Fox
Reissues Six Classic Musicals
Fox has once again reissued its classic Rodgers and Hammerstein
musicals in "anniversary" collections, and for the most
part they're fine DVD's well worth your time if you're a fan of
this genre. Three of the new, six movie set are straightforward
reissues of their earlier anniversary editions, but three (South
Pacific, Carousel and King and I) are newly packaged.
Each are two disc sets with supposedly digitally remastered
material as well as plenty of extras. And you get a nice booklet
in the boxed set that gives some interseting background information
about the various films. Not only that, but you can also take advantage
of "songs only" features that let you cut to the hits
(and the rest of the songs, too!).
The movie
we were the most pleased to see was Oklahoma! This had been available
before, but not in true anamorphic widescreen until this anniversary
edition came out in 2005, so owners of 16x9 TV's had to zoom the
letterboxed picture out to fill the screen, with a resultant loss
of resolution that was a damn shame.
All is better now, though we'd like to see an even better restoration
before what is probably an inevitable new reissue. But this version
not only comes in true anamorphic, you get two separate versions:
the original Todd AO presentation (aspect ratio of 2.20:1) and
the Cinemascope on (2.35:1).
They're different, and not only in screen size. The travelling
Todd AO road show version has different opening titles, a full overture,
and more. Alas, while we hoped to prefer the "original"
version (both were shot separately, apparently, but at the same
time - according to a featurette on the disc) we thought the picture
quality was superior on the Cinemascope disc.
Now, neither version is unwatchable and in fact they're both big
improvements over the non-anamorphic one Fox released earlier.
Plus you get all kinds of extras, from the aforementioned Todd
AO retrospective to audio commentaries, singalong karaoke subtitles
and a buch of other stuff.
We love Oklahoma! and are pleased as punch to see it given a better
treatment on DVD than it had received originally.
Carousel isn't nearly up to the quality of Oklahoma! (or, we'd
argue, the rest of the musicals either), but it's nice to see Jones
and MacRae back together again.
Unfortunately, this time Jones is a bit of a bimbo and MacRae
is a bit of an oaf. Billy (MacRae) is sent down from what we think
may be heaven for a one-day attempt to try making up for
the mistakes he made in life. We don't get to see many of the mistakes,
but we are treated to a couple of lulus. Billy once worked at
the carnival as the barker at the carousel, a kind of folk hero
figure, apparently. This is where he met Julie (a very sexy Jones).
But his boss doesn't cotton to his carrying on with Jule, and fires
him.
Silly with love as young people often are, he and Julie get married,
but he's not much of a husband. In fact, he's a loser - his dreams
don't go much beyond being a carnival barker. He has trouble finding
a job (and in fact turns down a least one good opportunity) and
they have to live with Julie's cousin.
Then Julie gets pregnant, at which time Billy he feels he needs
to find a way to support his family, finally, but his dull brain
decides that the only option open to him is falling
into a life of crime with his old pal Jigger (Cameron Mitchell).
It's pretty depressing, though there are some more uplifting moments
and some nice songs - especially "If I Loved You," "June is Bustin'
Out All Over" and, especially, the great "You'll Never Walk Alone."
The movie really deserves a good restoration, but that isn't what
we get here. Colors are smeary and the picture is dark and has
too much grain and the audio isn't up to the standard of, for example
"South Pacific."
But there are plenty of extras. Disc one features a commentary
track, the musical score isolated, the abovementioned "songs only"
option and a karaoke feature.
Disc two includes the bonus film "Liliom" on which the musical
was based, a featurette, excerpt from a vintage stage production
with original Broadway stars Jan Clayton and John Raitt, and lots
more.
The Sound of Music is
a wonderful movie, a five Oscar-winner (including "Best Picture") that
has also been given a new, Todd AO aspect ratio release on DVD.
Also available as part of 20th Century Fox's "Five Star Classic"
series, this new 40th anniversary edition is a two disc extravaganza
that not only includes a good anamorphic widescreen version of the
film, but enough extras to keep "Music" lovers happy.
The film itself is well known. Directed by Robert Wise and starring
Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, it tells the song-filled
tale of would-be nun Maria (Andrews) who's sent to be governess
for Captain von Trapp's (Plummer) seven children.
Like Mary Poppins, Maria's just the latest in a long line of governesses
for the kids, but (like Mary Poppins) it turns out she's just what
the doctor ordered. Her sunny disposition, love of music, and strength
of character quickly breaks down the barriers between herself and
the kids - and the barriers between the unhappy Captain von Trapp
and life in general.
The Captain falls in love with Maria and they marry, only to have
their new family life threatened by the rise of Nazi Germany and
its takeover of von Trapp's beloved Austria.
Speaking of "beloved Austria," this movie's exteriors were filmed
on location, and that was a wonderful decision by the producers.
Austria is gorgeous and the locations enhance the beauty of the
overall film, as well as lending a feeling of authenticity.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is a movie masterpiece, with
wonderful songs performed wonderfully. Andrews' singing is effortless
and she plays the part of Maria with guts, vulnerability, and bravado
(perhaps a strange combination, but she pulls it off). Plummer
is also good as the crusty Captain, a shattered man who, thanks
to Maria, finds reason to sing and to love again.
The widescreen picture is very good, as is the Dolby Digital 5.0
audio - with one exception. We'd have liked to seen some of the
dialogue remixed to the center front channel, because sometimes
some onscreen characters' voices were coming from the left or
right speaker, which made it sound like their voices were disembodied.
But on the whole that's a pretty minor criticism for a marvelous
video adaptation that undoubtedly chose to remain true to the
original audio soundtrack. Just remember to move your left and
right speakers to beside your TV before you play the DVD!
Disc one also includes a full length running commentary from director
Robert Wise as well as a second one with the wonderful Julie Andrews
and Christopher Plummer.
Disc two features a series of documentaries, including a 1965 look
at the film and at Salzburg and some all new presentations including
"My Favorite Things: Julie Andrews Remembers." We have
a lot of time for Julie Andrews, and recommend pretty well anything
she's in. Well, Star isn't a great film, but even there, she far
outshines the material.
It's a complete package that for the first time does "video justice"
to this timeless classic.
The King and I features an Oscar-winning performance
by Yul Brynner as the King of Siam, a petulant and immature ruler
who nonetheless wants to do best by his country and that includes
learning modern scientific ways. He hires Mrs. Anna Leonowens (Deborah
Kerr) to teach his children and his wives and from Anna's and her
son, Louis', arrival in Bangkok it's culture shock after culture
shock for both protagonists.
Anna threatens to
leave when she discovers that the house she had been promised hasn't
been provided, but stays on anyway because she has fallen quickly
in love with the children. There's also an attraction between her
and the king, though Anna has no intention of becoming just another
body in his harem.
The authors manage to get quite a bit of social commentary into
the musical, including some anti-slavery points helped along by
the presence of a new slave to the king's court, a gift from another
kingdom. She uses Anna's copy of "Uncle
Tom's Cabin" to create a nifty Siamese ballet expressing
her unhappiness at being with the King, and presented at a dinner
where he is trying to impress some highfalutin British
visitors.
This presentation, and the dinner, and the unhappy slave's escape,
brings all the conflict and emotions between Anna and the king
to a head and, fed up and devastated, she's ready to leave Siam
until she hears that the equally-shattered King is about to die
(apparently of unhappiness), and returns to help his son rule his
people in a more modern and sophisticated way than his father ever
could.
Songs include "Whistle a Happy Tune," "Getting
to Know You" and "Shall
We Dance," and the
ballet itself is a joy to behold.
Alas, this is another DVD that could benefit from a better restoration.
As with Carousel, the picture and the audio are substandard compared
with Oklahoma!, South Pacific and The Sound of Music. But as with
Carousel (and the others), you get plenty of extras to help ease
the home theater pain. Disc one features an audio commentary, the
isolated musical score, songs only and karoake options.
Disc two includes the pilot episode of the old "Anna and the King"
TV series starring (and with commentary by) Samantha Eggar, a bunch
of featurettes, vintage stage excerpts and a lot more.
State Fair is the weakest
of the musicals (but it didn't begin life as a musical anyway),
but even it has received special treatment here. This 60th Anniversary
edition features not one, but two versions of the musical: the
1945 Walter Lang production starring Jeanne Crain and Dana Andrews
and the 1962 Jose Ferrer-helmed one starring Pat Boone, Bobby Darin
and Ann-Margret.
Disc one is the "oldie," released in its original 1.33:1
full frame aspect ratio with Dolby Digital stereo audio. It also
features an audio commentary by film historian Richard Barrios and
author Tom Briggs. There's also a featurette "From Page to
Screen to Stage", a singalong Karaoke feature, the trailer
and a series of stills.
Disc two is the "modern" version, presented in anamorphic
widescreen (16x9 TV compatible) with Dolby Digital 4.0 surround.
It's accompanied by a commentary courtesy of much-maligned star
Pat Boone, a vintage stage excerpt from a 1954 TV tribute, a rare
"State Fair" TV pilot, and the trailer.
South Pacific is
a wonderful production, though a mixed bag. As with Oklahoma!,
you get two versions of the musical, with disc two featuring the
extended "Road Show" edition. Alas, while it's longer
than the original, not all of the footage has been reclaimed and/or
restored, so there are sequences that look almost as if they were
colorized from black and white footage and, considering the spectacular
video quality of the rest of the film, it sticks out like a sore
thumb. Of course if you don't like it, you can watch the other
version, which looks great.
The story revolves around the romance between Nellie Forbush,
a nurse from small town USA, and Emile de Becque, a mature French
planter with a secret past and an even more secret family. Subplots
involve Luther Billis (Ray Walston) an entreprenerial Seabee, and
Lt. Cable, a Marine sent to their south sea island on a secret
mission.
South Pacific is full of great songs, including "Bali Ha'i", "There
is Nothin' Like A Dame", "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right
Outa My Hair", "A Cockeyed Optimist", and the fabulous "Some Enchanted
Evening" and "Younger Than Springtime".
This musical also raises some serious issues about prejudice and
tolerance, though it doesn't beat you over the head with
it.
The production is first rate, though director Joshua Logan for
some reason chose to use bizarre color filters during many of the
fanciful scenes, probably as a setter of mood, but like the unrestored
footage on the road show version, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
And it's too bad, because overall the picture is also first rate,
with a sharp and very colorful image. Audio is also very good.
And of course there are plenty of extras, from a running commentary
and songs only options on disc one, to a commentary on the "Road
Show" version, making of featurette, and plenty more.
