Musicals & Music Films > Astaire, Fred Musicals & Music Films

Top Hat, Tails and Glamour

Advantages: Art Deco and wonderful dances
Disadvantages: Possibly a little dated now

...on 29th August 1935. Top Hat set the standard for dazzling 1930's Art Deco sets, stoking the flames of imaginations in their audiences and receiving a standing ovation on its opening night. A musical comedy extravaganza which got Fred and Ginger known as the King and Queen of the Hollywood musicals; Top Hat received four Oscar Nominations for Art Direction , Dance Direction, Best Original Song (Cheek to Cheek) and Best Picture. ~~ The Film ~~ When ...
...the Black and White Musical Top Hat. The film starts with our star of the show Jerry Travers who is an American entertainer waiting for his friend and producer Horace Hardwick in the Thackeray Club, London. The room is deathly quiet and on leaving the club with the arrival of his friend Jerry does a little tap dance to create a stir in the silent atmosphere (just to make sure they are all awake). Back at Horace's hotel room the two men start discussing ...

arnoldhenryrufus 25.03.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Top Hat (DVD)

We all WANT to go to BLACKPOOL?

Advantages: Good remake, Nice to look at
Disadvantages: Wooden acting.

A remake of the classic fim, starring Fred Astair the new version features Richard GERE and Jennifer LOPEZ. Release date: June 20, 2005 Run time: 101 mins A conservative businessman played by Richard Gere is unhappy with his mundane lifestyle and so enrols in a dance school after spotting a beautiful woman, Jennifer Lopez, through its windows. Seemingly embarresed by his new hobby he keeps it a secret fom his wife and children. This causes his wife ...
...a private detective is hired, uncovering his secret and his talent. Remake of the Japanese classic of the same name this is a story which has been told over and over again. Man gets hobby, wife hires detective, its dancing, que the music! sound familiar? Throughout this film references are made to the desire to go to BLACKPOOL, this pinnacle of the dancing world! I know the tower is famous but surely americans cant honestly believe that the best ...

wompie99 24.08.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Shall We Dance (DVD)

An understated MGM classic

Advantages: Great songs, great dancing, great acting
Disadvantages: Oscar Levant's dancing!

The Band Wagon (1953) is a great musical of the golden era of MGM musicals produced by Arthur Freed. Everyone has head of Singin' in the Rain, but The Band Wagon is less well known, despite being of the same era, and arguably as good a film. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, this film is up there with his other great films; Meet me in St Louis. Gigi and An American in Paris. The Storyline Fundamentally, this film is about putting on a show! Fred ...
...an overpowering director who diverts the story so that he can play the dramatic lead, and the show flops. The team decide to go back to the drawing board and redo the show, they take it on tour and we are treated to some excellent musical numbers and an amazing scene called the 'Girl Hunt' where Fred and Cyd do a new style of dance together. I won't give away the ending, but it does end very well and with a great musical number. The Performances ...

chrissie-anne 26.03.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Band Wagon (Special Edition) (DVD)

Hollywood Taster

Advantages: A good introduction to some seldom seen films.
Disadvantages: Presentation tends to be superficial with too much emphasis on film trailers.

...disappointed with the package as a whole which I feel could have been better done considering that there are many fans of Hollywood musicals out there and not much at the moment for them on DVD.However , the future is getting brighter with a number of films due for release. ...

Broadsea 17.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Hollywood Musicals Of The 50's (DVD)

A bunny for my honey, a dolly with a curl...

Advantages: Classic film. Francoise the waiter describing his salad.
Disadvantages: If you dont like musicals its not for you.

...deserving recognition. The Film- Easter Parade is a 1948 musical film starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. It features music by Irving Berlin. The film was originally to have starred Gene Kelly, but he was injured playing football just before the film was going to be made. Astaire, who was set to retire from making films, was convinced to come back and replace him, he had always wanted to work with Judy Garland and other projects they had been ...
...Now "where does the easter parade come into this?" i hear you ask, well during the initial shopping trip, in which Don is trying to mould Hannah into Nadine, they stumble accross the New York City easter parade. Hannah admires Nadine, not realising who she is, and Don promises that at the following years easter parade everyone will be noticing Hannah and not Nadine. They indeed return to the parade the following year as the film draws to an end. ...

piggypine 03.03.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Easter Parade (Special Edition) (DVD)