"Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?"
Added 12/24/2009
Easter Parade is one of the greatest MGM musicals ever made. Fred Astaire and Judy Garland make a superlative dancing, singing and acting team; and the action all takes place back in the early 1900s. The plot moves along nicely although it is rather thin; but of course this is a film you watch for the musical numbers that are truly unforgettable. The cinematography is good; the acting is convincing and the script was well written, too.
Fred Astaire plays the part of Don Hewes, a very famous dancer, who is rather upset after his love interest and dance partner Nadine (Ann Miller) leaves him to pursue an even more lucrative career on the stage. In anger and disgust he impulsively vows that he could turn any woman into a better dancer than his partner had been--and he makes a great pick, Hannah Brown (Judy Garland)! Hannah is (of course) not too good at dancing at first--she can scarcely tell left from right! However, after a great deal of coaching, hard work and deciding how best to show off Hannah to the public, Don builds her into a star as his new dancing partner! The film also offers a love triangle with Johnny Harrow III (Peter Lawford), a wealthy college man, also being attracted to Hannah. There are a more few plot twists in addition to what I've told you here; but I'll leave them out because I don't want to spoil it for you!
The musical numbers are outstanding thanks to the incomparable Irving Berlin, Garland, and Astaire. Indeed, it's hard to decide which numbers are the best; they're all so well done and beautifully filmed! "Steppin' out with My Baby" and the title song are particularly strong numbers; and so is "We're A Couple of Swells," a vaudeville-type number that Garland liked very much. Ann Miller (playing Nadine, Astaire's former partner) also does a fantastic job with her song and dance number "Shakin' the Blues Away." "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" is yet another very well done number.
The choreography is excellent. The dancing is superlative; and they must have really put a lot of effort into a dance routine with Garland and Astaire early on in the film where she dances almost every step wrong! I was indeed reminded several times of the musical My Fair Lady and its "Pygmalion theme." In this film we see the older, more experienced and educated man coaching, teaching and molding an initially clumsy younger woman into a most beautiful swan who dances beautifully.
Look also for a very good performance by Jules Munshin as Headwaiter François; and Clinton Sundberg does a great job as Mike the Bartender.
I recommend this movie for lovers of classic musicals, Garland fans, Astaire fans, Miller fans as well as aficionados of great quality films. Diehard fans of classic movie musicals might want to choose the two DVD edition of this movie for its numerous extras.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Fun, great quality and an all-time favorite!
Added 12/21/2009
We have actually worn this out having played it soooo many times. My son is enthralled with the dancing of Fred Astair and cannot get enough of his movies. This is our favorite by far!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Loses something over the years
Added 7/10/2009
Don Hews (Fred Astaire), a song and dance man gets a new contract, he finds out the he is being jilted by the girl he had an understanding with Nadine Hale (Ann Miller); she decides to go off on her own with a different contract and more than willing to also go with their mutual friend Johnny Harlow (Peter Lawford). In an effort to replace, his dance partner and save face, Don finds a quick replacement Hannah Brown (Judy Garland) from his local bar. Can she fill the bill and does Don really know what he wants?
Lots (17) of great Irving Berlin songs. Lots of tap dancing.
Can't tell you of all the years I enjoyed this and similar movies. As with many things, you cannot go home again. Now I see the mechanics and the mismatch of characters to story. Now the film takes effort to get through. They seem to be straining to stay in formula as the story was originally designed for Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse not much too old Fred Astaire and too young Judy Garland.
One redeeming thing about the Special edition DVD is that the voiceover commentary by Astaire's daughter gave the film meaning and made it easier to watch.
Brigadoon
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Among The Finest Hollywood Musicals
Added 5/2/2009
One of the Hollywood finest and most popular films,and wonderful to have on DVD.There was early gossip in the 1940's that the situations of a standard/formulaic central idea and the glowing stardust magic of Judy Garland at her greatest would result in a film in which Fred Astaire and Judy Garland would captivate while the audience would simply wait for them to come onscreen again. This never happened because the ENTIRE film is a JOY from start to finish. The story proceeds with marvelous comedy and holds you from start to finish. The supporting cast, including Ann Miller and Peter Lawford each at their finest, is so marvelous that they captivate the audience as totally as to Fred and Judy as we all would like to remember them. An example of Hollywood at its MOST GLORIOUS!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Easter gift for daughter
Added 2/17/2009
This movie arrived very fast and in good condition. I can't wait for my daughter to watch this wonderful classic movie. I know she will love it as much as I did when I first saw it.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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"Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?"
Added 12/24/2009
Easter Parade is one of the greatest MGM musicals ever made. Fred Astaire and Judy Garland make a superlative dancing, singing and acting team; and the action all takes place back in the early 1900s. The plot moves along nicely although it is rather thin; but of course this is a film you watch for the musical numbers that are truly unforgettable. The cinematography is good; the acting is convincing and the script was well written, too.
Fred Astaire plays the part of Don Hewes, a very famous dancer, who is rather upset after his love interest and dance partner Nadine (Ann Miller) leaves him to pursue an even more lucrative career on the stage. In anger and disgust he impulsively vows that he could turn any woman into a better dancer than his partner had been--and he makes a great pick, Hannah Brown (Judy Garland)! Hannah is (of course) not too good at dancing at first--she can scarcely tell left from right! However, after a great deal of coaching, hard work and deciding how best to show off Hannah to the public, Don builds her into a star as his new dancing partner! The film also offers a love triangle with Johnny Harrow III (Peter Lawford), a wealthy college man, also being attracted to Hannah. There are a more few plot twists in addition to what I've told you here; but I'll leave them out because I don't want to spoil it for you!
The musical numbers are outstanding thanks to the incomparable Irving Berlin, Garland, and Astaire. Indeed, it's hard to decide which numbers are the best; they're all so well done and beautifully filmed! "Steppin' out with My Baby" and the title song are particularly strong numbers; and so is "We're A Couple of Swells," a vaudeville-type number that Garland liked very much. Ann Miller (playing Nadine, Astaire's former partner) also does a fantastic job with her song and dance number "Shakin' the Blues Away." "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" is yet another very well done number.
The choreography is excellent. The dancing is superlative; and they must have really put a lot of effort into a dance routine with Garland and Astaire early on in the film where she dances almost every step wrong! I was indeed reminded several times of the musical My Fair Lady and its "Pygmalion theme." In this film we see the older, more experienced and educated man coaching, teaching and molding an initially clumsy younger woman into a most beautiful swan who dances beautifully.
Look also for a very good performance by Jules Munshin as Headwaiter François; and Clinton Sundberg does a great job as Mike the Bartender.
I recommend this movie for lovers of classic musicals, Garland fans, Astaire fans, Miller fans as well as aficionados of great quality films. Diehard fans of classic movie musicals might want to choose the two DVD edition of this movie for its numerous extras.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Fun, great quality and an all-time favorite!
Added 12/21/2009
We have actually worn this out having played it soooo many times. My son is enthralled with the dancing of Fred Astair and cannot get enough of his movies. This is our favorite by far!
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Loses something over the years
Added 7/10/2009
Don Hews (Fred Astaire), a song and dance man gets a new contract, he finds out the he is being jilted by the girl he had an understanding with Nadine Hale (Ann Miller); she decides to go off on her own with a different contract and more than willing to also go with their mutual friend Johnny Harlow (Peter Lawford). In an effort to replace, his dance partner and save face, Don finds a quick replacement Hannah Brown (Judy Garland) from his local bar. Can she fill the bill and does Don really know what he wants?
Lots (17) of great Irving Berlin songs. Lots of tap dancing.
Can't tell you of all the years I enjoyed this and similar movies. As with many things, you cannot go home again. Now I see the mechanics and the mismatch of characters to story. Now the film takes effort to get through. They seem to be straining to stay in formula as the story was originally designed for Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse not much too old Fred Astaire and too young Judy Garland.
One redeeming thing about the Special edition DVD is that the voiceover commentary by Astaire's daughter gave the film meaning and made it easier to watch.
Brigadoon
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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