Press release:
Classic Musicals From
The Dream Factory Volume 3
Nine M-G-M hits Fully Restored and New to DVD
from Warner Home Video April 8
Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Jane Powell, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, Eleanor Powell, Howard Keel Shine in Some of Hollywood’s All-time Greatest Movie Musicals!
Burbank, Calif. December 10, 2007 – The singing and dancing continues April 8 when Warner Home Video (WHV) debuts Classic Musicals >From The Dream Factory Volume 3 -- an all-new-to-DVD collection featuring nine fan favorites spanning a 20-year period of film history when M-G-M’s “dream factory” defined the movie musical. This new collection is highlighted by three all-star, widescreen musical extravaganzas from the 1950s: Hit The Deck, Kismet, and Deep in My Heart, two 2-disc double feature sets honoring the studio’s queen of tap, Miss Eleanor Powell: Broadway Melody of 1936/ Broadway Melody of 1938 and Born to Dance/Lady Be Good, along with two Technicolor treats starring the studio’s favorite girl-next-door soprano, Jane Powell: Nancy Goes To Rio and Two Weeks With Love.
Each film is making its DVD debut for this collection, and each has been especially remastered from newly-restored film elements. The collection follows in the impressive dance-steps of WHV’s two previous successful volumes of Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory and features unforgettable star-turns from such M-G-M greats as Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Debbie Reynolds, Tony Martin, Howard Keel, Cyd Charisse and Vic Damone, as well as the afore-mentioned Powells, Eleanor and Jane. This new collection is also highlighted by a vast array of impressive special features including rare outtakes, newly-discovered audio rarities from the vault and classic radio shows. WHV once again provides the DVD buyer the opportunity to turn their home into a vintage theater, by including original theatrical short subjects and cartoons that likely played in theaters with the respective feature films, as well as original theatrical trailers. In addition, both Hit the Deck and Kismet boast a newly-remastered soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 as well as a 5.0 rendition of the original 4-track theatrical mix. Deep In My Heart is presented with a new 5.1 audio mix and its original theatrical mono.
The films will be available as a collection for $69.92 SRP while single titles will sell for $19.97 SRP and the 2-disc double features Nancy Goes To Rio/Two Weeks With Love, Broadway Melody of 1936/Broadway Melody of 1938 and Born to Dance/Lady Be Good will each be available for $24.98 SRP.
Highlights and Notes about the Collection
Hit the Deck (1955)
Hit the Deck hits all the right notes as three sailors (Tony Martin, Vic Damone, Russ Tamblyn) and three cuties (Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Ann Miller) flirt, squabble, run afoul of shore patrol and, of course, fall in love, all to the infectious melodies of the great Vincent Youmans. The film combines many songs from the 1927 stage original, with other Youmans classics providing a non-stop cavalcade of musical delights, neatly choreographed by the legendary Hermes Pan. A rare ensemble musical, Hit The Deck gives each of its stars a chance to shine both together and alone. Highlights include Ann Miller as the seductive Lady From The Bayou, Jane Powell and Vic Damone’s romantic duet I Know That You Know, a rollicking fun-house sequence showing off the acrobatic dexterity of Debbie Reynolds and Russ Tamblyn, and Tony Martin’s heartfelt rendition of More Than You Know. The festivities are capped off by a blockbuster finale of Hallelujah which gained later renown as one of the memorable highlights of MGM’s 1974 compilation classic That’s Entertainment. Music, romance, and fun are all on deck.
Special Features:
· Soundtrack remastered in both a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and 5.0 presentation of the original 4-track theatrical mix
· Classic M-G-M Pete Smith Specialty comedy short The Fall Guy
· Classic M-G-M Tex Avery cartoon Field and Stream
· Audio-only bonuses: Dolby 5.1 music-only track for song sequences
· Audio-only outtake song Sometimes I’m Happy (Powell/Damone reprise)
· Original Theatrical trailer
· Languages & subtitles: English & Français (main feature)
Deep In My Heart (1954)
The life and career of celebrated composer Sigmund Romberg served as the basis for Deep in My Heart , the last of M-G-M’s all-star musical ‘bio-pics’. The irrepressible Jose Ferrer (then at the height of his success after acclaimed performances in Moulin Rouge and Cyrano de Bergerac) gives a winning performance as the legendary Romberg, supported by lovely Merle Oberon and the charming Metropolitan Opera legend Helen Traubel (making her film debut). Directed by Stanley Donen (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers), the film’s real drawing card is a dazzling array of Metro musical talents performing more than 20 Romberg melodies drawn from the prolific composer’s catalog of over 2000 songs. Highlights include Gene Kelly’s only on-screen appearance with his younger brother Fred, who happily hoof and romp in the I Love to Go Swimmin’ with Wimmen number; Jane Powell and Vic Damone’s enchanting duet from Maytime; Ann Miller’s jazz-age Charleston send-up of Elinor Glyn called “It”; and Ferrer’s on-screen duet with his then-wife, the beguiling Rosemary Clooney, who appropriately sing “Mr. and Mrs.”. However, the film’s most arresting and unforgettable sequence is a breath-taking pas-de-deux called One Alone, which features a dance sequence between Cyd Charisse and James Mitchell that somehow flew over the heads of the screen censors of the era. The dance between these two masterful artists brims with a subtle-but-unmistakable eroticism (all through implication) that continues to surprise audiences, even by today’s standards. This DVD release marks the first home-video presentation of Deep In My Heart in its original widescreen aspect ratio.
Special Features:
· Soundtrack remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, as well as original theatrical Mono
· OscarÒ-nominated musical short The Strauss Fantasy
· Classic cartoon Farm of Tomorrow
· Outtake musical numbers Dance, My Darlings (Traubel) and Girlies of the Cabaret (George Murphy and Esther Williams)
· Theatrical trailer
· Languages & subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
Kismet (1955)
Edward Knoblock’s play KISMET had already been the basis of four different films (the earliest being from 1914), M-G-M producer Arthur Freed dusted off the chestnut once more when the studio bought the rights to the 1953 smash Broadway musical version. Songwriters George Wright and Chet Forrest built a gorgeous score around the themes and melodies of Alexander Borodin, and snared three hit records in the process. The songs STRANGER IN PARADISE, BAUBLES, BANGLES and BEADS, as well as AND THIS IS MY BELOVED, all became huge popular hits. Kismet turned the Broadway stage into a glittering, gleaming Arabian Nights’ dream. It was ideal material, in fact, for the dream factory and director Vincente Minnelli. This lavish musical follows one fateful, fabulous day as a beggar-poet (Howard Keel) and his daughter (Ann Blyth) cross paths with a wicked wazir (played with wit by Sebastian “Mr. French” Cabot) a sly temptress (the amazing Dolores Grey), and a handsome prince (sung with beguiling style by Vic Damone). Kismet is a magical journey, filled with opulent sets and exotic adventure.
Special Features:
· Soundtrack remastered in both a new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix and 5.0 presentation of the original 4-track theatrical mix
· OscarÒ-nominated CInemaScope short The Battle of Gettysburg
· Classic cartoon The First Bad Man
· 2 excerpts from The MGM Parade TV Series
· Complete version of partially-censored musical number Rahadlakum
· Audio-only bonus: Outtake Song Rhymes Have I
· Theatrical trailers of both the 1944 and 1955 Kismet
· Subtitles: English , Français & Português (main feature only)
Nancy Goes To Rio (1950)/Two Weeks With Love (1950)
Nancy Goes to Rio – and fun comes along! A colorful backlot Rio is the setting for a comic tale of personal and professional mix-ups as aspiring actress Nancy (Jane Powell) and her Broadway-veteran mother (Ann Sothern) seek the same stage role. Adding to the Brazilian flair is Carmen Miranda in her zany-hatted performance glory.
Powell’s sunny charm and bright soprano are again on display when she and Debbie Reynolds turn a 1900s Catskills vacation into Two Weeks with Love. Powell hopes to catch the eye of suave Ricardo Montalban by wearing a form-fitting corset undergarment. Reynolds reels in affable Carleton Carpenter for a legendary Aba Daba Honeymoon showstopper. Speaking of legends, Busby Berkeley provides the musical stagings.
Special Features:
Disc 1
Nancy Goes To Rio
· OscarÒ-nominated Pete Smith Specialty comedy short Wrong Way Butch
· Classic cartoon The Peachy Cobbler
· Theatrical trailer
· Languages & subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
DISC 2
Two Weeks With Love
· TCM special Reel Memories with Jane Powel, hosted by Robert Osbornel
· Vintage short Screen Actors
· Classic cartoon Garden Gopher
· Theatrical trailer
· Subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
Broadway Melody of 1936/Broadway Melody of 1938
When young Eleanor Powell stepped in front of the movie camera for a little star turn in George White Scandals of 1935, no one could have accurately predicted she’d soon become a huge star, whose incomparable dancing skills made her an audience darling all over the world. Broadway Melody of 1936 instantly established Powell as a big-screen star. Here, she taps the spangled ebullience of Broadway Rhythm, while 15-year-old Judy Garland sings a smitten Dear Mr. Gable to a portrait of Hollywood’s King in Broadway Melody of 1938 and both actresses achieve career breakthroughs.
In the Oscar®-winning 1936 romp, Powell plays an Albany girl-next-door who poses as France’s and Broadway’s exotic La Belle Arlette. The 1938 tale has her portraying a horse trainer who’s just as much at ease in taps and tuxedo as she is in riding boots and jodhpurs. Judy steps lively, too, joining Buddy Ebsen for Everybody Sing. These star-making Melodies are merry musicals for every classic fan’s collection.
Special Features:
DISC 1
Broadway Melody of 1936
· Vintage short Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
· Classic cartoon To Spring
· Audio-only bonus: Leo Is on the Air radio promo
· Theatrical trailer
· Subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
DISC 2
Broadway Melody of 1938
· OscarÒ-winning short That Mothers Might Live
· Classic cartoon Pipe Dreams
· Audio-only bonuses: Outtake Songs Yours and Mine,
· Your Broadway and My Broadway and Sun Showers
· Feelin’ like a Million test recording
· Good News of 1938 radio program and Leo Is on the Air radio promo
· Theatrical trailer
· Languages & subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
Born to Dance (1936)/Lady Be Good (1941)
Eleanor Powell’s the girl, James Stewart’s the guy and Cole Porter’s the tunesmith in Born to Dance, a break-a-leg tale of an understudy turned Broadway star that includes Powell taking command of a battleship for Swingin’ the Jinx Away.
Her radiant appeal and astonishing tap-dancing skills energize the screen again when she plays friend and matchmaker to two struggling songwriters (Robert Young, Ann Sothern) in Lady Be Good. Highlights include Powell’s astonishing Fascinating Rhythm hoofing and Sothern’s poignant rendition of the World War II evergreen and Oscar®-winning Best Song The Last Time I Saw Paris.
Special Features:
DISC 1
Born to Dance
· Vintage short Hollywood: The Second Step
· OscarÒ-nominated cartoon The Old Mill Pond
· Audio-only bonus: Hollywood Hotel Radio program
· Theatrical trailer
· Languages & subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
DISC 2
Lady Be Good
· Vintage FitzPatrick TravelTalks short Glimpses of Florida
· OscarÒ-nominated cartoon The Rookie Bear
· Audio-only bonuses: outtake song I Love to Dance and Leo Is on the Air radio promo
· Theatrical trailer
· Subtitles: English & Français (main feature only)
Classic Musicals From The Dream Factory Volume 3
Street Date: April 8, 2008
Catalog #: 1000015118
Collection $69.92 SRP; Individual titles $19.97 SRP; 2-Disc Double Features $24.98
All Titles Not Rated; Color
Hit the Deck
Catalog #: 1000035706
Run Time: 112 minutes
Deep In My Heart
Catalog #: 1000035708
Run Time: 132 minutes
Kismet
Catalog #: 1000035645
Run Time: 113 minutes
Nancy Goes To Rio/
Two Weeks With Love
Catalog #:100035709
Run Time: 99 minutes/92 minutes
Broadway Melody of 1936/
Broadway Melody of 1938
Catalog #: 1000035710
Run Time: 101minutes/ 110 minutes
Born to Dance/Lady Be Good
Catalog #: 1000035824
Run Time: 105 minutes/ 111 minutes
Ce sera ma première grosse attente pour 2008
Remastered in 2015 (
). Quant à Virginia "Deadpan" O'Brien, elle est hilarante.
!