Search - Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 1 (Ziegfeld Follies / Till the Clouds Roll By / Three Little Words / Summer Stock / It's Always Fair Weather) on DVD

A superb collection of classic MGM musicals..JUDY, GENE, & F

Eric | Columbus, OH | 03/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"During the Hollywood's golden era, the 'tiffany' of movie studios as MGM, where the motto was "Do it big, do it right, and give it class". They sure did, and when it came to musicals, no one else could come close. They had all the greatest stars of the genre, and whereas musicals from other studios may seem stiff and dated, most of Metro's musical output shines with immortality.



No where is this more evident than in this new boxed set of stellar favorites from Warner Home Video, which is todays 'tiffany' of video labels. Nobody does it better. The care, cleverness & dedication they put into their classic releases is abundant, and each film in this set has been given a sparkling new transfer and is loaded with extras, as is the Warner style.



Not only do you get Judy & Gene in the charming SUMMER STOCK, climaxing with GET HAPPY, but you also get those two and a dozen more Metro stars in the dazzling ZIEGFELD FOLLIES. Gene Kelly's final collaboration with Stanley Donen as co-directors, is the magnificent gem IT'S ALWAYS FAIR WEATHER, with a witty screenplay by Comden & Green, and knockout performances from the entire cast including Cyd Charisse. At last this comes to DVD in 16x9 widescreen with 5.1 audio, and outtakes too! Astaire and Red Skelton team in THREE LITTLE WORDS, which is probably the best and most delightful "composer-bio" ever to come out of Hollywood. It's truthful to the real story of Kalmar and Ruby, and is a joyous blend of great songs and comedic fun. Last but certainly not least is the first legitimate DVD release of TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY, MGM's extravaganza built around the music of Jerome Kern. A huge roster of MGM talent is featured in great musical numbers that now finally look and sound terrific.



Although its heartbreaking that the MGM we once knew is no longer, and survives only as a 'label' owned by another studio, we film fans are so fortunate that the great MGM library ended up with the superbly talented folks at Warner Brothers.



"

Details on the bonus features

joseph Corey | Raleigh, NC United States | 03/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ziegfeld Follies

New featurette Ziegfeld Follies: An Embarrassment of Riches

Vintage MGM Crime Does Not Pay short The Luckiest Guy in the World

2 classic MGM cartoons: The Hick Chick, Solid Serenade

Audio-only bonus: outtake songs If Swing Goes, I Go Too, This Heart of Mine and We Will Meet Again in Honolulu

Ziegfeld movies trailer gallery

Till the Clouds Roll By

New featurette Till the Clouds Roll By: Real to Reel

Vintage Fitzpartick Traveltalk short Glimpses of California

Classic MGM Tex Avery cartoon Henpecked Hoboes

Two musical outtake sequences: Judy Garland performing D'Ya Love Me? and Music in the Air (I've Told Ev'ry Little Star/The Song is You) performed by Kathryn Grayson and Johnny Johnston

Theatrical trailer

Three Little Words

New featurette Three Little Words: It's All True

Vintage Fitzpatrick Traveltalk short Roaming Through Michigan

Classic MGM Tex Avery cartoon Ventriloquist Cat

Audio-only bonus: Paula Stone's Hollywood USA radio promo featuring Fred Astaire & Harry Ruby

Theatrical trailer

Summer Stock

New featurette Summer Stock: Get Happy!

Classic MGM cartoon The Cuckoo Clock

Vintage Pete Smith Specialty Short Did'ja Know?

Audio-only bonus: outtake song Fall in Love

Theatrical trailer

It's Always Fair Weather

New featurette It's Always Fair Weather: Going Out on a High Note

3 outtake musical numbers: The Binge/Trashcan Dance (alternate takes), Jack and the Space Giants (with Michael Kidd), Love Is Nothing but a Racket (with Gene Kelly & Cyd Charisse)

Two segments from The MGM Parade featuring Cyd Charisse and Gene Kelly

2 classic MGM cartoons: Deputy Droopy, Good Will to Men

Audio-only bonus: I Thought They'd Never Leave outtake featuring Dolores Grey's unused vocal"

A great bunch of films AND DVDs!!!

Richardson | Sunny California USA | 04/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was lucky enough to preview this set recently and am happy to report that the other folks expecting WB's normal fine print quality will not be dissapointed...they look wonderful. As is the custom at WB there are many extras on each DVD as well. Others have listed them...outakes, vintage clips and featurettes...so I won't re-list those but comment on the new 15 minute featurettes on each film. Well, unlike the dissapointing (IMHO) Busby Berkely bonus featurettes..these are well made, informative and VERY entertaining...probably due to the much higher quality of interviewees....like the ever present Garland expert John Fricke. Current sizzling hot Broadway choreographer and director Casey Nicholaw, who lends his expertise on Summer Stock and It's always fair weather. Susan Stroman , director of the recent movie "The Producers, ads a fresh take on It's always fair weather as well.

The absolute gem (again IMHO) however is the Oscar and Grammy winning songwriter of Mary Poppins, Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang and so many more Richard M Sherman. Mr Sherman's thoughts about Jerome Kern (Till the Clouds Roll By) and Kalmar & Ruby (Three Little Words)go much further than the normal "college professors" on other DVDs. As those two movies are about songwriters...who better than one of the all time greats to comment and frankly he seems to be much more than a hired gun , but an actual fan of these writers and very familiar with their work, lives and the movies in question...raising the bar substantially due to his participation."

What a deal

Dave | San Diego, CA | 04/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although this has been called a mixed bag by some, for the price, you just can't go wrong. Judy & Gene doing the "Portland Fancy" and Judy singing "Get Happy" from "Summer Stock"; Lena Horne singing numbers from "Show Boat," the musical she should have been in; Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire doing their only real on-screen duet in "Ziegfeld Follies" (they pretty much just walked through "That's Entertainment 2"); all these priceless musical numbers must be seen to be believed, all in glowing and restored technicolor. Lots of fun extras as well."