02

I am going to be broke this Summer, and it's going to be Warner Home Video's fault. Every week they seem to be releasing something I've been waiting for to arrive on DVD.

Esther Williams was one of the most successful screen performers for several years in the '40s and early '50s, and it's no wonder. She was gorgeous, had a wry screen personality, a nice singing voice, and..oh yeah, she swam a bit.

This collection looks outstanding, and it's nice to see that Warner has included their usual cache of vintage extras, including those neat radio promos they have been using lately.

Aside from Esther's spectacular aquatics in BATHING BEAUTY and NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER, there are many other wonderful aspects to these films. Red Skelton is hysterically funny in BB and ND, Cugat is always entertaining as well, and who can resist Tom & Jerry in DANGEROUS WHEN WET. Beautifully done. There are also some great songs here, particularly the Frank Loesser score for NEPTUNE'S, and the Arthur Schwartz/Johnny Mercer tunes in DANGEROUS WHEN WET are all terrific....and let's not forget Charlotte Greenwood's star turn in the AIN'T NATURE GRAND number. Most importantly, there's Miss Williams, who was quite a knockout in every way.

I'm particularly happy to see that the packaging says Volume One. While every film here is a winner (my personal favorites are NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER and DANGEROUS WHEN WET), I would assume Warner could give us another 2 sets of Esther's best, but for the moment I remain most grateful for this first volume. Viva Esther!

Music, water, & comedy combine in a great film collection.......2007-06-30

These films are something like underwater Busby Berkeley films, so if you like the MGM musicals of the 40's and 50's, and/or you like Busby Berkeley's work you'll likely appreciate this collection. I rate this set as five stars for those people who appreciate the light-hearted romantic comedy and music of these types of films. If you are looking for gut-wrenching drama or film noir and are not open to these kinds of films, look elsewhere. Also, if you like the comedy of Red Skelton or Lucille Ball, they both show up in some great comic performances in a couple of these films.

Bathing Beauty (1944)
Costars Red Skelton in a comedy about a songwriter who enrolls in a women's college to win back his estranged swimming-teacher wife. Highlights include music from both Harry James and his Music Makers and Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, Skelton in a pink tutu doing unforgivable things to Tchaikovsky and a spectacular, trendsetting `chlorine-and-chorine' finale.
Special Features:
Robert Osborne hosts "TCM's Private Screenings with Esther Williams"
Oscar-nominated Short "Main Street Today"
Academy Award-winning cartoon "Mouse Trouble"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Easy To Wed (1946)
This is a remake of the 1930's screwball comedy Libeled Lady, although outside of the skeleton of the plot the comparisons are few. Particularly funny is Van Johnson afloat with a baleful spaniel who knows a lot more about duck hunting than he does, and a drunken scene featuring the antics of Lucille Ball. Actually, Lucy steals the show in more than a few scenes here. When the local paper runs an untrue story claiming an heiress (Esther Williams) is a husband stealer, she prepares to sue for libel. So an employee of the newspaper (Keenan Wynn) comes up with a plan to improve the paper's chances in court: He'll arrange a sham wedding between his fiancée (Lucille Ball) and another newsroom employee (Van Johnson), send said employee to woo the heiress, and thus have a real husband-stealing story.
Special Features:
Oscar-nominated Pete Smith Specialty comedy short "Sure Cures"
Classic cartoon "The Unwelcome Guest"
Theatrical trailers of "Easy to Wed" and "Libeled Lady"
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

On an Island with You (1948)
This musical comedy feature moonlight swims, swaying palms, Technicolor sunsets and...cannibals. Esther Williams, Peter Lawford, Ricardo Montalban and Cyd Charisse get the swimming, swaying and sunsets and Jimmy Durante, of course, gets the cannibals. Williams is a swimming movie star pursued by two handsome suitors on the set of her latest film. Features Xavier Cugat and his orchestra playing some lovely songs.
Special Features:
Vintage Romance of Celluloid series short "Personalities"
Classic cartoon "The Bear and the Hare"
Theatrical trailer
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Neptune's Daughter (1949)
Betty Barrett (Betty Garrett) mistakes Jack Spratt (Red Skelton) for the South American polo team captain José O'Rourke (Ricardo Montalban), and relentlessly pursues him. Meanwhile, the real O'Rourke pursues Betty's sister Eve (Esther Williams). The resulting mistaken identities and romantic complications turn into a great mix of slapstick and flirtatious fun. Garrett and Skelton's comedy is particularly appealing. The film features songs by Frank Loesser including Baby, It's Cold Outside, winner of the 1949 Best Song Oscar. The film has a happy ending and culminates in a stupendous water ballet.
Special Features:
Outtake musical number "I Want My Money Back"
Esther Williams cameo sequence from 1951's "Callaway Went Thataway"
Oscar-Nominated Pete Smith Specialty comedy "short Water Trix"
Oscar-nominated cartoon "Hatch Up Your Troubles"
Theatrical trailers of this movie and "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

Dangerous When Wet (1953)
This film has Williams playing Katy, a farm girl from a health-obsessed family who finds romance with Williams' future real-life husband Fernando Lamas while training to swim across the English Channel. In the film's key sequence, Williams swims along with cartoon stars Tom and Jerry.
Special Features:
Outtake musical number "C'est La Guerre"
Pete Smith Specialty comedy short "This Is a Living?"
Classic cartoon "Name to Come"
Esther Williams musicals trailer gallery
Subtitles: English (feature film only)

The descriptions of the special features are from a press release from Warner Home Video.

Instant Entertainment...Just add water.......2007-06-07

I am so glad The Esther Williams collection is finally being released. She was the most beautiful star at MGM, if not in all of Hollywood. What a great selection of films too. "Easy To Wed" features a comical, but gorgeous Lucille Ball. "On An Island With You" is a personal favorite and Esther is at her most beautiful here. I am hopeful TCM will release a second volume to this collection and include Esther's 1956 drama "The Unguarded Moment". In it, she plays a high school music teacher who is being stalked by a young John Saxon. "Thrill Of A Romance", "This Time For Keeps" "Easy To Love" and "Jupier's Darling" would complete the set nicely. Miss Williams proves she is a star both in and out of water!

Finally, Esther makes the dive into DVD .......2007-04-28

For years I've been waiting for this Esther Williams DVD collection and hallelujah they have finally arrived. These five films from 1944 to 1953 are the best, but hopefully the remainer of her aquatic musicals will soon follow. BATHING BEAUTY is among the top of my favorites list thanks to Red Skelton, Xavier Cugat, Ethel Smith's Tico-Tico and Esther's spectacular flaming water fountains swim finale. I gave a five star rating just becasue it contains five great musicals. Hopefully the picture and sound quality will give justice for this rating.

Lucille Ball Film Collection (Dance Girl Dance / The Big Street / Du Barry Was a Lady / Critic's Choice / Mame)

Average customer rating:

Great movie salute to Lucille Ball
Famous Lucy Films Finally on DVD
Four Great Films & One Misfire
Pre-Order for 6-19-2007 // GREAT new film collection!!!

Lucille Ball Film Collection (Dance Girl Dance / The Big Street / Du Barry Was a Lady / Critic's Choice / Mame)
Starring: Lucille Ball , Red Skelton , Gene Kelly , Henry Fonda , and Bob Hope
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 2 (The Pirate / Words and Music / That's Dancing / The Belle of New York & Royal Wedding / That Midnight Kiss & The Toast of New Orleans)
Esther Williams Collection, Vol. 1
Katharine Hepburn Collection (Morning Glory / Undercurrent / Sylvia Scarlett / Without Love / Dragon Seed / The Corn Is Green [1979])
Can-Can
On the Riviera

ASIN: B000OCY7V2
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Offering an abundance of vintage Hollywood entertainment, the five films included in The Lucille Ball Film Collection cover a broad spectrum of Lucy's movie career, from one of her most prominent early roles to her final big-screen appearance. Long before she became an icon of TV sitcoms, Lucy had moved from New York to Hollywood in 1933, appearing in a variety of mostly uncredited showgirl roles in over 40 films before getting her first big break in the 1937 classic Stage Door (not included in this set). Lucy's star quickly began to rise, and by the time she played sassy nightclub singer "Tiger Lily White" in 1940's Dance, Girl, Dance, she was holding her own with such famous costars as Maureen O'Hara and Ralph Bellamy. Noteworthy as an early feminist comedy directed by Dorothy Arzner (one of the only women to break into the male-dominated profession of Hollywood directors), it's a fun and fascinating film that helped to establish Lucy's persona as a fiery, independent entertainer. That image was pushed to extremes in The Big Street (1942), an oddly enjoyable comedy/melodrama in which Lucy and Henry Fonda are cast against type--she as a selfish, unlikable nightclub diva, and he as the doting busboy who devotes himself to her when she's badly injured by her villainous boss. A year later, Lucy starred with Red Skelton and Gene Kelly in Du Barry Was a Lady, a lavish and still-delightful MGM musical comedy that was Lucy's first film in color--and the first to feature the blazing red hair (recommended by legendary Hollywood stylist Sydney Guilaroff) that became one of Lucy's most beloved and readily identifiable features.

By the time Lucy played a middle-aged playwright in Critic's Choice (1963), she'd become one of TV's most beloved and successful comediennes, and her film career was clearly winding down. Critic's Choice was a fitting follow-up to 1960's The Facts of Life, reuniting Lucy with four-time costar Bob Hope in an upscale comedy/drama that was noteworthy for its progressive depiction of divorced and remarried sophisticates in New York City. A decade later, Lucy chose the ill-fated Mame (1974) for what would prove to be her final big-screen appearance. Despite brutal reviews that focused on Lucy being too old for the title role (originated on Broadway by Angela Lansbury), Mame has survived its bad reputation to become one of Hollywood's most popular high-camp misfires, with Lucy's eccentric and lavishly costumed character gaining a loyal following (especially in the gay community) as a colorful inspiration for female impersonators. In some ways it's a fitting end to Lucy's big-screen career; she always gave maximum effort against considerable odds, and The Lucille Ball Film Collection is a testament to Lucy's show-biz tenacity. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
Each of the DVDs in The Lucille Ball Film Collection is accompanied by bonus features culled from the extensive Warner Bros. archives. As with many of WB's DVD boxed sets, these bonus features consist of featurettes and cartoons that are chronologically matched (in most cases) to the feature presentations, offering a home-video approximation of what it was like to attend these films in their original theatrical context. (See reviews of each individual title for specific bonus-feature details.) For the long-awaited DVD release of Mame, Warner Bros. technicians attempted to create a new stereo soundtrack mix, but this ultimately proved technically impossible due to the variable quality of the original recording elements, so the film is presented with the mono soundtrack of its original theatrical release. As always with WB releases, picture and sound quality is uniformly superb, especially in preserving the brilliant Technicolor of Du Barry Was a Lady. Of particular value among the bonus features, the DVD of Critic's Choice breaks from strict chronology with "Calling All Tars," a 1936 Vitaphone short featuring one of Bob Hope's earliest screen appearances, and the Oscar-nominated cartoon "Now Hear This" (1962), directed in abstract-art style by legendary Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Big Street: Haughty nightclub singer Gloria Lyons (Lucille Ball) doesn't have time for the little people, including Little Pinks (Henry Fonda), the busboy who adores her. Then Gloria is paralyzed when a mobster knocks her down the stairs, and those little people are the only ones who help her. Critic's Choice: Tossing inspired throwaway lines right and left, Hope is a New York critic who loves writing pointed reviews that close insufferably lousy plays. But there's a new play in town â€" by his redheaded wife (Ball). Dance Girl Dance: Bubbles (Lucille Ball) loves to dance. But she also likes to eat. Her friend Judy (Maureen O'Hara) may choose to suffer for her art, but not Bubbles. She swap hers ballet shoes for a G-string...and turns patrons' fantasies into dollars as burlesque sensation Tiger Lily White. Dubarry Was a Lady: Hapless nightclub hat check boy Red Skelton loves glamorous chanteuse Lucille Ball. Handsome hoofer Gene Kelly loves her too. But Lucy only loves money. Then Red mistakenly gulps down a Mickey Finn, dreams he's in 18th-century France and before you can powder your wig, a throng of suitors fall in love with Lucy! Mame: Lucille Ball brings star sparkle to the title role, a high-living grande dame who's outlandishly eccentric and, when suddenly faced with raising an orphaned nephew, fiercely loving. Veterans of the New York stage original join her: Beatrice Arthur as best friend Vera, Jane Connell as prim governess Agnes, choreographer Onna White and director Gene Saks.

Customer Reviews:

Great movie salute to Lucille Ball.......2007-06-29

This is a pretty good collection honoring Lucille Ball's motion picture work in various decades of her long career. She looks beautiful in "Dubarry...". The movie is dated but, she looks so glam. The film was made mostly just to promote MGM's Technicolor process of color filming. By the time "Critic's Choice" was made, Miss Ball was just past 50 years old. Heavy makeup and careful camera lensing makes her look about 15 years younger than she actually was. Ironically, the woman playing her mother in the film was about the same age as Lucy. "Mame" should have starred Angela Lansbury. But, Ball wanted to follow up her 1968 hit, "Yours, Mine and Ours" with a major film project. So, she secured rights to "Mame". Aside from her singing, the film is OK. She looks great thanks to her makeup team and Vaseline closeups. Nice campy moments. Glam clothes! "Big Street" is her best film of all that starred her.

Famous Lucy Films Finally on DVD.......2007-06-28

This is the best of the best films they can release in one set for Lucille Ball. I just got the set yesterday, (June 27) and stayed up all night to watch all of the films.

The Big Street - This stars - Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Barton MacLane, Eugene Pallette, Agnes Moorehead, Sam Levine, Ray Collins, and Ozzie Nelson.

Critic's Choice - This stars - Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Marilyn Maxwell, Rip Torn, Jessie Royce Landis, John Dehner, and Jim Backus.

Dance, Girl, Dance - This stars - Maureen O'Hara, Louis Hayward, Lucille Ball, Virginia Field, Ralph Bellamy, Mary Carlisle, Katherine Alexander, Edward Brophy, Walter Abel, Harold Huber, Maria Ouspenska, and Harry E. Edington.

DuBarry Was a Lady - This stars - Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Virginia O'Brien, Zero Mostel, and Tommy Dorsey

Mame - This stars - Lucille Ball, Beatrice Arthur, Bruce Davison, Joyce Van Patten, Kirby Furlong, Robert Preston.

This is all of the stars of the 5 films. I was going to tell about the movies, but if you are purchasing this item, or are looking to see how the movies are according to other people on this site, I am not going to ruin your suprise. I will let you watch the films yourself, and all you are getting from me is - I LOVE THESE MOVIES.

Four Great Films & One Misfire.......2007-06-20

This set is worth owning just for Mame, in which Lucille Ball BECOMES Auntie Mame. DuBarry Was A Lady, Dance Girl Dance (with a young Maureen O'Hara) and The Big Street are all fan favorites. While Lucy looks stunning in Critic's Choice, it is the least enjoyable film in the set (and the only "stinker" out of four films she made with her preferred screen-partner, Bob Hope).

Pre-Order for 6-19-2007 // GREAT new film collection!!!.......2007-05-14

This is a GREAT collection to own and a must have for any Lucy fan! With this collection you will receive 5 movies starring Lucille Ball's most popular film adaption. You will be amazed to see the true acting ability of Lucy here.

Some of the films here are somewhat of a opposite to Lucille Ball's role on "I Love Lucy" but some are very similar to "I Love Lucy" in my opinion. Take "The Big Street" for instance, High class Gloria (Lucille Ball) was a bit cruel and mean to a poor man named pinks who falls head over heels in love with her and will do anything to please her at the end she begins to fall for him too. A must see dramatic film!!

You will see Lucille Ball like you have never seen her before and these movies are not boring at all but they are really good interesting movies that you will not lose interest in. I am somewhat shy of old films and find them boring but I can watch anything with Lucille Ball and you will love these films!

"Lucille Ball Film Collection" includes:

"The Big Street" - Ex-chanteuse Gloria is vain, cruel, crippled - and busboy Pinks can't help but love her. Ball and Henry Fonda power Damon Runyon's tale of Broadway denizens living on life's margins.

"Critic's Choice" - That's no playwright, that's my wife. Poison-penned Broadway critic Bob Hope loves wife Lucille Ball...but hates the play she writes. Based on the play by "Deathtrap's" Ira Levin.

Dance, Girl, Dance" - Art doesn't pay the bills. So aspiring ballerina Ball makes her way as a burlesque star in this powerful study of being a woman in a man's world. With Maureen O'Hara.

"Dubarry Was A Lady" - Their friendship is a perfect musical-comedy blendship! Ball goes from NYC torch singer to the dream girl of Red Skelton's wacky, 18th-century-France reverie. Gene Kelly joins the fun!

"Mame" - She'll coax the blues right out of your heart. Madcap Auntie Mame (Ball) is suddenly her nephew's guardian. Robert Preston and Beatrice Arthur co-star in a sparkling adaptation of the Broadway hit.

Highly recommended!!!

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Average customer rating:

Strange, weird movie
A look into human endevors. Great movie
Those Magnificant Men and Their Flying Machines
One of the RARE Classics
Those magnificent men in their flying machines

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Starring: Stuart Whitman , Sarah Miles , James Fox , Alberto Sordi , and Robert Morley
Director: Ken Annakin
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Great Race (Sub)
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Around the World in 80 Days (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming
The Blue Max

ASIN: B00014NEX0
Release Date: 2004-03-16

Product Description

This extraordinary comic version of the historic 1910 London-to-Paris air race features the greatest aviators from around the world. They all come together when a stuffy, but very rich, newspaper publisher decides to sponsor an airplane race across the English Channel, offering 10,000 pounds to the winner. The escapades between the American, British, French, German, Italian and Japanese teams result in the most daring and hilarious in-flight acrobatic stunts ever caught on film.

System Requirements:

Running Time 137 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

An air race from London to Paris provides the premise for this marvelous comedy, which features thrilling aerial photography and some stupefying stunt flying. It's set in 1910, when the (lovingly re-created) airplanes of the period were likelier to sputter and crash than they were to go in a straight line. The international contest requires an international cast, including Stuart Whitman as a cowboy American interested in the ladylove (Sarah Miles) of an English ace (James Fox). Alberto Sordi and Gert Frobe represent the Italian and German nations; Terry-Thomas plans frightful sabotage for race day. From the jaunty opening song and the great opening-credits drawings by Gerald Searle onward, the movie has a pleasingly breezy tone that sits well with the meticulous flying sequences. This is a delightful example of a certain kind of internationally flavored film of the period, somewhat similar to The Great Race, released the same year (1965). --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Strange, weird movie.......2007-04-12

I bought Magnificent Men because my four year old loves old airplanes and he actually watched the whole movie from beginning to end. When the airplanes are actually moving and the race is on or they're practising is quite interesting and somewhat engaging. The rest of the silliness is just that...silly and fun...esp. for a four year old. Some of it of course is over his head. The anniv. edition has some great info on how the film was made and who actually flew those original made machines.
The airplanes are definitely the star of this film.

A look into human endevors. Great movie.......2007-04-11

I just loved the way this movie unfolded, with a wonderful story line and reproduced "Real plains" It all flowed so well, with the way the world was then it showed how big the world use to be.

What ever happened to Intermissions ? Well we have a one here It really brings me back to a time when a long movie was made comfortable with a little more popcorn and soda.

Those Magnificant Men and Their Flying Machines.......2007-02-25

This was sent in great shape. It also is a great older movie about the first flying machines to be in that era. It involves a race of these older machines that was a lot of fun to watch.

One of the RARE Classics.......2007-01-23

This is a great movie for airplane buffs and those who enjoy comedy. The filming and stunts are amazing. To think this was the beginning of aviation. A must see for anyone who appreciates comedy and/or aviation. A family favorite at my house, one we view over and over. The laughs never seem to stop.

Those magnificent men in their flying machines.......2007-01-13

This movie has been one of my most favourtie comedies of all times. It is a classic that never appears dated. Excellent performances by the very best of actors, a joy to view every time

Average customer rating:

LUCY LIVENS COLORFUL ROMP....
NOT THE GREATEST LUCY MOVIE ROLE, BUT SHE'S A TREAT IN HER TECHNICOLOR DEBUT!
Fun musical
HAVING A BALL WITH LUCY...
A great musical comedy

Du Barry Was a Lady
Starring: Red Skelton , Lucille Ball , Gene Kelly , and Tommy Dorsey
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Can-Can
Best Foot Forward
Esther Williams Collection, Vol. 1
On the Riviera
The Pirate

ASIN: B000O76ZRQ
Release Date: 2007-06-19

Amazon.com

Presented in glorious Technicolor, Du Barry Was a Lady is an all-singing, all-dancing musical extravaganza with enough star power to light a major city. Freely adapted from the Cole Porter musical that was a Broadway smash in 1939, this was Lucille Ball's first color film, and after several years of lower-profile movies at RKO, Lucy jumped at the chance to star in an MGM musical, assuming the role that Ethel Merman had played on Broadway. And while Lucy gets plenty of screen time to strut her stuff as the sassy and lovelorn nightclub singer May Daly, the real star of the show is Red Skelton as hat-check boy Louis Blore (played by Bert Lahr on Broadway), whose affection for May is matched by Alec Howe (Gene Kelly), a struggling songwriter with whom May--against her gold-digger instincts--has reluctantly fallen in love. But when newly-rich sweepstakes winner Louis accidentally drinks a "Mickey Finn" intended for Alec, he passes out and dreams of being France's King Louis XV, living in royal splendor and running after the lovely Madame Du Barry (Ball) in the palace at Versailles. It's a comedic spin on The Wizard of Oz, with the contemporary characters (including Zero Mostel in a wacky supporting role) playing their 18th-century counterparts.

This free-form premise is merely a clever excuse for an eye-candy feast of musical comedy, and Du Barry Was a Lady works best as a smorgasbord of all-star entertainment, from the jazzy swing of Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (with Buddy Rich on drums) to the grand-scale production numbers featuring the splendidly costumed Vargas girls (made famous in the pages of Esquire magazine) and Gene Kelly at his fancy-footed best. It's a veritable explosion of Technicolor fun (this DVD transfer is nothing short of spectacular), and in addition to some fine singing by Virginia O'Brien, vigilant movie buffs can spot Lana Turner in a small, uncredited role. Also included in The Lucille Ball Film Collection, this delightful DVD includes two short subjects from 1943: "Seeing Hands" is an Oscar-nominated "Pete Smith Specialty" short about Ben Helwig, who overcame blindness to become a gifted machinist; the film's progressive message encourages industry to hire persons with disabilities who can make a valuable contribution to wartime industry. Also included is the MGM "Barney Bear" cartoon "Bah, Wilderness," and a faded print of the original theatrical trailer for Du Barry Was a Lady, which really makes you appreciate the dazzling Technicolor of the full-length feature. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Madcap comedy musical about a hat check man. He gets the girl of his dreams when he wins the lottery - even if she doesnchr(39)t love him. But when hechr(39)s knocked out cold by a drinking accident, he dreams that hechr(39)s King Louis XV after Madame Du

Customer Reviews:

LUCY LIVENS COLORFUL ROMP...........2007-06-20

While not the epitome of 40's musicals, "Du Barry" is good fun for several reasons. First being Lucille Ball, who looks stunning in Technicolor. Then there's the Technicolor itself which is vivid and bright with MGM gloss. There's the fantastic costumes, the Tommy Dorsey orchestra providing great swing music, an appealing Red Skelton and a handsome Gene Kelly. Less appealing is a mugging Zero Mostel. Then there's a deadpan Virginia O'Brien doing a delightfully laconic faux strip-tease to a song about "Salome". She almost steals the show. But then, "Du Barry" IS a show based on a risque Broadway show but watered down for 40's film audiences. The plot is ridiculous about Skelton's Mickey Finn causing a Louis XIV hallucination involving a cast of nightclub performers with Lucy (torn between love and money) figuring as the notorious Madame Du Barry. Just enjoy the MGM spectacle and music (and Lucy) and marvel at what musicals used to be. Pure entertainment. The DVD print is fantastic. Enjoy.

NOT THE GREATEST LUCY MOVIE ROLE, BUT SHE'S A TREAT IN HER TECHNICOLOR DEBUT!.......2007-06-14

Lucy is a great actress and a good dancer, but singing was never her forte' and her dubbed singing voice is distracting. I felt she was much better in her next movie, Best Foot Forward, which gave her a better comedy role versus this one which is more a musical one. If MGM had used her in straight comedy or even in an occasional dramatic role she would have had a longer career there instead of a mere 3 years. Meet the People, made the following year, was a "B" movie and in Without Love (1945) and Easy to Wed (1946) she was even downgraded to supporting actress category. On the plus side: this movie co-stars her longtime friend Red Skelton and their chemistry is incredible. Virginia O'Brien always adds to any movie, Gene Kelly doesn't have a lot of screen time (which is fine with me) and you can even catch a glimpse of budding vocalists Dick Haymes and Jo Stafford in Tommy Dorsey's band. I love Lucy (to coin a phrase) in MGM Technicolor and when you watch the movie be on the lookout for Lana Turner, in a 30 second walk-on, which was her first appearance before the Technicolor camera too!

Fun musical.......2003-01-24

Great cast! Red, Lucy, Gene & a young & (relatively) slender & hirsute Zero Mostel! Plus the great inimitable Virginia O'Brien, queen of deadpan plus Tommy Dorsey & his orchestra, Dick Haymes, the Pied Pipers. How could it go wrong? Well, it could have retained more of the original Cole Porter score, bujt that's Hollywood & the plot is standard Hollywood formula as well. You could replay it with Bob Hope or Danny Kaye & it would come out virtually the same. But I'm glad it was Red, because as this movie demonstrates, he was a naturally funny - make that VERY FUNNY - man, possibly the funniest comic of all.

HAVING A BALL WITH LUCY..........2002-08-30

Red plays a hat check boy who's nuts over Lucy, a sassy showgirl who pays him no attention whatsoever. All of this changes when Skelton hits a $75,000 jackpot...Lucy agrees to get engaged to Red although she has a crush on Gene Kelly. Red mistakenly drinks a "mickey finn" which was intended for Kelly - in order to prevent him from attending the engagement party - and the rest of the film is a clever dream sequence with Lucy as Mme.DuBarry, Skelton as a King and Kelly the master of derring-do...Zero Mostel is amusing as the comedy psychic and there's a cute cameo by Lana Turner. While this movie version of the famous Broadway show which starred Ethel Merman and Bert Lahr was completely white-washed in order to pacify the blue-nosed Hays office, this film should at least be a fun-fest for those who love Lucy. Critics were especially harsh on this movie when it was released back in 1943 because the original show was bawdy, risque and totally charming: however, Lucy fans will be astonished at how gorgeous she looks here.

A great musical comedy.......2002-06-07

This movie was funny, fun costumes, great songs. You could tell why Red Skelton wasn't famous for his singing, but he still did a great job. And watching "I Love Lucy" for years, hearing Lucielle Ball sing in this (at the beginning), it's hard for me believe that that's her voice. I'm not sure. I think it is, but like I said, it's hard to believe. At the end, you KNOW it's her. Gene Kelly has a somewhat small role in this movie, but he's still the wonderful song and dance guy we know so well. My favorite songs are Red Skelton's song: "Esquire Girl", and I believe Virginia O'Brien plays Ginny (?) the Cigar and Cigarette Girl's song "Salomi" that's a fun one to listen to too. It's not my favorite movie, but it's a great one.

The I Love Lucy - 50th Anniversary Special

Average customer rating:

Die Hard Lucy Fan - Pay Attention
Touching, Tear-Jerking, Totally Terrific!
Behind the Greatest Show of all Time!!
A resonse for "A viewer from Zhukovsky, Russia "
LOVING LUCY'S LEGACY

The I Love Lucy - 50th Anniversary Special
Starring: Lucille Ball , Desi Arnaz , Desi Arnaz Jr. , Lucie Arnaz , and Dick Van Dyke
Director: Gary Smith (III)
Manufacturer: Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

I Love Lucy - The Complete Seasons 7-9
I Love Lucy - The Complete Sixth Season
The Lucy & Desi Collection (Too Many Girls / The Long Long Trailer / Forever, Darling)
I Love Lucy - Seasons 1-5
I Love Lucy - The Complete Series (Seasons 1-6)

ASIN: B00006DXXT
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Amazon.com

The producers of The "I Love Lucy" 50th Anniversary Special had a tough assignment, and they triumphantly rose to the occasion. Ostensibly a vehicle for a fan-selected list of top 10 favorite "I Love Lucy" episodes (available in the Best of I Love Lucy Collection), this 2001 special covers all the requisite territory with a solid sense of history and affectionate nostalgia, combining loving reminiscence and commentary (by such luminaries as Lily Tomlin, Barbara Walters, and Dick Van Dyke) with vintage clips from the selected episodes. More substantial segments demonstrate the deeper significance of the Lucy phenomenon past and present, from Desi Arnaz's influential impact on Latino culture in America to Lucy's historic onscreen pregnancy. When surviving children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. visit their mother's childhood home, their emotions are as genuine as I Love Lucy's cultural importance, adding gentle tears to an abundance of laughter. As valentines go, this anniversary couldn't be more special. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Die Hard Lucy Fan - Pay Attention.......2007-01-15

For those of us that follow the life and times of Lucy and Desi this DVD has some film footage that I had not seen in any other compilation. This includes interviews with Lucy and Desi Jr and a return to Lucy's hometown, Jamestown.

Several never before told stories are included and guest star interviews are insightful and well done.

DVD quality is excellent and the production is equally superb.

Touching, Tear-Jerking, Totally Terrific!.......2005-09-24

I've always been a fan of anything with the "Queen of Comedy"--but this had to be The Best!! Seeing other celebs give their views of how I LOVE LUCY impacted development of TV was good, but this rare showing of Lucie & Desi Jr. together made it terrific! There was NOTHING "STAGED" about the children's love for their parents! Desi Jr's emotions at seeing his mother's birthplace for the first time was so heartfelt; and their blend in "Patria" honoring their Dad was just great!) Having them in this tender (& lovingly emotional) family tribute made this the "creme-de-la-creme" for me!
This tribute is a true gem--not just to great actors, but showing the bond of love that makes a family. "FAMILY"--just one wonderful value that made us love the series then--and why WE STILL LOVE LUCY today!!

Behind the Greatest Show of all Time!!.......2003-04-20

I LOVE LUCY!! This show was really a big hit. It was bigger than big. In this video they go behind the scenes of "I Love Lucy." They even go to Jamestown, New York to show you where Lucille ball grew up. They talk about Lucy and Rickys childhood backgrounds. This is full of information that any Lucy fan would find interresting if you don't know it already. Its worth the money. They even have celebrities who talk about what they thought about the show with Whoopi Goldberg starting out the video. This is for any Lucy fan. They also count down the top 10 most popular Lucy episodes in the video. Get it while you can. Its worth it!! This is suppose to be the VHS version.

A resonse for "A viewer from Zhukovsky, Russia ".......2003-02-11

Read the descriptions of items before you buy them. It clearly says "...with vintage clips from the selected episodes..." Clips does not mean full episodes. Personally, I thought this was an excellent DVD about the history of "I Love Lucy." And guess what, reviewer from Russia, in order to have a history video, you must have information on the actors. This video provides accurate information about all aspects of the show, characters, actors, and the actors' personal lives. The very special part is that they got Lucie and Desi Jr., the children of Lucy and Desi, to comment on the show and on their parents, as well as sing a revitalization of "Babalu." A must have for any "I Love Lucy" enthusiast.

LOVING LUCY'S LEGACY.......2003-01-20

As much an homage as it is a documentary, "The `I Love Lucy' 50th Anniversary Special" is ideal for those who would love to find out just why the legacy of Lucy lives on. The special features vintage clips from some of Lucy's funniest and famous skits, as well as interviews with those performers who have been inspired and influenced by the red-hot redhead, including Whoopi Goldberg, Cher, Paul Rodriquez, Lily Tomlin and Dick Van Dyke. Some of the guests will surprise you, such as Antonio Banderas, Andy Garcia and Larry King. [One interesting sidenote: Roseanne Barr Arnold makes an appearance, yet in past interviews, Arnold was quick to boast about how much she did not love Lucy. Time for penance, Rosie?] Original "I Love Lucy" writers Madelyn Pugh Davis, Bob Carroll Junior and Bob Schiller, as well as other crew members, shed some insider insights into the Lucy legend. Desi Arnaz's genius is also honored, with a look at his Cuban
background and influence on Latin music in the United States. Latin music sensation does a knock-'em dead "Babalu," on a stylized set so reminiscent of The Tropicana. Perhaps most touching is the visit Lucie Arnaz and Desi Junior make to Lucy's birthplace, Jamestown, New York ... it is Desi's first visit, and the camera doesn't shy away from the emotional experience. Add to that Desi and Lucie singing "Patria" ("Homeland"), a tune
especially written for the special, with multi-Grammy winner Auturo Sandoval on trumpet. Just marvelous!

The Year Without a Santa Claus / Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey / Rudolph's Shiny New Year

Average customer rating:

excellent
Some were great...
A missing baby new-year... and no Santa?
Great Childhood Memories
fantastic musical!!

The Year Without a Santa Claus / Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey / Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Starring: Shirley Booth , Mickey Rooney , Dick Shawn , George S. Irving , and Bob McFadden
Director: Jules Bass , and Arthur Rankin Jr.
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (50th Birthday Deluxe Remastered Edition)
The Original Television Christmas Classics
A Charlie Brown Christmas

ASIN: B00004VVPA
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Amazon.com

This DVD contains three holiday titles from Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.

The Year Without a Santa Claus
Even Santa can suffer a case of the holiday blues. In this 1974 stop-motion holiday family favorite, a sparkly eyed Mrs. Claus (voiced by Shirley Booth) sings and tells about the year her hubby felt too weary and too unappreciated to prepare for his annual Christmas rounds. Mickey Rooney stars as the voice of Santa, a rosy-nosed puppet who travels incognito to Southtown in search of his tiniest reindeer, Vixen, and two well-meaning elves. Seems Mrs. Santa sent them to find proof of Christmas spirit--but all they've discovered is ambivalence about Santa's year off. Luckily, when Santa arrives and befriends a buck-toothed lad named Ignatius Thistlewhite, spirits begin to lift rapidly. Adult fans of this cousin to the 1970 television special Santa Claus Is Coming to Town will remember it as the Heat and Snow Miser movie. Their vaudevillian theme songs, complete with trombone and piano riffs, are hard to forget, but other treasured musical moments include "I Believe in Santa Claus," "I'll Have a Blue Christmas Without You," and "Here Comes Santa Claus." --Liane Thomas

Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
The wondrous story of Christ's birth is told by an unlikely source: Nestor, a gentle donkey with incredibly long ears and a first-hand knowledge of life in a stable. This simple tale, which takes place in the days of the Roman Empire, is about a humble couple about to take a long journey to Bethlehem and a small, insignificant donkey that is destined to help them along. By all outward appearances, Nestor does not deserve such a privilege. Stable animals tease him incessantly for his long appendages until, finally, he is cast out of the barn into the winter cold. Snow and ice bring about even greater calamity for Nestor until he receives a dose of divine goodness. Nestor meets Tilly, a heavenly cherub (voiced by Brenda Vaccaro) who imparts guidance to the despairing burro and tells him that soon he will be chosen to participate in a miracle involving a star, a baby, a lowly stable, and some travelers named Mary and Joseph. Short and sweet, this stop-motion Christmas gem from Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass is narrated by Roger Miller. Get out the hanky for an understated holiday classic that will appeal to families of all ages. --Lynn Gibson

Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Rudolph is legendary for saving Christmas, but did you know he saved the New Year as well? While Santa Claus is recuperating from his December sleigh ride, he receives a letter from an old friend, Father Time. Seems that Baby New Year is missing, and if the little tyke isn't found, Old Year will continue forever--a catastrophe for Father Time, whose job it is to keep things moving forward. A search party is essential, yet with such thick fog, there's only one reindeer fit for the job. "Rudolph with your nose so bright, you've six days left to set things right," says Santa. Trouble hits immediately when Rudolph discovers that Aeon the Terrible, a big-beaked monster bird, is also searching for the missing baby. Rudolph gets help from a giant whale and a good-natured caveman, who dish up plenty of song and dance in between narrow escapes in their race against the end of the calendar year. Sound far-fetched? Perhaps, but it contains as much magic as its predecessors, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, all produced and directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr., and written by the esteemed Romeo Muller. The same stop-motion animation we've grown to love is here as well, and narrator Red Skelton has as trusted a voice as Burl Ives and Fred Astaire. While the New Year holiday will never be as celebrated as Christmas, this title is a welcome addition to any Rankin and Bass collection of holiday films. --Lynn Gibson

Description

At the North Pole, the Christmas rush is on. Everyone from elves to reindeer are merrily preparing for Santa Claus' yearly sleigh ride. Everyone…except Santa! Feeling forgotten by the children of the world, old St. Nick decides to skip his gift-giving journey and take a vacation. Eager to help, Mrs. Claus and two spunky little elves set out to see where all the season's cheer has disappeared to. Aided by a magical snowfall, they reawaken the spirit of Christmas in children's hearts - and put Santa back in action. Shirley Booth and Mickey Rooney (as Mrs. And Mr. Claus) are the starring voices in this wonderful Yuletide favorite. Year: 1974

Customer Reviews:

excellent.......2007-05-20

Not only did I get my favorite Christmas show, I got two other Christmas shows as well. The dvd was is great playing order and the year without a Santa Claus was much better than the vhs version. Thank you.

Some were great..........2007-05-14

Of the three movies, one were less than satifactory and was just plain sad! Rudolph's Shiny New Year was excellent, but the Year without a Santa Claus was to cliche and Nestor, the pathetic Christmas Donkey was just plain depressing. If you get it, get it for Rudulph.

A missing baby new-year... and no Santa?.......2007-03-24

This is a must for anyone having young children. Children of all ages should enjoy this cartoon for the Christmas season. Children always like to watch any cartoon about Santa and Rudolph. Not only are you getting one, but three Christmas cartoon classics. I may be an adult, but I still like watching these classics myself.

Great Childhood Memories.......2007-01-24

This DVD is great. It brings back all the memories of the holidays as a young child. It is hard to catch these shows on TV as they only air once during the holiday season. My daughters love them and I love seeing their reaction to the shows. Good buy.

fantastic musical!!.......2007-01-21

My 4 year old & my husband & I looooove this video!! The voice Artists are supremely talented: Mickey Rooney, Dick Shawn, Mr. Irving, etc.!! The music is wonderful & we highly recommend this as a holiday staple!
The Miser Brother songs are terrific!!

Average customer rating:

Far and Away the most enjoyable musical of the era.
the little words.
GREAT MUSICAL
Three Little Words
Three little words. I loved it!

Three Little Words
Starring: Fred Astaire , Red Skelton , Vera-Ellen , Arlene Dahl , and Keenan Wynn
Director: Richard Thorpe , and Tex Avery
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Daddy Long Legs
Summer Stock
Ziegfeld Follies (Std Rmst Sub Dol)
It's Always Fair Weather
You Were Never Lovelier

ASIN: B000EBD9S0
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

Three Little Words (1950) was an example of Hollywood's late-'40s/early-'50s interest in the lives of famous songwriters. Fred Astaire plays vaudeville dancer Bert Kalmar, whose act with Jessie Brown (Vera-Ellen) runs aground due to his interest in magic acts and a backstage accident. While in rehab, he meets composer Harry Ruby (Red Skelton), and the two discover a knack for writing Tin Pan Alley songs, then Broadway shows, together. There's some mild conflict in their lives as portrayed in film, but mostly the movie is an excuse to pull out a slew of Kalmar & Ruby songs such as "Who's Sorry Now," "My Sunny Tennessee," "Nevertheless," "I Wanna Be Loved by You," and the title tune. Vera-Ellen is an excellent partner for Astaire, and the relatively restrained Skelton puts in a good performance. Also appearing are Arlene Dahl as a musical actress, Gloria De Haven as her own mother, a young Debbie Reynolds as Boop-a-Doop girl Helen Kane, and the real Harry Ruby as a baseball player playing catch with Skelton, the movie Harry Ruby. Three Little Words isn't one of the great MGM musicals of its era, but it's an entertaining picture, especially for fans of Astaire. --David Horiuchi

Description

Bio-pic of songwriters Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.

Customer Reviews:

Far and Away the most enjoyable musical of the era........2007-06-09

Before watching this movie, I had never heard the names of Bert Kalmar or Harry Ruby! And now I can only say what a wealth of sheer musical talent I missed until now!

As far as the film is concerned, I have to say this and "Lovely to Look At" have got to be the very best things that "over-the-top" comedian, Red Skelton has ever done. It's such a joy to watch him in an almost dramatic - (and human} role!

As for Fred Astaire, what can I say? He's just Fred Astaire - and that's enough to guarantee a very watchable film.

I still regard the number performed by Arlene Dahl in the movie as one of the finest production numbers I have ever seen (with the possible exception of a hundred others choreographed by the brilliant Bob Fosse! And a few by Buz. Berkeley!)

And what a thrill to see the young Debbie Reynolds impersonating Helen Kane!!! Too much!!

the little words........2007-06-01

I love the way Vera Ellen and Fred Astair work together. It was smart and entertaining. I recommend it to all!!

GREAT MUSICAL.......2007-05-31

THIS WAS A WONDERFUL STORY OF TWO SONGWRITERS WHO MEET BY CHANCE TO FORM A WONDERFUL WRITING TEAM.
FRED ASTAIRE AND RED SKELTON WERE SENSATIONAL. PERFECTLY MATCHED FOR THE ROLES. SONGS WERE CATCHY AND MEMORABLE. STILL POPULAR TODAY.

Three Little Words.......2007-05-18

What a treasure! It's too bad more people don't watch this. Fred and Red are terrific together. I bet a lot of people also do no know that Red is a good actor & musician. Red used to do song and dance as well as the comedy he was best know for doing. Vera Ellen is an exceptional dancer...together you could see the fun Fred & she were having dancing together. It has been said that "in private" she was one of his favorite partners. Fred & Vera played their part so well. Arlene Dahl was wonderful and Ruby's (Red) wife.

Three little words. I loved it!.......2007-02-10

I am not a huge fan of older movies and these older musicals can really be hit and miss for me but this one holds its own over time outside of her wanting to give up a successful career to stay home after getting married. I watched this because I wanted to hear the music. This one was a big surprise to me. It was very funny and it kept moving along at a very good pace, too.

Average customer rating:

Glorious Technicolor Musical Numbers and Comedy Skits
Wake up the town and tell all the people--Ziegfeld's back in town !!!
Pleased with this film
Has its ups and downs
TechniCOLOR

Ziegfeld Follies (Std Rmst Sub Dol)
Starring: Fred Astaire , Gene Kelly , Judy Garland , Fanny Brice , and Red Skelton
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Three Little Words
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ASIN: B000EBD9SK
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Amazon.com

This 1946 film celebrates the life, career, and showmanship of the late Florenz Ziegfeld, perhaps the most famous and influential Broadway producer in the early decades of the 20th century. The film, ostensibly directed by Vincente Minnelli, takes an unusual form. We open in Heaven, at the home of the late Ziegfeld (played by William Powell, who also played him in The Great Ziegfeld), who thinks back on his life and wonders what kind of show he would put on with the talent of today (meaning 1946). What follows is an elaborately staged revue, similar to the blend of cheesecake, music, and comedy that made up the Ziegfeld Follies--but with the stars of that moment (plus actual Ziegfeld veteran Fanny Brice). The most welcome presence is Fred Astaire, who appears in three numbers--including the only dance number ever filmed that paired Astaire with Gene Kelly at the height of their powers. The contrast is fascinating. Otherwise, you get a number of musical scenes, the best of which features Lena Horne (singing "Love"), the worst Judy Garland (in "An Interview"). And there's plenty of other stuff: everything from an Esther Williams water ballet to an excerpt of La Traviata to a variety of broadly acted vaudeville skits featuring actors Keenan Wynn, Edward Arnold, Fanny Brice, and Hume Cronyn. --Marshall Fine

Description

A dead showman looks down upon the earth and dreams of his perfect show.

Customer Reviews:

Glorious Technicolor Musical Numbers and Comedy Skits.......2007-06-23

Director Vincente Minnelli (one of the most artistic directors of the 40's/50's/60's) pulls out all the stops with an all star cast in this sparkling package of glamour and fun. Fans of classic musicals, comedy, and vaudeville will eat this up.
Every sequence is not great, but the ones that are truly shine. And thanks to DVD you can hit the Skip/Next button on your remote if Red Skelton isn't your cup of tea. This film is a wide spectrum, from the sublime and gorgeous to the weird and garish.

The rich, vibrant colors pop out and gleam, but not in a phony way. Technicolor is great stuff.

It always amazes me, when watching movies like this, at how long some of the takes last. Nowadays the cameras roll briefly and there's plenty of post production work, but back in the 1940's you had long and complicated sequences where there weren't many edits or cuts. Things had to be perfect. It's astonishing. I kept wondering how many rehearsals Lucille Ball had to endure, as well as Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. Probably not as many as I'd expect; these were professional, talented stars in their element. This was a golden age, and seeing a movie like this makes me wish I could have been there to witness all the glitz and wonder.

Judy Garland's funny number ("Interview", or as I call it, The Safety Pin number) is a real hoot. A star is hamming it up to the hilt for a bunch of male reporters and interviewers. Whether her comedic timing is her own gift here or Minnelli's directing of her, it really works. (I wonder if there was one particular starlet they were spoofing here, or just all of them at that time.)

And you get Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly dancing and singing together... it doesn't get much better.

I love the fact that you get two vintage MGM cartoons in the bonus features: Tom and Jerry in "Solid Serenade", and the great Tex Avery's manic "The Hick Chick". A nice touch!

Wake up the town and tell all the people--Ziegfeld's back in town !!!.......2007-04-22

MGM's Ziegfeld Follies of 1946 gives us a terrific look at the best of the best at MGMas of the mid 1940s. This movie, replete with Hollywood talent, represents a grand spectacle that no classic movie lover should ever be without. Every number is a showstopper; and the movie as a whole holds your attention as it glides effortlessly through a cavalcade of stars putting on their best performances.

The movie begins with William Powell plays the late Flo Ziegfeld up in heaven; as he yearns to be back on Earth he dreams of what beautiful numbers he could put on if he could have just one more chance to produce yet another of his famous Ziegfeld Follies. The rest of the movie shows us Ziegfeld's dream numbers which just coincidentally star MGM's brightest stars working their tails off to perform their best.

Numerous song and dance numbers follow. The first number features Fred Astaire who introduces an astonishing array of beautiful young ladies in a style reminiscent of the much earlier classic number "A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody" from another movie. Look also for Lucille Ball who rather unexpectedly takes out a whip to control another smaller group of young ladies dressed in black who don't seem quite as pure as the first group of ladies! This first number, entitled "Here's To The Girls," stuns you and your attention remains focused from here on in. Virginia O'Brien also sings a great song about her love for men--and she even cracks a smile if you look carefully! hehehe

Esther Williams performs an opulent "water ballet" unlike any other; just how did they keep her makeup so perfect as she swam underwater like the most beautiful lady swimmer in the world? Keenan Wynn performs a comedy skit about a man who just can't get the telephone operator to give him the right number; and Victor Moore and Edward Arnold are very good in their comedy sketch entitled "Pay The Two Dollars."

Fred Astaire and Lucille Bremer dance to perfection in two great numbers entitled "This Heart Of Mine" and "Limehouse Blues." In "This Heart Of Mine" Fred and Lucille dance to a background of a fancy ball which provides an elegant backdrop for a most elegant dance scene. "Limehouse Blues" takes place in a Chinatown district of a large city as Fred and Lucille dance with a chorus in the background. The sets for both of these two numbers are extremely elaborate; I was fascinated by the excellent quality of the design that you can only see in an MGM musical.

Another highlight is the pairing of Gene Kelly with Fred Astaire who together dance up a storm. They make some mildly amusing references to their rivalry, too. There's also a rather young Lena Horne singing "Love" so well you'll want to watch this segment over and over again!

Judy Garland spoofs movie megastar arrogance in her segment which is entitled "A Great Lady Has `An Interview.'" Judy infuses her character, an actress who is about to film yet another blockbuster picture, with the highest of camp as she sings about the upcoming movie during a press interview; and she won't hesitate to act "with (her) torso," either!

Red Skelton also performs his Guzzler's Gin skit as he pretends to be a TV announcer making a commercial for what was then the brand new medium of television. Excellent!

The finale could have been a little better; Kathryn Grayson sings way too high for my personal tastes as she performs "There's Beauty Everywhere." Like the opening number, "There's Beauty Everywhere" is an ode to the beautiful young women of the world. The MGM powers that were decided to use soap bubbles to create a light and airy atmosphere for the finale. This caused numerous problems according to the film historians who are interviewed on this DVD; so I know that the performers deserve lots of credit for managing to dance through all those soap bubbles even if I didn't quite like this number as much I did the others!

The DVD has for it's extras a collection of bonuses. Some extras are relevant to Ziegfeld Follies and others could easily have been cut for better extras. You get some great commentary from historians in the short documentary entitled Ziegfeld Follies: An Embarrassment of Riches; and you get the audio outtakes of "If Swing Goes, I Go Too;" "This Heart of Mine" and "We Will Meet Again in Honolulu." Great! Unfortunately, these extras are paired with two or three MGM cartoons that should have been exchanged for better material; and the MGM vintage short film entitled Crime Does Not Pay The Luckiest Guy in the World doesn't fit in well with the rest of the DVD package. Oh, well.

Overall, I highly recommend Ziegfeld Follies for classic movie buffs and fans of the greatest musicals ever made during the golden age of Hollywood. People and historians who are familiar with the work of Flo Ziegfeld will also appreciate this salute to his fine work.

Pleased with this film.......2007-04-11

MGM give Arther Freed and Vincent Minelli a 3 million dollar budget and their biggest stars to make this film ~ a film without a plot. Instead it is like a variety show of musical numbers and comedy skits. If you are a Fred Astaire fan, he dances three numbers in this movie. One number is with Gene Kelly, the only time they appear on film together. Also appearing are Judy Garland, William Powell (recreating his role as Zeigfield), Lena Horn, Red Skeleton, Kathern Greyson, Keenan Wynn, and many more.

Has its ups and downs.......2007-02-21

This movie has really big ups and mediocre downs. Some of the sketches are tedious, but the great ones stand out. The opening scene, "Here's To The Ladies" works very well, from the always elegant and dignified Cyd Charisse dancing with Fred Astaire, culminating with Lucille Ball, a whip and ten or so women dressed in lion costumes (see my "camp" comment at the bottom). I loved the Judy Garland scene (for some reason a lot of reviewers strongly dislike it), it's fun seeing her glamorous and sending up a movie star image. I loved the "Babbitt and the Bromide" with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
Pauline Kael obviously disliked the ending, "There's Beauty Everywhere", with Kathryn Grayson and advised "the fastidious to leave the theatre" when that scene was shown. But as soon as the soap bubbles clear, you can tell that this scene is heavily inspired by surrealism, and the most famous surrealist of all, Salvador Dali. The art direction of most of this movie resembles an issue of "Vogue" or "Harpers Bazaar" from the 1940s. (When the movie works, it's camp in the best sense of the word.)
When you notice the art direction, you can also tell the print they use for the dvd needs to be color corrected, because the colors unfortunately (to my layperson's eye) tend to be unstable on the dvd. I think this film went into public domain for whatever reason, and MGM and its corporate successors might not have had access to a decent print or the sixty year old negative might be long gone.

TechniCOLOR.......2007-01-14

While others have fairly evaluated this patchy but ESSENTIAL addition to any musical collection (if only because it contains Vincent Minelli's two best numbers after the American in Paris Ballet - "This Heart of Mine" and "Limehouse Blues" - see them and be amazed!) noone has mentioned the COLOR. I am a film maker and teacher and old enough to have seen original Technicolor before the prints started to deteriorate. And until Blue Ray and/or High Def is really here (and I pray they are mastering classics like this in HD), this is THE BEST EXAMPLE OF TECHNICOLOR in all its unfaded glory I have seen. So sumptuous was the process (and so superior to the Eastman process which superceded it for economic reasons) its look needs to be remembered and constantly compared in order that the advent of HD not be marred by trying to emulate the look of an inferior process (35mm Eastmancolor). AND to avoid agregious attempts to modernise classics like 'THE SEARCHERS' available on DVD in two versions, but the latest so called "Ultimate Collector's Edition" of which attempts to contemporize its color with washed out flesh tones and green skies (whereas the earlier mastering available originally on laser disc remains sumptuous and pretty true to the original).

Put on 'ZIEGFELD FOLLIES', take "This Heart of Mine" and rack the chroma (color) on your television all the way up - Technicolor can not only take it, but revels in it (I have a Hi-Def Sony Bravia, but if you have an older set, stop if the colors start to "bleed"). Now pull the chroma back ever so slightly until flesh tones become acceptable, then BE TRULY AMAZED not just at the decor, but Technicolor's capacity to render reds and yellows (it is also superior to our modern color in the blue green spectrum). On my set this film is best viewed with the chroma at 90/100 (while 'AN AMERICAN IN PARIS' can take 100/100).

Average customer rating:

Red Skelton Collection
Good
Not worth purchasing

The Red Skelton Collection
Starring: Red Skelton Comedy Collection
Manufacturer: PASSPORT VIDEO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( R ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Television | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

The Red Skelton Collection
Christmas With Red Skelton
Red Skelton - King of Laughter
The Jack Benny Collection
Red Skelton: Bloopers, Blunders, and Ad Libs

ASIN: B0001M7OHY
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Description

This delightful five-DVD set showcases the many talents of beloved clown Red Skelton and his classic comedy-variety show. In addition to favorite Skelton alter-egos such ad Freddie the Freeloader, Clem Kadiddlehoper, Sheriff Deadeye, and Cauliflower McPugg, there are popular guest stars, including Vincent Price, George Raft, Ed Sullivan, and Jackie Coogan.

Plus a true rarity: Red hosting the Look Magazine Awards, featuring legends such as Judy Garland, Walt Disney, Bing Crosby and Alfred Hitchcock! Master of pantomime, skilled comedian, teriffic entertainer, this fabulous collectionis amole proof of why there will never be another quite like Red Skelton.

DVD I

Lord Beaverhead Freddie and The Spies

DVD II

m. Lasagna Deadeye and The Indians Vinnie The P

DVD III

Freddie's Masterpiece Halloween Show

DVD IV

Thanksgiving Episode Cop and The Anthem Freddie and The Yuletide Doll

DVD V

The Look Awards Hollywood Remembers Red Skelton

Customer Reviews:

Red Skelton Collection.......2007-01-11

I returned this item due to the fact that it was a duplicate gift. I bought it as a gift for my dad, but I had already purchased it previously for him. He really enjoyed my first purchase.

Good.......2007-01-09

Very enjoyable and entertaining. Red Skelton is one of the best of all time.

Not worth purchasing.......2005-10-02

Bought this DVD for my Dad who is a Red Skelton fan from years ago. He said the first DVD was fine, but the others were just plain bad - not even worth watching. Very disappointing since this was a birthday gift.

1950s TV's Greatest Shows Featuring: The Jack Benny Program / Dragnet / The Burns and Allen Show / The Lone Ranger / The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ... North / The Life of Riley / Racket Squad

Average customer rating:

biddo2b
Vintage Garbage - Modern Marketing
Great looking DVD of 1950s favorites

1950s TV's Greatest Shows Featuring: The Jack Benny Program / Dragnet / The Burns and Allen Show / The Lone Ranger / The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ... North / The Life of Riley / Racket Squad
Starring: Clayton Moore , Ozzie , Lloyd Bridges , Harriett Nelson , and Red Skelton
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Documentary | Independently Distributed | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Independently Distributed | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

1950s TV's Greatest Comedies
TV Favorites Megapack 100 Episodes Collection
1950s TV's Greatest Westerns
TV Time Comedy: 100 TV Episodes
My Little Margie - DVD Collection #1

ASIN: B00006I4ZQ
Release Date: 2002-07-01

Description

The Golden Age of Television lives again with this treasure-trove of TV favorites . DIGITALLY RESTORED ON DVD!!! JACK BENNY, BURNS and ALLEN, Eve Arden in OUR MISS BROOKS, RED SKELTON and OZZIE and HARRIET will keep you laughing . DRAGNET'S Sergeant Joe Friday, MR. & MRS. NORTH and RACKET SQUAD will keep you guessing who-done-it . You'll deep-sea dive into danger with SEA HUNT and ride with THE LONE RANGER and Tonto on another thrilling adventure of the old west and more!!! This collection of "family-friendly" programming includes 4 complete TV shows on each of the 3 DVDs - 12 shows in all - 5 hours of viewing fun!

DVD #1

The Jack Benny Program 10-31-54 "How Jack Found Mary" w/ Jack Benny . Dragnet 09-09-54 "The Big Crime" w/ Jack Webb . The Burns and Allen Show 10-09-52 "Free Trip to Hawaii" w/ George Burns and Gracie Allen . The Lone Ranger 12-29-49 "Cannonball McKay" w/ Clayton Moore

DVD #2

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet 02-13-53 "Valentine Show" w/ Ozzie & Harriet Nelson . Sea Hunt 1956 "Mark of the Octopus" (pilot) w/ Lloyd Bridges . The Red Skelton Show 01-25-55 "Trailer home" w/ guest, Mary McCarty . Suspense 06-29-54 "The Hunted" w/ Ward Bond

DVD #3

Our Miss Brooks 05-13-55 "Here is Your Past" w/ Eve Arden . Mr. & Mrs. North 12-05-52 "The Comic Strip Tease" w/ Richard Denning and Barbara Britton . The Life of Riley 04-24-53 "Riley's Operation" w/ William Bendix . Racket Squad 02-28-52 "Hearse Chaser" w/ Reed Hadley

Customer Reviews:

biddo2b.......2005-12-27

Bought new/used from Digitaleyes.net. Needed to return as it was a duplicated Christmas gift. VERY POOR response from Digitaleyes!

Vintage Garbage - Modern Marketing.......2004-11-26

This DVD set is just plain awful.

Obscure, bottom-of-the-sewer episodes replete with authentic 1950s television broadcast quality.

Avoid this purchase like the plague.

Great looking DVD of 1950s favorites.......2003-08-13

There are plenty of DVDs out on the market today with episodes of television shows from the 1950s and 1960s that have fallen into the "public domain." Many of them are cheaply put together and, visually, look it. Not so with releases from the Falcon Picture Group. By and large, their releases look better than the vast majority of DVDs with older television shows. The reason for this is that they have done digital restoration of the prints included on this set.

What I like about this DVD is the great variety of shows included. Yes, some of the shows, like Dragnet, the Lone Ranger, Red Skelton, etc., are available on other DVDs, but they have also included some shows like Racket Squad, Mr. & Mrs. North, and Sea Hunt that are either rarely or never seen on video/DVD. I hadn't seen Sea Hunt since its syndication run in the 1960s. What a great show and, to the best of my knowledge, this is the only episode available anywhere on DVD (wish there were more episodes of Sea Hunt on DVD).

While this disk is more of a "potpourri" of different types of television shows from the 1950s, Falcon also offers three other DVDs, including ones with television Detectives, Westerns, and Comedies. If you are nostalgic for this great era in television, these DVDs are the way to go. Highly recommended!

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Memento / Following

Humphrey Bogart Classics: Vol 1 - Casablanca / High Sierra

Razor Blade Smile

DVD: They Are Among Us

The Memoirs Of Women Who Went To War