Years in the making! The glory of MGM on parade! Enough studio resources to film twenty pictures were expended on this paean to showman Florenz Ziegfeld. It’s really Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s Technicolor valentine to itself, showing off the studio’s enormous stable of musical talent, along with various of its comic performers. Arthur Freed and Louis B. Mayer’s notion of ‘something for everyone’ results in weird stack of grandiose musical numbers and mostly weak comedy. The biggest draw is the incredible color cinematography that peeks through in three or four jaw-droppingly elaborate musical spectacles. The picture is a workout to find the artistic limits of the Technicolor system.
Ziegfeld Follies
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1945 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 117 110 min. / Street Date June 15, 2021 / 21.99
Starring: (alphabetically): Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Victor Moore, Red Skelton, Esther Williams. Also...
Ziegfeld Follies
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1945 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 117 110 min. / Street Date June 15, 2021 / 21.99
Starring: (alphabetically): Fred Astaire, Lucille Ball, Lucille Bremer, Fanny Brice, Judy Garland, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Gene Kelly, Victor Moore, Red Skelton, Esther Williams. Also...
- 7/20/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Now for a real treat for musical fans, a core MGM dazzler with top stars, fully restored and looking incredibly good. Vincente Minnelli’s snappy, funny 1948 show isn’t ranked among producer Arthur Freed’s best but it ought to be. Silly farce gets a high-toned, technically amazing workout as Judy Garland’s demure señorita secretly lusts after the ruthless corsair of the title, Mack the Black! Gene Kelly’s slippery carny womanizer impersonates her piratical fantasy sex object, and it all ends in clowning and killer musical numbers. Cole Porter’s smart songs attest to the great orchestrators and arrangers in MGM’s world-class music department; the new full digital restoration makes the movie look and sound better than I’ve certainly ever seen it.
The Pirate
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1948 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 102 min. / Street Date November 24, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Walter Slezak,...
The Pirate
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1948 / Color / 1:37 Academy / 102 min. / Street Date November 24, 2020 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Walter Slezak,...
- 11/24/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Legendary animator Floyd Norman talks about his all time favorite movies.
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016)
Vertigo (1958)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Rope (1948)
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Song of the South (1946)
The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948)
The Third Man (1950)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Jungle Book (2016)
The Lion King (2019)
Pinocchio (1940)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Old Mill (1937)
Casablanca (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Singin’ In The Rain (1953)
Paths of Glory (1957)
1917 (2019)
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
Star Wars (1977)
American Graffiti (1973)
Sorcerer (1977)
Other Notable Items
Michael Fiore
The Watts riots
The LAPD’s cruel mistreatment of Rodney King
The George Floyd protests
Move in Philadelphia
Walt Disney Pictures
Tfh Guru Roger Corman
Erik Sharkey
The Three Stooges
I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali TV series (1977)
Muhammad Ali
Fred Calvert
Alfred Hitchcock
Bernard Herrman’s Vertigo score
Robert Burks
The latest...
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Floyd Norman: An Animated Life (2016)
Vertigo (1958)
Citizen Kane (1941)
Rope (1948)
The Trouble With Harry (1955)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Song of the South (1946)
The Treasure of Sierra Madre (1948)
The Third Man (1950)
The Jungle Book (1967)
The Jungle Book (2016)
The Lion King (2019)
Pinocchio (1940)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Old Mill (1937)
Casablanca (1942)
Cinderella (1950)
Singin’ In The Rain (1953)
Paths of Glory (1957)
1917 (2019)
The Bridge On The River Kwai (1957)
Star Wars (1977)
American Graffiti (1973)
Sorcerer (1977)
Other Notable Items
Michael Fiore
The Watts riots
The LAPD’s cruel mistreatment of Rodney King
The George Floyd protests
Move in Philadelphia
Walt Disney Pictures
Tfh Guru Roger Corman
Erik Sharkey
The Three Stooges
I Am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali TV series (1977)
Muhammad Ali
Fred Calvert
Alfred Hitchcock
Bernard Herrman’s Vertigo score
Robert Burks
The latest...
- 6/9/2020
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
This article marks Part 5 of the Gold Derby series analyzing 84 years of Best Original Song at the Oscars. Join us as we look back at the timeless tunes recognized in this category, the results of each race and the overall rankings of the Academy Awards winners.
The 1950 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:
“Mona Lisa” from “Captain Carey, U.S.A.”
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” from “Cinderella”
“Mule Train” from “Singing Guns”
“Be My Love” from “The Toast of New Orleans”
“Wilhelmina” from “Wabash Avenue”
Won and should’ve won: “Mona Lisa” from “Captain Carey, U.S.A. ”
Best Original Song in 1950 underwhelms a bit, with really only two particularly memorable nominees – one, the winning “Mona Lisa,” and second, the catchy-as-can-be “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”
“Mona Lisa,” featured in the forgettable Alan Ladd war picture “Captain Carey, U.S.A.,” is performed sumptuously here by the always-marvelous Nat King Cole. His performance, coupled with the rich orchestrations,...
The 1950 Oscar nominees in Best Original Song were:
“Mona Lisa” from “Captain Carey, U.S.A.”
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” from “Cinderella”
“Mule Train” from “Singing Guns”
“Be My Love” from “The Toast of New Orleans”
“Wilhelmina” from “Wabash Avenue”
Won and should’ve won: “Mona Lisa” from “Captain Carey, U.S.A. ”
Best Original Song in 1950 underwhelms a bit, with really only two particularly memorable nominees – one, the winning “Mona Lisa,” and second, the catchy-as-can-be “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.”
“Mona Lisa,” featured in the forgettable Alan Ladd war picture “Captain Carey, U.S.A.,” is performed sumptuously here by the always-marvelous Nat King Cole. His performance, coupled with the rich orchestrations,...
- 8/20/2018
- by Andrew Carden
- Gold Derby
Battleground
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1949 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 118 min. / Street Date January 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Don Taylor, James Whitmore, Douglas Fowley, Leon Ames, Guy Anderson, Denise Darcel, Richard Jaeckel, James Arness
Cinematography: Paul Vogel
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters
Film Editor: John D. Dunning
Original Music: Lennie Hayton
Written by: Robert Pirosh
Produced by: Dore Schary
Directed by William A. Wellman
“The Guts, Gags and Glory of a Lot of Wonderful Guys!”
— say, what kind of movie is this, anyway?
Action movies about combat are now mostly about soldiers that fight like killing machines, or stories of battle with a strong political axe to grind. WW2 changed perceptions completely, when a mostly civilian army did the fighting. With the cessation of hostilities combat pictures tapered off quickly, and Hollywood gave the subject a break for several years.
Blu-ray
Warner Archive Collection
1949 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 118 min. / Street Date January 10, 2017 / available through the WBshop / 21.99
Starring: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Don Taylor, James Whitmore, Douglas Fowley, Leon Ames, Guy Anderson, Denise Darcel, Richard Jaeckel, James Arness
Cinematography: Paul Vogel
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Hans Peters
Film Editor: John D. Dunning
Original Music: Lennie Hayton
Written by: Robert Pirosh
Produced by: Dore Schary
Directed by William A. Wellman
“The Guts, Gags and Glory of a Lot of Wonderful Guys!”
— say, what kind of movie is this, anyway?
Action movies about combat are now mostly about soldiers that fight like killing machines, or stories of battle with a strong political axe to grind. WW2 changed perceptions completely, when a mostly civilian army did the fighting. With the cessation of hostilities combat pictures tapered off quickly, and Hollywood gave the subject a break for several years.
- 1/6/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: July 17, 2012
Price: Two-dvd $14.96, Blu-ray $19.98, Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo $84.99
Studio: Warner Home Video
Singin’ in the Rain didn’t win an Academy Award back when it was first released in theaters in 1952, but it still became one of the most loved musicals of all time. It’s the American Film Institute’s No. 1 Movie Musical. We’re glad to see the film get its Blu-ray debut for its 60th birthday. A gift for fans indeed.
The movie’s story is reminiscent of the 2012 Best Picture winner The Artist. Set in 1927 Hollywood, Singin’ in the Rain stars Gene Kelly (Cover Girl) as Don Lockwood, a silent movie star with Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen, The Shaggy Dog). When the talkies are introduced and Don and Lina’s film is changed into a musical, Don’s voice is perfect for the new medium, but Lina gets left behind.
Price: Two-dvd $14.96, Blu-ray $19.98, Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo $84.99
Studio: Warner Home Video
Singin’ in the Rain didn’t win an Academy Award back when it was first released in theaters in 1952, but it still became one of the most loved musicals of all time. It’s the American Film Institute’s No. 1 Movie Musical. We’re glad to see the film get its Blu-ray debut for its 60th birthday. A gift for fans indeed.
The movie’s story is reminiscent of the 2012 Best Picture winner The Artist. Set in 1927 Hollywood, Singin’ in the Rain stars Gene Kelly (Cover Girl) as Don Lockwood, a silent movie star with Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen, The Shaggy Dog). When the talkies are introduced and Don and Lina’s film is changed into a musical, Don’s voice is perfect for the new medium, but Lina gets left behind.
- 5/14/2012
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
'Singin' in the Rain' 60th Anniversary: 25 Things You Didn't Know About Hollywood's Greatest Musical
In a year when the Best Picture Oscar went to a comedy about Hollywood's turbulent transition from silence to sound, "Singin' in the Rain" suddenly seems timely again. The beloved musical, which marks the 60th anniversary of its release in U.S. theaters in April, is not only fondly remembered for its exuberantly athletic song-and-dance numbers, but also for its witty dramatization of the birth of Hollywood's sound era. If you haven't seen it, imagine 2011's "The Artist" with spoken dialogue and without the heroic dog. But of course, you have seen it, even if you don't realize it. The title number, featuring a soaked but joyful Gene Kelly, is one of the most iconic (and most frequently parodied) sequences in film history. The film's impact on popular culture is enormous, from making stars out of Debbie Reynolds and Cyd Charisse to influencing directors as far-flung as Jacques Demy and Stanley Kubrick.
- 3/30/2012
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Velvet-voiced singer, actor and activist who broke new ground for black performers
A handful of decades ago the roles for black performers in Hollywood movies were deliberately kept peripheral to the plots, so that their appearances could easily be edited out for screenings in the American south. Black singers and musicians were barred from taking rooms in the same hotels in which they were performing. Partners in an interracial marriage might decide to leave the Us and move to more hospitable locations, such as Paris, to avoid hate mail and threats. All this and more happened to the singer and actor Lena Horne, who has died aged 92.
Horne not only rose above it all, but also significantly contributed to changing the situation. The velvet-voiced, multi-talented Horne first negotiated, and then resisted, the worst that a racist entertainment industry could throw at her. She rose to its summit as an original...
A handful of decades ago the roles for black performers in Hollywood movies were deliberately kept peripheral to the plots, so that their appearances could easily be edited out for screenings in the American south. Black singers and musicians were barred from taking rooms in the same hotels in which they were performing. Partners in an interracial marriage might decide to leave the Us and move to more hospitable locations, such as Paris, to avoid hate mail and threats. All this and more happened to the singer and actor Lena Horne, who has died aged 92.
Horne not only rose above it all, but also significantly contributed to changing the situation. The velvet-voiced, multi-talented Horne first negotiated, and then resisted, the worst that a racist entertainment industry could throw at her. She rose to its summit as an original...
- 5/10/2010
- by John Fordham
- The Guardian - Film News
Throughout a career that brought international acclaim, the showbiz legend never softened her firm stance against racism
If she could have swallowed her pride, Lena Horne could have had an easy life. Born into a middle-class African-American family in New York in 1917, she was beautiful, talented and ambitious. At the age of 16, much to her family's disapproval, she auditioned as a chorus dancer at the famous Cotton Club, and got the job. She followed this up by taking voice lessons, sang with the black "society" band of Noble Sissle and appeared on Broadway in Blackbirds of 1939 and 1940.
The first jolt in her hitherto smooth showbiz career occured when she became the singer with the top-flight white band of Charlie Barnet and suffered the indignity of having to use the tradesmen's entrance and goods elevator when working at smart hotels. She left Barnet to concentrate on cabaret work and found herself...
If she could have swallowed her pride, Lena Horne could have had an easy life. Born into a middle-class African-American family in New York in 1917, she was beautiful, talented and ambitious. At the age of 16, much to her family's disapproval, she auditioned as a chorus dancer at the famous Cotton Club, and got the job. She followed this up by taking voice lessons, sang with the black "society" band of Noble Sissle and appeared on Broadway in Blackbirds of 1939 and 1940.
The first jolt in her hitherto smooth showbiz career occured when she became the singer with the top-flight white band of Charlie Barnet and suffered the indignity of having to use the tradesmen's entrance and goods elevator when working at smart hotels. She left Barnet to concentrate on cabaret work and found herself...
- 5/10/2010
- by Dave Gelly
- The Guardian - Film News
Lena Horne, a show-stopping beauty who battled racism in a frustrating effort to become Hollywood's first black leading lady, has died, according to media reports Monday. She was 92.The New York Times, quoting her son-in-law, Kevin Buckley, said Horne died on Sunday night at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.Hospital officials were not available for comment.Horne went to Hollywood in the late 1930s and while she never became a major movie star, she is credited with breaking the ground for black actresses to get bigger roles in Hollywood.Horne had a stage persona that was mysterious, elegant, haughty and sexy, and it helped her become an enchanting nightclub performer who made "Stormy Weather" her signature song.Known as the "Negro Cinderella" early in her career, she was as complex as she was beautiful. She had a reputation for coldness and insecurity, and her career frustrations led to bitterness.
- 5/10/2010
- backstage.com
The 'Stormy Weather' singer and activist died Sunday in New York.
By Gil Kaufman
Lena Horne
Photo: Yvonne Hemsey/ Getty Images
Singer, actress and civil-rights icon Lena Horne died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 92 of undisclosed causes. The jazz icon, whose signature song was "Stormy Weather," famously fought racist attitudes in Hollywood in her efforts to become the first black leading lady on the big screen. She died at New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, according to The New York Times.
Horne came to Hollywood in the 1940s and tried to break into the movies. Though she earned a contract with MGM, she was barely cast in her early career because of the color of her skin. Ironically, the paper noted, she was so light skinned as a girl that other black children accused her of having a "white daddy."
Early...
By Gil Kaufman
Lena Horne
Photo: Yvonne Hemsey/ Getty Images
Singer, actress and civil-rights icon Lena Horne died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 92 of undisclosed causes. The jazz icon, whose signature song was "Stormy Weather," famously fought racist attitudes in Hollywood in her efforts to become the first black leading lady on the big screen. She died at New York-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan, according to The New York Times.
Horne came to Hollywood in the 1940s and tried to break into the movies. Though she earned a contract with MGM, she was barely cast in her early career because of the color of her skin. Ironically, the paper noted, she was so light skinned as a girl that other black children accused her of having a "white daddy."
Early...
- 5/10/2010
- MTV Music News
Lena Horne, whose beauty and talent - and race - helped pave the way for future generations of African American stars, died Sunday night at Manhattan's New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell hospital, reports The New York Times. She was 92 and had been in failing health the past few months, sources tell People. As she recounted in her successful, Tony-winning 1981 one-woman Broadway show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, the star - MGM's first leading actress of color, though she was often relegated to secondary scenes that could be edited out of movies when shown Down South - was born in Brooklyn and,...
- 5/10/2010
- by Stephen M. Silverman
- PEOPLE.com
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